then the mot test station arnt doin there job and shouldnt be carrying out mots

God knows. Quite possible, just saying it as it is.;)

Heres an extract from Aftermarket HID (Xenon) headlamps.

Aftermarket HID (Xenon) headlamps

Fact sheet: Aftermarket HID headlamps

December 2006

In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.
The following is the legal rationale:
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 to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are 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 it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like 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.
If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:
Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR
Telephone: 020 7944 2078
Fax: 020 7944 2196
Email: TTS.enquiries@dft.gsi.gov.uk
 
i spoke to the mot guys near me and they said if they are fitted an mot'd this year they will pass the mot, the law changes next year.

but, the rozz can still pull you up and do you for some sort of manufacturers construction regulations...
 
i spoke to the mot guys near me and they said if they are fitted an mot'd this year they will pass the mot, the law changes next year.

but, the rozz can still pull you up and do you for some sort of manufacturers construction regulations...

And as the police have been told to crack down on them expect to get pulled. As I said, daughters boyfriend just got £60 and 3 points. Not ideal when as a new driver you only get 6 max before having to do your test again..... :p So he has to lead a virtuous life now all in the name of looking cool.....

HID conversion to standard lights are useless anyway, its all dazzle and scatter!

If anyone is interested I have a couple of low profile sets for sale!!
 
I have fitted some Osaram NightBreaker Plus's to my 110.

Very good at night, Legal and Cheap! (£14 a pair).....
 
Just fitting the Wipac freeforms to the 90 helped immensley. Good legal lenses. Got them on the Mini too. Seem to brighten things up.
 
HID conversion to standard lights are useless anyway, its all dazzle and scatter!
No it's not.

There are two main issues:

1. You need to use the correct type of bulb depending on if you have reflector or projector lamps. As they are different.

2. Don't run a high K output bulb, they emit less light but cause far more dazzle.
 
No it's not.

There are two main issues:

1. You need to use the correct type of bulb depending on if you have reflector or projector lamps. As they are different.

2. Don't run a high K output bulb, they emit less light but cause far more dazzle.

Having fitted a HID kit to another car, I will admit they are very very good. The difference is crazy.
 
Checked with Wipac who make the Quadoptic headlamp,and being that I fitted the 2010/2011 version of them they said that these have the tolerances to be used with HID bulbs,but as for the self adjusting and washers then i'm ***ked.
 
No it's not.

There are two main issues:

1. You need to use the correct type of bulb depending on if you have reflector or projector lamps. As they are different.

2. Don't run a high K output bulb, they emit less light but cause far more dazzle.


Cool! Want to buy the 2 sets I have for sale?
 
Checked with Wipac who make the Quadoptic headlamp,and being that I fitted the 2010/2011 version of them they said that these have the tolerances to be used with HID bulbs,but as for the self adjusting and washers then i'm ***ked.

Is there any reason for having washers?

My guess is that the people who go for HID's are after the aesthetics bonus as well as the improved performance.
So to stop people trying to fit them they say you need washer in an attempt to stop you putting on (because lets face it, washer would look shi*te on any car) :doh:
 
It's all to do with the way the light is generated and then scatters. HID needs a very specific type of focusing. It also needs to be levelled and that includes an internal shuttering,if you look at a HID pattern it has a very specific cut off point to stop blinding drivers coming the other way. This is done with an internal shutter that cuts the light off from the top of the reflector. The self levelling requirements ensures it is a consistent cut off point. Have you never noticed how HID users coming the other seem to be flashing you? It because they have gone over a bump and the self levelling has not responded fast enough. Propr HIDs have a single bulb and the shutter moves to produce the high low beam. This is to keep the focus point correct. After Market units have 2 bulbs in slightly different positions and thus worsens the focus problem as you have to switch between them.

The washing requirements are because HID is multitude brighter and dirt on the Lens causes back scatter which makes the glare even worse. My 998 and the wife's RS4 both have HID which are not only self levelling but turn as you go around corners. The washers are hidden in The bumper and pop out when needed.

A HID bulb produces light by very high voltage gas discharge using a 25,000 volt ballast. The light is very uncontained. It's a bit like comparing a flare to a torch. Replacing the bulb in the torch with a flare will not make the torch any more useful but very painful to look at!!

I would also be concerned about submerging the ballast units as that is one hell of a lot of voltage to dissapait in the event of a short.....

So there are a whole load more factors to consider than just brightness.
 
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It's all to do with the way the light is generated and then scatters. HID needs a very specific type of focusing. It also needs to be levelled and that includes an internal shuttering,if you look at a HID pattern it has a very specific cut off point to stop blinding drivers coming the other way. This is done with an internal shutter that cuts the light off from the top of the reflector. The self levelling requirements ensures it is a consistent cut off point. Have you never noticed how HID users coming the other seem to be flashing you? It because they have gone over a bump and the self levelling has not responded fast enough. Propr HIDs have a single bulb and the shutter moves to produce the high low beam. This is to keep the focus point correct. After Market units have 2 bulbs in slightly different positions and thus worsens the focus problem as you have to switch between them.

The washing requirements are because HID is multitude brighter and dirt on the Lens causes back scatter which makes the glare even worse. My 998 and the wife's RS4 both have HID which are not only self levelling but turn as you go around corners. The washers are hidden in The bumper and pop out when needed.

A HID bulb produces light by very high voltage gas discharge using a 25,000 volt ballast. The light is very uncontained. It's a bit like comparing a flare to a torch. Replacing the bulb in the torch with a flare will not make the torch any more useful but very painful to look at!!

I would also be concerned about submerging the ballast units as that is one hell of a lot of voltage to dissapait in the event of a short.....

So there are a whole load more factors to consider than just brightness.

Suppose the washer factor makes sense, but for that reason having to fit washer would put me off, on a new car its no problem because as you said they can be hidden, but it would be a hell of a job to put them on a defender :rolleyes:
 
I was always told you have to have washers if the lights come standard on the car but you dont need thwm when you fit a kit to your car
 
I was always told you have to have washers if the lights come standard on the car but you dont need thwm when you fit a kit to your car


Back to the original point. You can't retrofit them whatever the people flogging them might say........ Read the DofT document which explains it. There are no approved retrofit kits.
 

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