DOT/SAE Approved TOM'S Special Limited Edition Tail Lights
 

To those of us who jumped the gun early on TOM'S tails... *womp womp*

ETA is August? I believe.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...37827747_n.jpg

Follow updates on this from Helix Auto Lamp: https://www.facebook.com/helixauto

They look kinda 'meh' in this pic BUT it'd be nice to see them on a car.

^^Agreed. I'd like to see this on a whiteout since the background of the light is dark might be a nice touch.

True. I'm having a hard time distinguishing the differences with the JDM version but my guess would be

1) It has D.O.T. lettering on the casing.
2) The casing is clear whereas the JDM version is tinted red.

clear casing is a definite positive for me, but i'm gonna get the jdm spec if it's cheaper! nice ride switchlanez!

these will be distributed by HELIX

as you all know i am the only authorized HELIX dealer :thumbup:

i will post a pre-order thread soon

Sign me up, first in line!! :thumbsup:

Wish these came with a red tint on the lens

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What is it about the clear casing that you like?

Probably that it will look less "modded" and more OEM. That was my only slight gripe about mine... that it looked "redded out." Someone even thought they were redded out stock tails. But, never having had tinted tails, the JDM version sorta satisfies my inner ricer plus I'm chasing the LA Auto Show BRZ STI Concept look. To me, those tails look tinted red. So if I could do it all over again, I'd prally go the same route.

http://www.autotribute.com/wp-conten...ncept-wing.jpg

86_ZN6

if you have a direct contact with Toms, please let them know there would be interest in a USA Spec version but with a "smoked" lens, I am sure I cant' be the only one who would want these in smoked???

What makes these DOT SAE approved over the JDM ones?

I had read that the JDM ones don't have a side reflector? - but I looked at mine and they do have a piece on the side that reflects light.

The biggest difference is likely money spent to pay for DOT-approval. Maybe also proof that the lights to illuminate to a specified light intensity (lumens) which they likely already do without modification. Possibly the lens have to be clear to make that happen or have to be clear regardless instead of tinted red. I'm just guessing here.

Similar to how a car cannot be sold here unles it's DOT and NHTSA-approved. Many RHD versions of their USDM LHD counterparts could probably pass the test but still have to undergo the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of [crash] testing to get approved and be sold in the US. I think the R33 Skyline is one of the few, if not the only, RHD JDM car that's ever undergone/followed that procedure. Money to do certification plays a big part, then minor modifications need to be made to get it up to spec.

IMO these look a lot better than the jdm ones. I like the clear casing and black outlines, definitely more OEM looking.

I'm banking on the black/red of these won't look as stellar on WRB compared to JDM redout TOM'S (more like I'm HOPING lol). Same goes for Hot Lava. But they'd rock against gray, silver, black, or white. Red cars can prably go either way with JDM or USDM TOM'S. Not sure about dark blue. I'm TOTALLY guessing on all these 'cept WRB, I'm pretty sure about. Red/black/clear will look too busy... pure WRB needs pure red to complement.

Actally for white and maybe silver the stock tails look best IMO. The chrome complements.

I'm sick to death of the factory tail lights. They are ugly and look so cheap.

I've wanted dark grey/smoked tail lights for a long time but a majority of whats on the market is rubbish in comparison to Tom's products.

If I knew Tom's were brining out a dark grey/smoked version I'd wait but if not, I will happily pre order these.

How does one pre order?

this is something that interests me more than the JDM version as i have a dark grey car. i'm not a fan of the red-out tails on my colour, so i'm glad to see this option.

Love it. I wasn't even aware the current models with red lenses aren't DOT approved.

Are they still plug and play? How can I be alerted of the pre-order thread?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! DOT Approved and Black Housing and Clear Casing!! I think would look phenomenal on my Asphalt!!! I'm so excited!!!
:happyanim:
:bow:
:eyebulge:

I also apologize for the excessive use of exclamation points. (Please forgive me)

the DOT has approved them thats what makes them DOT approved it means theyre legal to use in the USA. the JDM ones are not, you could get a fine if a cop wanted to be a ****.

Im liking these alot.....glad Im broke for 2 more months

I guess I'll buy a set depending how much $

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I like the black outlines on the new Tom's, would look nice on the JDM also.
Not a fan of clear lenses for the oem look, however a smoked lense option would be a welcome addition
Not the smoked level found on the Valenti, but what you see on the Crystal Eye's. I find it's tint level almost perfect

I ordered the JDM Tom's, love the all red lense for the STi look :thumbup:

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Are we talking about grey-market imports? Because only a handful of cars were actually imported by Motorex legally and those were all R34 Skylines. I don't recall hearing about legit R33 imports...

Ooooooooooh!! These might be the one's for me! I just have a really hard time signing up with the all redded out first version. I'm prolly the only one on the planet that likes the more cleared version of the OEm tails.

Motorex imported the whole line-up 32,33 and 34's. As of now the only version accepted for importation is the R33 as the 32 and 34 don't have a compliant OBD system and other safety features that can be altered to US spec.

Anyone mind posting a pic of the current Tom's tails? Perhaps you Lanez, so we can have shots to compare in one thread.

Ah; it's been so long since anyone talked about Motorex, my mistake. I still want an R34 though...

Yeah I never hear people talk about that car specifically (Motorex might've been involved) but when I was researching how to get a RHD MR2 legalized I called up some folks in NHTSA-related legal offices (I think in Washington DC) and scoured some government websites. Came across a PDF file list of legalized cars (many vintage/classics) and saw the R33 conspicuously listed on their. Wish I saved it but didn't care because I was hellbent on getting an MR2 only.

Ah...is it 25 years or 15 years to get a car imported that wasn't originally sold here?

Funny the OP mentions these look less ricey, but IMO they look like ricey altezzas. I actually think the normal clear red looks more OEM, but maybe that's because I saw the concept model and they also look very similar to the current VW taillights

I think it's 25. But there are still criteria that the vehicle must meet.

The R33 was found to be a vehicle that could be altered/adapted to spec to meet the NHTSA standards of importation. So if you want one here legally, that's the one to get.

The 32 and 34 couldn't ever meet these criteria. Many of the 32/34's were actually hunted down and destroyed as a result of Motorex's debacle.

One being the car from the Fast and the Furious.

The R34 will always be my absolute dream car of all time. It isn't really any different from any other car out there. It just holds a very special place in my heart for it's design.

SOB those are probably going to look better on black...oh well

Here are mine (JDM spec bought from nigel):

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5484/964d.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4057/6p54.jpg

i'm not able to see the facebook link in the first post. can someone post the picture here? or a direct link to the facebook pic? thanks

nope - you're not the only one :)

It's supposed to be a link to the TOM'S tails announcement by Helix Auto Lamp (the seller) but they took it down for whatever reason (maybe they were receiving too many inquiries on something not yet official). Here is their FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/helixauto?fref=ts

So consider availability TBD.

Will have to see how these look on a Asphalt car

Subbed

I don't mind the stock tail lights (on my car) because I think they compliment the lighting up front, but I will consider these, though. These look like a subtle compliment to the red/black theme I'm envisioning. I mean, I have a red car, 15% tint all around, plan on getting chromium black XXR 527s, so these Tom's might work.

I'd take either over the oem's... Whichever I can find cheaper. I'm banking on @switchlanez to sell his current ones to buy these, that way I can have his handmedowns

If the DOT version doesn't appeal to me then it's gonna be a longggg wait for you bro, I sowwy :brokenheart: