Sorry, but I don't agree with you Diesel Do.
The MOT rules are a notorious can of worms.
The exact wording of the Tester's Inspection Manual Section 1.7 says:
HID lamps may be fitted with headlight washing system and a suspension or headlamp self-levelling system.
It does not say the systems must be fitted.
It goes on to say that if those systems are fitted - then they must be operational.
I don't know if HID lamps are available without the rest of the gubbins - but it looks like you don't really need the other bits.
Of course if the lamps come with the other bits attached - then you would indeed have to connect them up and make them operational.
Singvogel.
Ahem!!!!!
Compared with halogen headlamps, HID lamps are more efficient, have a longer service life and are much brighter; up to three times brighter in fact. The benefit of this extra brightness is that it enables drivers using HID lights to see approximately 30% further up the road ahead than for a halogen system.
The downside of this extra brightness is the potential to cause excessive dazzle to oncoming traffic. To combat this, HID headlamps often have advanced electronics that control the shape of the headlamp beam to avoid dazzle when the car climbs or descends hills and likewise when the vehicle is accelerating or braking.
Dazzle can also be caused if the lamps are dirty or aimed too high due to, for example, carrying rear seat passengers and/or heavy items in the boot. Vehicles with HID headlamps are therefore required to have a headlamp washing system (a wiper is not required) and be self levelling, which may be achieved either by the use of either headlamp or suspension levelling systems.
The presence and operation of these headlamp cleaning and levelling devices has been added to the test. Therefore, if a mandatory headlamp levelling or cleaning device is missing, inoperative or otherwise obviously defective this will be a reason for rejection.
This raises the question of whether these checks apply to vehicles fitted with after-market HID lighting kits. These kits convert conventional halogen headlamps to HID Xenon and they are widely sold and fitted to vehicles used on the road. The Department for Transport considers that after-market systems should be required to meet the same safety standards as that applied in respect of these lamps at vehicle Type Approval. Therefore, in order to pass the MOT test, vehicles fitted with after-market HID systems would also need to be fitted with headlamp cleaning and self-levelling systems otherwise this will be a reason for rejection. Some high specification estate cars are fitted with a self-levelling suspension system and this would be considered as adequate for the purpose.
It is also worthy of note that a few high performance vehicles fitted with HID headlamps that have barely any luggage space and stiff suspension do not require a self-levelling system.
HID headlamps can be easily recognised as they generally:
• take a few seconds to reach full intensity
• have a bluish tinge to the light
• have an igniter module/inverter behind the headlamp
• may also have ‘DCR’ marked on the headlamp lens.
Headlamp washing and levelling systems are mandatory for all vehicles fitted with LED headlamp systems, although these are not yet widely used
Diesel Do
