On the driver's side the directional seemed not to work, so I took the nose off today to replace the bulb, with inspection coming in January I didn't want to wait till it was sub-zero before I replaced it.
This was what I found, on the drivers side the the running lights powered the "Bright" part of the bulb and the directional powered the "Dim" side of the bulb (this is backwards). I (as a test) swapped sockets (drivers side to passenger side and vice verse) and found the problem followed the socket, this was when I went WOW.
This problem made it past MBs QC, made it past G&Ks (US importer) QC, the local dealer, and this car has been inspected twice by New Hampshire inspection stations.
So for those who have a G&K converted 2006 Passion you may want to take a close look at this (G&K bought in bulk SSOO they would have gotten consecutive serial numbers cars meaning I may not be the only one the have this problem) to see if you have the same problem.
Those lights are G&K add ons. The original lights were fog and the turn signals were in the headlight cluster. A G&K mechanic just got one back wards.
It's interesting that the New Hampshire boys missed it twice. Makes you feel good to know you are getting your monies worth.
Buy the way, G&K/ZAP did not buy consecutive number cars in bulk. They bought from secondary brokers not from Mercedes. Their cars ranged from 2003 through 2006. Also if you look through the Canadian cars which came through Mercedes Benz of Canada, their numbers are all over the place with many gaps in sequence.
Dan U as well as Mike T on the CA thread corrected me this is not even a MB part, it it a G&K part.
Still though other G&K owners should take a look, I know how it was missed during inspections. This is usually the order they go in, Breaks, left turn, right turn, headlights, high beams, horn and wipers.
thanks for setting me straight.
smarter yank, no one is in the minority here. You own a smart, we're just waiting to join you.
Is this like the haves and have nots?;)
Actually when you 20,000 to 30,000 451 owners hit the streets we 450 owners, especially 450 gas owners will be a comparatively small group, but we have been alone, smart wise, on the highways for almost 2 years now so we can handle it.
I look at it like this. There are Smart owners and there are the ones that wish they were. Simple as that. The first one I drove was a 450. If that was the model they were still producing and bringing it to the U.S. that would be the one I would buy. I don't view myself as a new Mini owner versus a classic Mini owner. We're just owners of another great car.
I owned several neat cars that were the more modern version of older designs... I never felt superior in my 1970 Mustang to any of my brothers who still owned the (better looking IMO) 1965 version.... Same with my 86 Nissan 300 Zcar... each generation built on the past and refined the machine... To this day I am still partial to the wedge shaped, wider shorter late 80s V6 powered Zcars ... the long narrow in-line 6 260 280 series were good machines and obviously the newer 350Z is much better aero dynamically and more powerful but they all are bred from the same stock so I like and respect each series
We will always have snobby pureists... but I think generally most 450 and 415 owners will wave, smile, and toot at any Smart car the see or pass... no matter what year or series...
I even expect we will co mingle a lot with 450s and those evil mini cooper owners and we will have more mutual respect than the new VW beetle old VW beetle owners ever managed.
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