1969 BMW 2002 1662420 failed light inspection

[joelm2]

I took the above car in today to get the brake and light inspection, guy said he couldn't pass it because it didn't have side marker lights. This is an original California car, and never had them, so I'm not sure how to proceed. Has anyone had this issue?

[danco_]

Your brake and light inspection guy must not know the rules. 

 

Where are you located? 

[jgerock]

If this is in CA, not sure why a 69 would be scrutinized for side markers/reflectors.

[Son of Marty]

1 hour ago, jgerock said:

If this is in CA, not sure why a 69 would be scrutinized for side markers/reflectors.

The same reason all cars have a 17 digit vin.

[billy g]

Only reason this would occur in CA (that I'm aware) is if the federal safety (FMVSS) sticker is missing. In that case, CHP does the inspection in lieu of a VIN verification. But that would only happen if a car is being registered in CA from out of state.

 

That being said, I've heard of people attaching reflective tape where the side markers should go and have had success. Good luck!

[02jake]

I have the same front signal lights. I installed a duel filament socket so it lights up with the maker lights. 

 

[joelm2]

3 hours ago, danco_ said:

Your brake and light inspection guy must not know the rules. 

 

Where are you located? 

In Sacramento.

[joelm2]

1 hour ago, billy g said:

Only reason this would occur in CA (that I'm aware) is if the federal safety (FMVSS) sticker is missing. In that case, CHP does the inspection in lieu of a VIN verification. But that would only happen if a car is being registered in CA from out of state.

 

That being said, I've heard of people attaching reflective tape where the side markers should go and have had success. Good luck!

The car has already been vin verified by the dmv, this is the only thing I’m missing. The guy showed me his reference info, and it did say 1969 and later.

[Conserv]

19 minutes ago, joelm2 said:

The car has already been vin verified by the dmv, this is the only thing I’m missing. The guy showed me his reference info, and it did say 1969 and later.

And, admittedly, all domestic cars that were 1969 models had side markers. BMW’s, however, didn’t start with the earliest 1969 models (September 1968), but began in late December, or so. I know this doesn’t help, but it’s why he expected sidemarkers on every 1969 model.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[billy g]

@joelm2 Curious why you need the brake and light inspection if the car was already VIN verified? When I had my '74 registered from out of state, all it needed was the VIN verification.

[72pdx02]

When I bought by non running 67 from out of state I had somebody come to my house and do a vin verification. I then took that paperwork to DMV to register in my name in California. No problem. 

[TobyB]

Hmm, I thought side marker lights were slightly...  nope, backwards, reflectors were later.

 

In 1968, you needed lights, and in 1969, the size was specified, along with reflectivity.

 

So lots of '68 cars have unique- often quite pretty- markers that were uglified for '69.

 

t

lives in an inspection- free (mostly) state.

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, TobyB said:

… Hmm, I thought side marker lights were slightly...  nope, backwards, reflectors were later…

 

And that’s why I simply refer to them as “side markers”…. 👍

 

It covers all the bases and leaves the details to… “side marker specialists”…. 😋

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[0257]

18 hours ago, joelm2 said:

In Sacramento.

Leave California?

[Mike Self]

On 10/6/2022 at 12:22 AM, Conserv said:

BMW’s, however, didn’t start with the earliest 1969 models (September 1968), but began in late December, or so. I know this doesn’t help, but it’s why he expected sidemarkers on every 1969 model.

There were two "series" of 1969 US spec cars:  those built until 31 December 1968, up through VIN 1664760.  The federal requirement for side reflectors (not lit, reflectors) was as of 1 January 1969, not the beginning of model year 1969 (generally around 1 September). 

 

A friend in CA has a 69 whose VIN is around 1664730:  no side reflectors.  Mine is 40 cars after the break point:  side reflectors and a whole bunch of other little changes, like a 3 speed heater blower and a short nose differential. 

 

Your VIN falls well below the cutoff date and in fact, per the factory, 1662420 is actually a '68, as the breakoff model year VIN is 1662758.  I'll wager your car was sold after 1 Sept '68 so was titled as a '69.  You could e-mail BMW Classic and ask for the build date for your car, which they will happily supply.  If it was prior to 31 August '68, simply have the car re-titled as a '68, and your problems go away.  

 

mike