An interesting read.

Apologies in advance if i start any "debates" .

Edited 20 September, 201213 yr by pinchy

Put it boldly as i cant be arsed reading, are they legal or not?

It basically says, when a HID kit is slapped into a normal halogen headlight it will glare everyone, and isnt legal. We all knew this before, some are happy blinding everyone else some arnt. Personal choice, hopefully they`ll clamp down on the poor beam scatter at MOT time, but who knows? For the sake of a set of projector headlights I`m happy to fit them into the correct headlights.

*Yawn*

Just read it and all it says is acording to MOT standards when HID kits are fitted "it MAY be fitted with leveling /washers" IF the washers + or leveling ARE fitted then "THEY (the washers/ leveling) must work)...

Nothing new there.. just another case of "they are illegal...

BUT can pass an MOT"...

Nothing new.

Last year I got stopped a couple of time in a place called Cowbit (between Peterborough and Spalding). The Police and VOSA were doing roadside checks. I had no problem as I had Philips Extremes in, but loads of drivers were getting done for having aftermarket HIDs and 'rally' bulbs (among other things like no MOT, insurance, tax, ...).

Having worked within aviation regulatory framework, i'm used to reading source documentation. I'll dig out the lighting regs out later and post here. The above is just an ad.

Cars are not planes.

But governmental regulations and so law follows the same language and promulgation, particularly within the DfT.

Here's the link which contains references to the wording in law at the end of the document.

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/dft-information-sheets/aftermarket-hid-headlamps.pdf

Ive got the projector lights from the group buy with an hid kit so have the correct beam pattern. I don't have washers or self levelling and my mot is in a week or so, do you think I'll pass? I'm in northern Ireland and our tests are all in big centres and can't be done at local garages. Thiughts? Before I put the old ones back in :(

You`ll be fine. The beam patten is there so I think it`ll be ok

You`ll be fine. The beam patten is there so I think it`ll be ok

Fingers crossed

"The Department of Transport states 'It is not permitted to convert halogen lamp units to HIDS'"

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fassets.dft.gov.uk%2Fpublications%2Fdft-information-sheets%2Faftermarket-hid-headlamps.pdf&ei=VE9bUPfIGoOyhAeyvYGoBg&usg=AFQjCNF1WC8dTWAGFHDcd9gBq3Qhidubsg&sig2=LNbpcrxvD-VWfCitt4XasQ

I just posted that! If the H7R produces a good beam in a reflector, then it proves their view is behind the times.

I just posted that! If the H7R produces a good beam in a reflector, then it proves their view is behind the times.

Were all waiting for some decent pictures of some so we can see. The only ones posted were against a reflective/corrugated metal shutter so useless to compare. Would be good to see if they do work, as everyone i`v spoke to who tried them says they are no different to the normal ones, just a way to try and flog more.

Ive got the projector lights from the group buy with an hid kit so have the correct beam pattern. I don't have washers or self levelling and my mot is in a week or so, do you think I'll pass? I'm in northern Ireland and our tests are all in big centres and can't be done at local garages. Thiughts? Before I put the old ones back in :(

It'll be fine mate. Had mine mot'd a couple of weeks back and they passed fine. The xenons give the beam pattern from the hid bulbs as it should so no issues there. If you have no washers or levelling system it can't be tested and will pass fine. I have washers retro fitted and they tested them and they worked fine so passed there too. You have nothing to worry about.

It'll be fine mate. Had mine mot'd a couple of weeks back and they passed fine. The xenons give the beam pattern from the hid bulbs as it should so no issues there. If you have no washers or levelling system it can't be tested and will pass fine. I have washers retro fitted and they tested them and they worked fine so passed there too. You have nothing to worry about.

Cheers would sure save alot of hassle lol

"The Department of Transport states 'It is not permitted to convert halogen lamp units to HIDS'"

http://www.google.co...vD-VWfCitt4XasQ

Except that was in May 2010!!

Legislation has altered since then. There was a link some time ago to the current MOT Testers Handbook that explained exactly what was allowed.

EDIT:

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm

and especially:

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_170.htm

Apologies, was in a rush, didn't have much reading time. So it doesn't say it's a necessity to have auto level and washer for hids.. All is good?

It says:

Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.

Where such systems are fitted, they must work; however, it is accepted that it may not be possible to readily determine the functioning of self levelling systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt must be given.

I have highlighted the one very important word!!

I have 6k H7..... Not H7R!!!!!! I repeat NOT H7R In my NORMAL head lamps!!!

Now what do you reckon to that ha!

Nothing new in her then z z z z

I have 6k H7..... Not H7R!!!!!! I repeat NOT H7R In my NORMAL head lamps!!!

Now what do you reckon to that ha!

Nothing new in her then z z z z

Then your an idiot just like the rest of the road users who blind people with their HID's fitted in reflector lenses, nothing to brag about really......

Edited 21 September, 201213 yr by Southy

£30 fine and classed as unauthorised lights.

so where does that leave me with 10k h7 hid kits in both my fabias? having just put an mot on both in the last month and they both passed.. and the wife and i often follow each other home at night and i would say the beam is no worse than the cars that come out of the factory with xenons.. also been fitted for some time now with no grief off the dibble either, and i have been stopped numerous times for other reasons!

From what i gather stevo, they are illegal, but loads of people have gotten threw mots with them!

so where does that leave me with 10k h7 hid kits in both my fabias? having just put an mot on both in the last month and they both passed.. and the wife and i often follow each other home at night and i would say the beam is no worse than the cars that come out of the factory with xenons.. also been fitted for some time now with no grief off the dibble either, and i have been stopped numerous times for other reasons!

+1 ... i have them fitted + iv checked the beam pattern on my MOT beam tester + is ok.. i personally set mine 2 level 3 on headlight beam adjustment in car (lowest the beam will go) so doesnt dazzle.. much less dazzling tgan rangerovers etc with factory xenons.. iv had mine fitted for 2 years with no negative responce from the police etc.. mine are H7's at the time i didnt realise there were H7r's availble.. if they blow i will get H7r's but at the moment there all good