28 replies to this topic

[fiveoclock]

 

aftermarket HIDs are easily recognised by the extra wiring, so will most likely be an instant fail

  What would the MOT tester be looking for under the (front) bonnet (genuine question! Not being facetious.. for a change!)?    

Amongst other things ensuring the battery is secured properly

I don't think that has ever been checked in 11 years on my MoT on the VX. Even if they've opened the bonnet they've never removed the washer bottle to check the battery.

Doesn't mean it's not in the regs and doesn't mean a better MOT station than the one you use won't check it

[Wolfstone]

I've used a variety over the years. Just saying.

[Tareim]

 

Yes, it's May, and the exact failure is "Light source and lamp not compatible".

 

The accompanying guidance states: "Some vehicles may be fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps. It is not permitted to convert existing halogen headlamp units for use with HID bulbs. If it is clear that such a conversion has been carried out, rather than replacing the entire unit with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs, the headlamp should be rejected".

 

Personally, and famous last words here, I think we would probably get away with it.. I agree with Tareim above - I think with the projector lenses we won't fall foul of "light source and lamp not compatible". I also hold the (slightly risky) assumption that, to the majority of MOT testers, it may not be "clear that such a conversion has been carried out.."

 

Fingers crossed anyway!  

So it only relates to HID? The way forward is LED then. I have good quality LED fitted in my Jeep and they are fantastic, better than any HID I've ever had. I tried some cheaper, probably Chinese LED's and they were rubbish and got very hot. They had a sort of concertina metal mesh cooling system on the back (probably cheap) whereas the better quality ones have a small fan in the back (probably not so cheap)

 

 

I can't find the official document right now but in it they are classing LEDs as a HID light as they are high intensity just in a different way to xenon

[Strugs]

 

 

Yes, it's May, and the exact failure is "Light source and lamp not compatible".

 

The accompanying guidance states: "Some vehicles may be fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps. It is not permitted to convert existing halogen headlamp units for use with HID bulbs. If it is clear that such a conversion has been carried out, rather than replacing the entire unit with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs, the headlamp should be rejected".

 

Personally, and famous last words here, I think we would probably get away with it.. I agree with Tareim above - I think with the projector lenses we won't fall foul of "light source and lamp not compatible". I also hold the (slightly risky) assumption that, to the majority of MOT testers, it may not be "clear that such a conversion has been carried out.."

 

Fingers crossed anyway!  

So it only relates to HID? The way forward is LED then. I have good quality LED fitted in my Jeep and they are fantastic, better than any HID I've ever had. I tried some cheaper, probably Chinese LED's and they were rubbish and got very hot. They had a sort of concertina metal mesh cooling system on the back (probably cheap) whereas the better quality ones have a small fan in the back (probably not so cheap)

 

 

I can't find the official document right now but in it they are classing LEDs as a HID light as they are high intensity just in a different way to xenon

 

 

Yes, you're right - it defines "light source" further as "any bulb, LED or other means of emitting light"..  

[Mopeytitan]

HIDs fitted as said need self levelling but also headlight washer. A HID is pretty obvious over a halogen just by the colour of the light emitted. Even if you don’t have the chavvy purple/ blue ones the white is a pure white and not the slightly yellow off white colour of a halogen.

[Strugs]

HIDs fitted as said need self levelling but also headlight washer. A HID is pretty obvious over a halogen just by the colour of the light emitted. Even if you don’t have the chavvy purple/ blue ones the white is a pure white and not the slightly yellow off white colour of a halogen.

 

No, the reference to headlamp levelling is only "where fitted, they must work" and the same to washers (which additionally only refers to vehicles manufactured after Sept 2009).

 

Now, everyone thinks the foglights need to work, but the manual referring to testing these is only applicable to vehicles first used on or after 1st March 2018..

[Madmitch]

Well, it wouldn't be the first time that the regs contradict themselves but what I found reads as follows -

 

 .....the NCTS checks that:
 
 A [color=rgb(34,89,133);]HID [/color][color=rgb(34,89,133);]bulb[/color], where fitted, is compatible with the headlamp.   The [color=rgb(34,89,133);]HID [/color][color=rgb(34,89,133);]headlight [/color][color=rgb(34,89,133);]assembly[/color] (i.e. headlamp and bulb) is fitted with a functioning headlamp levelling system, either manual or automatic. If the vehicle has self-levelling built in to the [color=rgb(34,89,133);]suspension[/color] then this can be considered to fulfil the function of headlamp self-levelling.

[Mopeytitan]

HIDs fitted as said need self levelling but also headlight washer. A HID is pretty obvious over a halogen just by the colour of the light emitted. Even if you don’t have the chavvy purple/ blue ones the white is a pure white and not the slightly yellow off white colour of a halogen.

  No, the reference to headlamp levelling is only "where fitted, they must work" and the same to washers (which additionally only refers to vehicles manufactured after Sept 2009).   Now, everyone thinks the foglights need to work, but the manual referring to testing these is only applicable to vehicles first used on or after 1st March 2018..

If you read on the Gov.uk website it states that a car fitted with HID headlights must have headlamp cleaning and self levelling Copied from the website. “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”

[AlfaAversion]

Not sure if this helps but we had a car ordered at work but it come without xenons. I was asked to fit xenon lights , I said it will need levelling and washers so couldn't be done But I was proved wrong as the wiring is the same for both lights with the same manual levelers and no washers , apparently they are under a certain power so do not require them by law . I have yet to fit them but in theory it should work

Edited by AlfaAversion, 17 March 2018 - 09:52 PM.