Teardrops which is correct

Good question.  I would think that the one with the bulbs mounted vertically would prevent water from getting in the sockets, but something tells me that the horizontal mounting is better for visibility.

 

Is that one of my LED install pictures in the upper right?

Hey Manny

Bottom two pics are correct.

Have a look at the curved reflector behind the bulbs, in the correct configuration it will reflect light behind the car. If the bulbs are positioned as per the top pics the reflector will just project light upwards.

Hope this helps. (and makes sense)

 

That is my thinking as well it would be better horizontal to prevent water entering the sockets.

I have a pic of a rusted 356 coupe which shows the sockets horizontal then again I have a pic of another rusted coupe which is vertical....very confusing.

The top LED's it could be yours, I copied it from Google image search. ,  the one beneath it I know is from the 356registry.

 

 

Hey Roger,

 

Thanks for the info, although that also makes sense. Still very confusing horizontal has its advantage so the does the vertical have its advantage.

What I can gather from all the info available,  the teardrop housings did not change it shape neither the socket positions, obviously they symmetrically opposite, what one can do is swop LH to RH and RH to LH this is what changes the socket position.

 

 

Manny - as a German myself I just don't think that is it. We are too anal retentive for that. I agree with Lane's statement above. The housings would have been designed to hang the bulbs upside down to prevent water from entering the socket. Also, I am certain there is a distinct right side and left side housing and lens for consistency. I mean just imagine the horror on an assembly line to see the back end of one of these cars with the tail light lenses off and the bulbs on one side are facing up and facing down on the other side. Unconscionable. No.

The only time the bulbs would be pointing up is if someone removed the lights and reinstalled them on the wrong side of the car. They come in a left and right version for a reason.

Despite the potential water issue, it seems pretty clear the housing is designed to mount to the car with the sockets on the bottom. That puts the curved reflector in the correct orientation to reflect light to the rear as Firebird pointed out.

 

I bet all you bee hive guys are pretty jealous right about now. You have no reason to engage in scintilating debate over which way to point your lights.

Have you guys noticed the dilemma trying to make sure no water gets in those babies.  I found the only way was to use a type of masstick putty seal and make a gasket myself inside all the metal even on top of the plastic to stop water from going in.  This masstick never dries. You would think that the repro guys would have gotten it right by now. what are your experiences?

 

Also the shine up light is no fun to keep water out either. ... Ray

Never mind the lights, what about the interior. That fills up with water like crazy in the rain

 

Seriously though. If you put the bulbs on the back surface the reflector domes will fill with water and corrode over time.  Just look at it carefully. It makes perfect sense once you see how it works.

 

 

 

Curse my rewriting of that sentence before I posted. Apologies, this wasn't right, as others have correctly mentioned, the bulbs should point up, the sockets are on the bottom.

I can just hear the German engineer who designed the housing and reflector assembly, blasting the engineer who designed the gasket, for allowing water into his perfectly designed lighting element.

 

In a former life at my current employer, I managed personal auto insurance product development. As part of that job, I had often met with many major auto manufcturers' marketing and engineering staffs.

 

This was a short time after Audi's "sudden acceleration" problem.

 

VW/Audi's marketing head for the USA was a wonderful gent named Volkmar Niedorffer. The "sudden acceleration" issue had become a public relations nightmare for Audi, and of course, for Volkmar and his team.

 

Volkmar summed it up in one sentence. And you have to say it to yourself with a very heavy German accent, "Those G-d D-mned German Engineers."

 

Basically, Volkmar believed the entire "sudden acceleration" episode would have blown over if the markting/pr folks had been able to say, "Yes, the brake pedal is a bit oversized. Audi will replace it for free for any customer that wants it." Those German engineers would not allow that to happen. And Audi suffered the consequences for years after.

 

So back on topic, if you think the taillight assembly is designed poorly, you're probably wrong in the German engineers' eyes. It's the gasket that's not right.

Thank you for the replies, placing it vertical seem the way to go