i remember a lad i met on the west coast who had a big 50+" light bar on his roof , LED headlights , a light bar on the bumper , DRLS etc

looked like aliens were landing - and equally melted my car when i came out the dip.

I did wonder if the guy was blind - i certainly was afterwards
 
I used to meet a Merc every day on the way home from work, bright blue piercing lamps retro fitted, quite often I had to stop dead in the road (country lanes) because I literally couldn't see him past the glare and passing him safely was 50/50 at the best of times.

I have normal lamps in mine and a decent working electrical system, my lamps are more than enough. I have thought about putting in powerful lamps but I dont want to be ''that guy'', and I dont really need to.

Its not difficult to go over a defenders headlamp wiring and get it all working properly, fit new bulbs and you would be very surprised at just how good the lamps actually are.

If anyone wanted to, Id be happy to talk them through it.
 
but as i said if LR are fitting them then surely using quality items adjusted correctly it should be no different. Surely it would not have been allowed if dangerous as per fitting HIDS or retrograde bulbs into reflector units not designed.
 
top drive said:
but as i said if LR are fitting them then surely using quality items adjusted correctly it should be no different. Surely it would not have been allowed if dangerous as per fitting HIDS or retrograde bulbs into reflector units not designed.
Click to expand...

What exactly are land rover fitting to defenders?
 
Lawfs said:
I fitted these headlights with WIPAC led side light kit from Getoffroad, lights all around are much improved. But I constantly get people flashing me with the headlights dipped.
Click to expand...

It won't help that you're in a higher vehicle, coming up behind someone in a tarmac skimming skateboard with aircraft grade searchlights on ....will scare 'em ...
 
top drive said:
but as i said if LR are fitting them then surely using quality items adjusted correctly it should be no different. Surely it would not have been allowed if dangerous as per fitting HIDS or retrograde bulbs into reflector units not designed.
Click to expand...

Fitting HID lamps on a Defender is illegal, no matter what lens you use. I am pretty sure there was an addition about LEDs as well. But to answer your question, I doubt LR really give a toss to be honest.
Lets just say it like it is, We all know extra bright lights are dangerous, we all drive roads at night time, we have all experienced the glare from these lights and I am sure we have all thought ''WTF'' as we struggled to readjust after our eyes got burned out, just because a manufacturer fitted them does not make them safe, what it does mean is the aging build regs arnt up to date with current technology. We arnt children, we can think for ourselves and we can decide if we want to be a part of the problem , or not.

edit - sorry if that sounds blunt, its not mean to be.
 
In fact
''
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK. Under these regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.

However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply with European type approval regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These approvals relate to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (lighting installation on the vehicle).

For the after-market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because this only applies to new vehicles. However DfT does not think it reasonable simply to ban HID in the aftermarket. Instead the department makes analogies with new vehicles. It seems reasonable to require HID in the after-market to meet the same safety standards as those for new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.''

''
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the aftermarket should:

  • be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component
  • when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place)
  • comply with RVLR as far as “use” is concerned
In practice this means:

  • the headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be “e-marked” to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo, etc - who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory
  • once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have “self-levelling suspension” and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam
  • the headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly in the same way as any other headlamp
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

In summary: it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.''


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aftermarket-hid-headlamps/aftermarket-hid-headlamps

I would read up on it, I am sure LED lamps were mentioned in there somewhere.
 
Retrofitted led bulbs arenot allowed.

But no if the led replacement light unit is e marked and approved by a testing body (and I don't mean fake emarked like lots of the eBay ones) then it's not illigal.

Not sure why your quoting all that hid ****. No one mentioned fitting hids.
 
If you look at ECE Regulation 48 it clearly states that LED lamps must be self leveling,

Other regulations ECE-R48 § 6.2.9 Dipped beam,
Automatic leveling must be installed with LED headlamps. If the headlamps are equipped with light sources > 2,000 lumen (usually xenon), automatic leveling and a headlamp cleaning system need to be installed, 2 additional cornering lamps are optional.

Nothing on High beam. But ECE 48 6.2.9 does state LED headlamps so that could cover full beam, however full beam isnt that important as you wont be using with oncoming traffic.

Headlamps for high beam ECE-R48 section 6.1, ECE-R98 und ECE-R112 (ECE-R123 contains further special conditions) Presence ECE-R48 § 6.1.1 Mandatory for all passenger car classes. Number ECE-R48 § 6.1.2 2 or 4 units, for N3 vehicles max. 6 units Color ECE-R48 § 5.15 White Position in width ECE-R48 § 6.1.4.1 No specific regulations, but installed so that the driver is not dazzled by reflections. Position in height ECE-R48 § 6.1.4.2 No specific regulations. Visibility ECE-R48 § 6.1.5 5° in all directions. Electrical connections ECE-R48 § 6.1.7 The high beam headlamps may only be switched on either at the same time or in pairs. If two additional high beam headlamps are installed, then no more than two pairs may be lit at the same time. During the transition from low beam to high beam, at least 1 pair needs to be switched on for high beam. During the low beam function, all high beam lamps need to switch off at the same time. Tell-tale ECE-R48 § 6.1.8 Mandatory Other regulations ECE-R48 § 6.1.9 The luminous intensity of all the switchable high beam lamps must not exceed 430,000 cd. The sum of the reference numbers must not be greater than 100.

https://www.hella.com/hella-com/assets/media_global/673_Legal_Requirements_Brochure_HELLA_EN.pdf
 
top drive said:
Retrofitted led bulbs arenot allowed.

But no if the led replacement light unit is e marked and approved by a testing body (and I don't mean fake emarked like lots of the eBay ones) then it's not illigal.

Not sure why your quoting all that hid ****. No one mentioned fitting hids.
Click to expand...

Yes, Im afraid they are.
 
What you have to note is

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK. Under these regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.

Neither are LED lamps mentioned, there for not permitted, as are candles, torches, and anything else not mentioned, HOWEVER, they made a rule for HID lamps in that they must meet the same requirements as new vehicles, they didnt mention LED, so , technically , LED lamps, retrofitted, are not permitted.
 
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