I found this while I was trying to decide whether to get aftermarket Xenons... I know its illegal but wanted some more clarification on how and why. Found it quite interesting. As an aside. Does anyone know what the police are likely to do if they stop you with HIDs? Just ask you to remove them or does anyone know of anyone who has been charged/ticketed? I have a drive through the country at night in the pitch black twice a day now and I've found that I'm struggling to see everything as well as I'd like to, not seeing big puddles until the last minute and hydroplaning, potholes etc.. I was thinking of 4300k as I figured they wouldn't be so intense for oncoming cars and look more oe so less likely to get pullled. I'd love to get a car with OE xenons or get some fitted but I don't think I could even begin to afford the retrofit.

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: [email protected]

Currently this isn't heavily enforced

Do the conversion, But if the police & VOSA are doing roadside checks you could conceivably have a prohibition served on you!

And if/when the MOT toughens upon this issue, The car would fail!

Can I also add this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVuSSdZNsZw

Very exaggerated, the beam is absolutely fine and I've not been flashed once, I drove to Liverpool and back today (500 mile round trip) and not a single flash or anyone adjusting mirrors when I'm behind them. I'm sure some cars are really bad but they look fine in most.

I was over Essex last night where the usual cruising scene happens and literally 1 in 3 cars had HID's and the police did nothing.

Currently this isn't heavily enforced

Do the conversion, But if the police & VOSA are doing roadside checks you could conceivably have a prohibition served on you!

And if/when the MOT toughens upon this issue, The car would fail!

If stops/tests are done in the daytime, explain that the lights are fitted for show use only. And that you don't drive the car after dark. Also helps if you carry halogen bulbs just in case.

I was over Essex last night where the usual cruising scene happens and literally 1 in 3 cars had HID's and the police did nothing.

I bet there was illegal number plates and exhausts too but the Police did nothing about those either. I don't think they want to get ambushed at cruises and are just there to provide a visible presence to satisfy members of the public who might otherwise complain about the cruise.

If stops/tests are done in the daytime, explain that the lights are fitted for show use only. And that you don't drive the car after dark. Also helps if you carry halogen bulbs just in case.

You cannot get away with it like that. Your car must be road legal whether it's daytime or not. I.e. all bulbs must comply to the laws and be working. You could technically be chastised/fined by the police for a dead bulb in the daytime, but it's highly unlikely to happen. Plus the Police usually don't like smart arses and start giving you fines and look for other problems with your car when you back chat.

I don't think I've ever seen an MOT test station with one of those beam analysers in the video, I'm sure the ones I've seen just shine them at a wall a metre away.

Edited 8 November, 201015 yr by anewman

Just get a set of projector headlight. Sorted........kinda lol

Matt

"Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:-..."

Keyword emboldened: Despite everything else that is said, this means that the quoted statement is a recommendation. Had it actually been a statement of law, it would have read "...aftermarket must:-..."

I think we're past the point of it being up for debate as to whether they are legally acceptable. I was just interested in whether anyone has every actually been stopped and either charged or fined. I have seen plenty of cars pass me with HIDs which are obviously aftermarket and have not dazzled me but I have also seen a few pass me which really dazzled me (usually the really bright bluey/flickery ones). I wouldn't want to do that to anyone but I guess I would have to fit them and test them somehow to see how much glare went off-axis before I felt comfortable using them. I genuinely feel like the extra light would make me safer on that road but don't want to either get a hefty fine/points or cause problems for other drivers.

I was just interested in whether anyone has every actually been stopped and either charged or fined. I have seen plenty of cars pass me with HIDs which are obviously aftermarket and have not dazzled me but I have also seen a few pass me which really dazzled me (usually the really bright bluey/flickery ones).

This fellow did last year.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/143350-headlights/page__st__20__p__1796683entry1796683

I don't think I've ever seen an MOT test station with one of those beam analysers in the video, I'm sure the ones I've seen just shine them at a wall a metre away.

Place where my car was done had one and it passed (never saw the printout though) and that has factory fit xenons.

Still get flashed sometimes for them though despite being 100% legal with functioning self levelers.

_{i have hid kit in my fabia and have had no problem with mots and i had the same kit in the octy again no problems}

I note the guy didn't actually get charged or have a fine though it's interesting to read about his experience. I was actually looking for whether anyone had actually been charged or fined?

_{i have hid kit in my fabia and have had no problem with mots and i had the same kit in the octy again no problems}

Which kit? was it 4300 or 6000k?

Just seen this over at performancetorque.co.uk..

2011 VOSA changes to MOT

Still 13 months away until these new regulations come into force, but some interesting changes. From MOT from December 2011, the below changes will come into force, which will be very bad news for some.

HID lights – Specifically those aftermarket kits that give the very bright headlight beams. Any cars found with these kits will be an automatic MOT failure. Testers are able to easily spot the difference between HID kits, and manufacturer fitted Xenon’s. Easy to spot as Xenon cars have suspension level sensors, in car beam adjuster, and usually headlight washers.

Chipped ECU’s - Unsure of just how/if this one will realistically be enforced, but any cars with chipped ECU’s will in theory be an MOT failure. I can only assume VOSA have found an easy way of checking ECU software through the cars OBD port (diagnostic plug).

Wiring harness – The general condition of he wiring harness will be checked to make sure there is no rubbing or chaffing, and that the harnesses are in generally good condition. If unsecure, or damaged again MOT failure.

Airbag warning lights - If any warning lights are illuminated, it will again be an MOT failure.

eek!

Mapped ECUs will be an automatic failure???? seriously? That's unbelievable. Will need to get a spare ECU matched to the car. I can understand if the Map isn't declared on insurance but that's a bit ridiculous.

Do they mean chipped as in people buying the 5p resistors for £10 off ebay that make the car overfuel, or a remap of the ECU? The point needs to be clarified by VOSA IMO as chipping and remapping are different things.

The only reasons I can think for MOT failure are exhaust emissions (although that is already tested) and that it makes the car as a whole exceed its original capabilities in terms of braking etc.

Edited 8 November, 201015 yr by anewman

As if Everyone who is mapped/chipped is going to fail a MOT. What has that to do with road worthyness?! Pmsl, sounds like a load of rubbish to me

Matt

Just seen this over at performancetorque.co.uk..

2011 VOSA changes to MOT

Never trust what people say on internet forums - always seek out the base data - in this case it appears to be THIS publication which states:

Other items – such as headlamp

bulb and unit incompatibility,

headlamp levelling devices and

illegal engine ‘chipping’ – will need

further thought before we can get

a workable solution for MOT

stations.

Some of the new items may

require extra effort on the part of

the tester – when we know for

sure what that is we’ll be talking

again with our trade and DfT

colleagues to work out what the

impact will be.

There appears to be no date set yet when such things may be included in the test. At least I could find no reference at the official website.

Edited 9 November, 201015 yr by DRJ

What's "illegal chipping"?!

Matt

What's "illegal chipping"?!

Matt

An illegal immigrant working on the fryers in McDonalds.

Cheers

Dave.

An illegal immigrant working on the fryers in McDonalds.

Cheers

Dave.

I have just thought, when my headunit is connected, the vagcom port doesnt work, som im safe from that whatever! ha

matt

Aye, theres an idea, have a kill switch for the vagcom port hidden somewhere

I note the guy didn't actually get charged or have a fine though it's interesting to read about his experience. I was actually looking for whether anyone had actually been charged or fined?

Which kit? was it 4300 or 6000k?

6000k i have