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Twin Brake Light - How To
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Narpy
 


Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830

2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Manual Cairns BlueDiscovery 3
Twin Brake Light - How To

I've been doing a little research lately on the forum and the advice for doing the twin brake light mod appears to be scattered over a number of threads, none of which use the phrase "twin brake lights" so it's a little tricky to locate.
Well, not any more as I've just completed this simple mod and it's very easy. (I've blatantly used an idea from another poster, who I will credit with making the copper contact but can't remember his name nor find his post again. Rolling Eyes ). I hope it's useful to somebody, there's more pics in my gallery if you need them but it easy enough to do.

This is what you're aiming to achieve:
Click image to enlarge



The lower light in the side clusters should already contain a stop + tail, twin filament bulb. However, only the tail light part is wired up and this mod shows you how to wire up the stop filament too, giving you twin brake lights in the side clusters.

First off, remove your side cluster and place it on your bench:
Click image to enlarge


Next, take a close look at the upper light wiring, it'll look like this:
Click image to enlarge


Now, compare that to the lower light:
Click image to enlarge


Notice how the white wire is missing? The white wire is the brake light feed so we're going to put it in the lower plug and you'll have twin brake lights.
Remove the lower bulb holder:
Click image to enlarge


Take out the bulb and have a look inside the holder, notice the contact is missing:
Click image to enlarge


We're going to make a new contact and wire it in. You'll need two strips of copper. I cut 4mm off the end of a copper pipe and flattened it out:
Click image to enlarge


Next, remove the white grommet from the plug and check to see if your copper strip fits into the hole:
Click image to enlarge


I kept filing it down until it was a firm fit. Next you'll need to shape the end so it will contact the bulb base. There's no exact measurements for this but the next pictures should give you an idea of what you're trying to make. Bend the end up like this:
Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge


Then double the rest back to form this shape:
Click image to enlarge


Keep checking to make sure your newly made contact fits into the plug. When you're happy, get your soldering iron out and attach a suitable wire thus, making sure you snip the nipple off the white grommet and slide it onto the cable before soldering onto the copper contact:
Click image to enlarge


Almost done now, Stick your newly made contact into the plug, tweak it up to the same height as the other contact and push the white grommet back into the hole.
Click image to enlarge


Finally, strip back some of the insulator from the white brake light feed cable and solder on your new cable which goes to the newly made contact:
Click image to enlarge


Wrap the joint with insulating tape, refit the light cluster and test to see if it's working. Repeat for the other side and voila, twin brake lights. Mr. Green
 Mods:
Front Fogs + Halos
FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
Long Roof Rails
Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here. 
 
Post #118859416th Nov 2013 4:54 pm
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robo
 


Member Since: 30 Jul 2010
Location: solihull
Posts: 298

United Kingdom 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3

Thumbs Up
 gone not forgotten 2 classics
gone forgotten 2 p38s
current d3 se 2006 td standard for now 
 
Post #118860016th Nov 2013 4:58 pm
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beanie
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Member Since: 12 Mar 2011
Location: In the garage messing with something
Posts: 14336

England 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 GS Auto Fuji WhiteDiscovery 4

Nice one Narpy, clearly too much time on your hands recently Rolling with laughter
 Altox GSM FBH controller thread


IID Pro MV License - D3, D4 & RRS - Enabling, Updates, D4 & RRS Timed / Remote Climate, D4 Bluetooth fitting
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Post #118860416th Nov 2013 5:05 pm
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Dave^
 


Member Since: 23 Jun 2013
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 706


Can you not just buy two upper lamp holders and put them in the lower holes? Easier for people like me... Thumbs Up
 flickr  
Post #118860516th Nov 2013 5:05 pm
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Narpy
 


Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830

2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Manual Cairns BlueDiscovery 3

I honestly don't know Dave, possibly but it'll still require wiring in. Rolling Eyes
 Mods:
Front Fogs + Halos
FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
Long Roof Rails
Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here. 
 
