I was getting my Ibiza MOTed yesterday and got my MOT man to check up on the regulations regarding fitting LED lamp units to Defenders. I thought they'd be legal as it isn't a bulb 'conversion' but a purpose built lamp unit. He said NO.
If it had a distinct beam pattern it would still be failed as it has to have the other gubbings that goes along with them as found on new cars.
IE sensors on the suspension to auto lower the beam to prevent dazzling other road users in the event you throw a cow in the back and also headlight washers.

The weird thing is, this MOT failure only applies to Class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1986.
So Series vehicles might get away with it as the regulations state:

"For class 3,4,5 and 7 vehicles, the defect ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ only applies to vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986.

Should a vehicle be presented for an MOT test with conversions before 1 April 1986 they must not be failed with immediate effect."

Vehicles presented with converted halogen headlamp units first used on or after 1 April 1986 will continue to be failed.

Headlamps must comply with all other requirements of the test and headlamp aim.

The cars and passenger vehicles inspection manual will be updated shortly.

Thats cool mine doesnt need an mot

That's cool too, mine doesn't need LED headlamps

If the headlights use 72 LEDs they are probably ****e anyway.....

300bhp/ton said:

If the headlights use 72 LEDs they are probably ****e anyway.....

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The type of lamp i thought would be legal were like this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284424180849?fits=Model:Defender&hash=item4239009471:g:s34AAOSwCcthJlJ5


Fully E marked etc, but according to the book, NO.
Not unless they can move the beam up and down to counter humps and pot holes in the road.
The question i have now is what would plod do if they find your motor with these fitted if you fitted them after your MOT?

yfo866 said:

The type of lamp i thought would be legal were like this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284424180849?fits=Modelefender&hash=item4239009471:g:s34AAOSwCcthJlJ5


Fully E marked etc, but according to the book, NO.
Not unless they can move the beam up and down to counter humps and pot holes in the road.
The question i have now is what would plod do if they find your motor with these fitted if you fitted them after your MOT?

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Can't see 72 LEDs on that unit?

As for the headlight. I'm willing to bet the E-Mark is bogus or fake or for an entirely different product.

I'm also willing to bet the beam profile (the most important thing with a headlight) is probably awful and illegal. Obviously I don't know for sure. But there are plenty of vids on YouTube reviewing lights like this. I have also seen similar looking ones on vehicles (yes Defenders....) and they are blinding and certainly not legal or sensible to use on the public roads.

The DLR feature is probably also blinding bright and just anti social to have on a vehicle.

They are also a high Kelvin rating, which means the light will be very blue and have very poor colour rendition, i.e. they'll make everything look rather grey. Look for something more in the region of 5000-5500k

Lastly, they look completely gash! And would visually make any classic or Land Rover look like a complete and utter joke.

300bhp/ton said:

Can't see 72 LEDs on that unit?

As for the headlight. I'm willing to bet the E-Mark is bogus or fake or for an entirely different product.

I'm also willing to bet the beam profile (the most important thing with a headlight) is probably awful and illegal. Obviously I don't know for sure. But there are plenty of vids on YouTube reviewing lights like this. I have also seen similar looking ones on vehicles (yes Defenders....) and they are blinding and certainly not legal or sensible to use on the public roads.

The DLR feature is probably also blinding bright and just anti social to have on a vehicle.

They are also a high Kelvin rating, which means the light will be very blue and have very poor colour rendition, i.e. they'll make everything look rather grey. Look for something more in the region of 5000-5500k

Lastly, they look completely gash! And would visually make any classic or Land Rover look like a complete and utter joke.

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The point i was trying to get across was that there are many lamp units which are not just led bulbs but a bespoke unit. I just picked this one at random. I've seen cheap prices such as these going up to over £100 per side. They can't all be cheap Chinese crap

yfo866 said:

The point i was trying to get across was that there are many lamp units which are not just led bulbs but a bespoke unit. I just picked this one at random. I've seen cheap prices such as these going up to over £100 per side. They can't all be cheap Chinese crap

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I think the vast majority are rubbish. Check out some YouTube channels that review these and know what they are talking about.

There are some that are good, but very few that are suitable for RHD vehicles. Most will use multiple LEDs, but you really don't need loads to get good output and beam profiles.

If you want to improve your headlights, try some bulbs like this:
https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/co...-excellent-beam-pattern?variant=8239029715039

As noted, not strictly legal in post 1986 vehicles. But neither are 80/120 watt halogens. And plenty of people run those.

They won't be the brightest ever, but will give more light than halogens and good beam colour and profile. With normal lenses (the ones with the cut glass), you'd never know they were LEDs by looking either. They do offer them in cool white if you want the cooler colour temp.