Discodevon

Discodevon

Well-Known Member
Hi guys I fitted new led lights headlights back in the summer, the company whom I purchased from says they will pass mot etc however when my mot come along my family mechanic wasn’t impressed at all and basically said I’m fitted the originals back in (fair enough) however I wouldn’t mind putting an led bulb into the original lights (if that’s possible), can anyone recommend some decent led bulbs which will fit into the standard defender lights please? Best regards DD
 
A HID or LED, headlamp must have self leveling and wipers. Without that you're illegal
If your headlamp was designed for halogen, somewhere it should have an H marked on it, so having LEDs in it is also illegal.
There are no legal LED bulbs to convert a halogen headlamp.
 
TheQ said:
A HID or LED, headlamp must have self leveling and wipers. Without that you're illegal
Click to expand...
This isn't quite correct, although I acknowledge the OP said headlight bulbs in the original TD5 units, which IS illegal, but also not quite what you refer to either. MOT manual says:

Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.

This does not refer to complete replacement headlamp units which may be constructed with HID or LED light sources.

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test.
Click to expand...
and
Vehicles with high intensity discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with a suspension or headlamp self-levelling system. If these systems have been fitted, they must work.
Click to expand...

So, as long as you replace the full unit, not just the bulb, and then don't have self levelling fitted at all, you're fine.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-ins...flectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-1
 
wot Matt said!! had to 'remind' two mot separate garages of this a while back for mates F100 truck and his 7ltr Dodge Polara, for some reason, seems they both let Johnny Crimpset or Saturday Steve do the testing!
Must be an east london thing.

We fitted a set of 7"Led projector units to both cars,
 
Cheers guys, just a little annoying as I have wipac led indicators and side lights which makes the old headlights look like a lamp from world war 1, saw wipac do led headlights too which if I had more money to spend would seriously consider speaking seriously about it with my lovely mechanic but then again they are like £400 quid which is a lot of money to me really
 
KISSMYAURA said:
except for the RHD ones ...:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Well they all look nasty.

Will have **** poor CRI and stupid high Kelvin ratings giving nasty blue light. I bet they all cause massive blinding glare to on-coming traffic, which frankly you have to be an utter ****er to run such lights and not care.

None seem to specify RHD, but mention Harley Davidson and Jeep.... so you don't need to be Sherlock f'ing homes to put 2 and 2 together :rolleyes:
 
I have read that many of the cheap ones are terrible. It was one reason why I went with the trucklites: good pattern, RHD, fairly original looking (ie not the lens type)
 
Last edited:
MattYorke said:
I have read that many of the cheap ones are terrible. It was one reason why I went with the trucklites: good pattern, RHD, fairly original looking (ie not the lens type)
Click to expand...
The trucklites look brilliant, however they are near 400 quid so you would kinda expect them to be
 
Yes. I agonised over it, but very happy with the result. I could have probably kept the kwality and gone with lens type ones for 100 less (e.g. wipac), but they’re ugly even in defender terms
 
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