Post #118860716th Nov 2013 5:08 pm
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Biffysun
 


Member Since: 09 Jul 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 1786

Scotland 2016 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 SE Tech Auto Corris GreyDiscovery 4

Looks good! 8) Well done! Thumbs Up
  
Post #118861116th Nov 2013 5:13 pm
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Marlou
 


Member Since: 03 Sep 2013
Location: Local
Posts: 99

United Kingdom 2009 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Galway GreenDiscovery 3

You made that look easy, looks like something to do tomorrow Very Happy
  
Post #118861416th Nov 2013 5:17 pm
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Robbie
 


Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932

United Kingdom 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Baltic BlueDiscovery 4

Dave^ wrote:
Can you not just buy two upper lamp holders and put them in the lower holes? Easier for people like me... Thumbs Up


Think the harness and all the sockets come as bundle, so it would depend on the price to see if this was realistic option. Although it would give you a spare harness come MoT time.
 Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948

Battery & Quiescent Current Drain Testing

Diagnostics for:
Defender, FL2, D3, D4, Evoque, RRS & FFRR
A not-for-profit enterprise


 
 
Post #118861816th Nov 2013 5:22 pm
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Robbie
 


Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932

United Kingdom 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Baltic BlueDiscovery 4

 Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948

Battery & Quiescent Current Drain Testing

Diagnostics for:
Defender, FL2, D3, D4, Evoque, RRS & FFRR
A not-for-profit enterprise


 
 
Post #118862116th Nov 2013 5:24 pm
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Dave^
 


Member Since: 23 Jun 2013
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 706


Narpy wrote:
I honestly don't know Dave, possibly but it'll still require wiring in. Rolling Eyes


True, but less faffy to diy numpties like myself who don't have bits of copper tube lying around...

SWMBO might notice if the heating goes off... Rolling with laughter

Thumbs Up
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Post #118870216th Nov 2013 7:06 pm
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Dave^
 


Member Since: 23 Jun 2013
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 706


Robbie wrote:
Dave^ wrote:
Can you not just buy two upper lamp holders and put them in the lower holes? Easier for people like me... Thumbs Up


Think the harness and all the sockets come as bundle, so it would depend on the price to see if this was realistic option. Although it would give you a spare harness come MoT time.


MOT time?
 flickr  
Post #118870416th Nov 2013 7:06 pm
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disco_steve
 


Member Since: 25 Aug 2009
Location: Are you sure this is the M5 ?
Posts: 1498

England 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Arctic FrostDiscovery 3

Question Whistle

Looks fantastic, but . . . . .

Isn't there a risk this will effectively 'double' the amps through the brake light circuit wiring, and/or brake pedal switch with potential damage to wiring/switch etc Shocked Rolling Eyes

(Especially if/when stopped with your foot on the brake pedal for any length of time Rolling Eyes

Ok, I'll get my coat Whistle
 Never get mad - get even !!

06 D3 now gone to family member and still going strong at 265k

previous vehicles:
04 D2 TD5 - (clocked 189k from new)
52 X-Trail 2.2 SVE
various euro boxes ! 
 
Post #118873616th Nov 2013 8:08 pm
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Narpy
 


Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830

2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Manual Cairns BlueDiscovery 3

In answer to that, it's a mod that's been around for a long time. Some owners have direct soldered a wire to the actual bulb to achieve the twin brake lights. Info is scattered around the forum and just about every pitfall has previously been discussed but nowhere does anybody report any sort of overload issue. Wink
The reason for this thread was not only so I could complete the mod on my own car but to document how it went and attempt to put all the info in one place should anybody else fancy trying it. Thumbs Up
 Mods:
Front Fogs + Halos
FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
Long Roof Rails
Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here. 
 
Post #118875016th Nov 2013 8:23 pm
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Robbie
 


Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932

United Kingdom 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Baltic BlueDiscovery 4

Dave^ wrote:
MOT time?


As I understand it the twin brake light modification is grounds to fail the MoT as it breaches the lighting regulations. It's why they are not wired that way at the factory.

An MoT guru will give you the precise details but it is something like not achieving 100mm between the stop lamp and the fog light.

Of course, you could go through a bunch of MoTs before some would notice.

Edit: The legal guff...

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/11/made
 Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948

Battery & Quiescent Current Drain Testing

Diagnostics for:
Defender, FL2, D3, D4, Evoque, RRS & FFRR
A not-for-profit enterprise


 
 
Post #118878816th Nov 2013 9:11 pm
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beanie
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Member Since: 12 Mar 2011
Location: In the garage messing with something
Posts: 14336

England 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 GS Auto Fuji WhiteDiscovery 4

That's legislation a Robbie, but the text requires

http://www.ukmot.com/1-1.asp
 Altox GSM FBH controller thread


IID Pro MV License - D3, D4 & RRS - Enabling, Updates, D4 & RRS Timed / Remote Climate, D4 Bluetooth fitting
PM me for details




Owner of the original "Beanie" grille
D4 & RRS style D3 grilles made to order
  
Post #118879716th Nov 2013 9:23 pm
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