Hey guys,

Just thought I would share my experience with

You all today. Just back from my mot and unfortunately failed due to not having "headlamp washers" or self levelling fitted. I have the xenon lamps fitted from the group buy and a 5k HID kit. Beam pattern was perfect he said. I questioned the fact that some cars come from factory with Xenons and no washers and I used the Nissan premiera as an example but he just responded saying anything built for the British and Irish market had to have washers and self levelling. I live in Northern Ireland btw so maybe a bit more strict over here with the mot centres I'm not really sure.

So unfortunately it's back to the originals for me, can't be bothered having to swap annually so may just sell them on once they are out, so if anyone is interested let me know will come with lights and everything needed etc.

Also while your here can anyone reccommend a good white bulb that DOESN'T have any sort of Blue film surrounding them as I hate the blue tint reflecting in the back of the lamps when not switched on.

Thanks guys

Jordan

Edited 10 October, 201213 yr by wilsy7

Mine passed no problem in April.

Random. My regular headlights with H7R (HID) lamps passed this month with no mention of leveling or washers. (UK)

Awaits the arrival of the Legal / Illegal Police. :think:

Could just fit the washers? That's my plan if they do the same with me. They can't test self levelling so that's no biggy

Could just fit the washers? That's my plan if they do the same with me. They can't test self levelling so that's no biggy

Don't know if its worth the hassle tbh, may just stick with the halogens. The Xenons do look so good on the road

I thought it said in the MOT rulebook that IF the car has headlight washers and leveling they must work. Therefore if you do not have them, they cannot be tested, so can still pass.

Edited 10 October, 201213 yr by Jim H

If you want good halogens, I'd recommend either Philips X-treme Vision or Osram NightBreaker Plus bulbs.

I've used this place http://www.powerbulbs.com/ and would recommend them. If you do a search you'll find a 10% discount code.

I thought it said in the MOT rulebook that IF the car has headlight washers and leveling they must work. Therefore if you do not have them, they cannot be tested, so can still pass.

It's the case here, but in Northern Ireland I think it's different.

It's the case here, but in Northern Ireland I think it's different.

Oops, I hadn't noticed that.

I've now found this which is interesting: http://www.powerbulbs.com/blog/2012/06/hid-mot-failures I'm not sure how reliant to N.I. it is though.

I thought it said in the MOT rulebook that IF the car has headlight washers and leveling they must work. Therefore if you do not have them, they cannot be tested, so can still pass.

Thats correct Jim

To the OP...Take it back and tell them the MOT rules on this...It should have passed

EDIT: If its different in NI...I stand corrected

It's the case here, but in Northern Ireland I think it's different.

The rule shouldn't be different.......the difference in Northern Ireland is that MOT's are only carried out in Government run test centres........I think the testers can sometimes have less discretion and tend to err on the side of caution with grey areas compared to garage testers on the Mainland.

An interesting development all the same.......I am considering converting my reflectors to HID and would be interested to hear if anyone has had these pass an MOT in the past few weeks.

Edited 10 October, 201213 yr by booke23

The MOT place we use said to me yesterday that the rule comes in on the 14th that washers have to be fitted.. Mine is going for MOT friday so another year with them for me unless police see.. I'll keep some bulbs in the car in case lol

Washers dont sound like a huge effort, i`v already asked unit 18 in preparation.

The MOT place we use said to me yesterday that the rule comes in on the 14th that washers have to be fitted..

Not true..

OP u have a pm

The MOT place we use said to me yesterday that the rule comes in on the 14th that washers have to be fitted.. Mine is going for MOT friday so another year with them for me unless police see.. I'll keep some bulbs in the car in case lol

If you read the link I gave, it says they have to be fitted to cars manufactured in 2010 onwards. If they are fitted to cars made prior to 2010, then they are tested only IF fitted.

However, that article was written 19 June, so things may have changed now.

Edited 10 October, 201213 yr by Jim H

If you read the link I gave, it says they have to be fitted to cars manufactured in 2010 onwards. If they are fitted to cars made prior to 2010, then they are tested only IF fitted.

However, that article was written 19 June, so things may have changed now.

I believed this to be the case, although I didn't believe there was a limit on manufacture date. I just thought the MOT regs stated "Self levelling and headlamp washers must be operational if fitted" although, self levelling suspension counts.

It's the same stuff with DPFs, the new regs just have to check if they're fitted, i.e If you get a DPF delete, get a straight through pipe. They don't check the internals.

It's the same stuff with DPFs, the new regs just have to check if they're fitted, i.e If you get a DPF delete, get a straight through pipe. They don't check the internals.

Does the straight through pipe go through the filter or does it replace the filter, when I had my DPF removed on my Ex TDi Octavia Vrs the filter was removed, the innards removed and the filter put back, is this the case for a Straight through pipe?

But cars prior to the 2010 legislation surely it applies to cars with factory Xenons and not retro fitted ones, only way of telling is by popping the bonnet and seein the ballasts. I'm not sure if I could even bothered with the hassle of going back and disputing the fact. It's done now and not much I can change and he will probably ignore the fact. May print all the info out and politely hand it to him lol

I've had a look here:

http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/Freedom%20of%20Information/Light%20Vehicle%20Inspection%20Manual.html

and it does look as though the MOT rules are different in NI, if you want to make a comparison the manual that we use here is:

http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/doitonline/bl/mottestingmanualsandguides/mottestingmanualsandguides.htm

It's not difficult for a tester to see if a vehicle has a self leveling system for the lights, the two give aways are a missing manual height control and sensors fitted to the front and rear suspension.

A missing DPF isn't a reason for failure, though for vehicles first used after 01/07/08 the smoke limits for a diesel are reduced to 1.50/m, which a healthy non DPF vehicle should easily acheive.

im sure you can take you car to the MOT station without headlights and they still have to pass it! Because there not there means they cant check them as you only need your lights for night time

im sure you can take you car to the MOT station without headlights and they still have to pass it! Because there not there means they cant check them as you only need your lights for night time

So is that the same for wipers, only needed if it rains? Think I'lll leave mine on thanks

So is that the same for wipers, only needed if it rains? Think I'lll leave mine on thanks

ermm no, i was actually being serious unless they have changed the law now which they probably have

if all else fails, get friendly with an mot tester and get them to draw a blind eye

You can present a vehicle with the headlamps missing, but it'll still fail. The testers manual says:

This inspection applies to all vehicles, except

those which either have no front or rear position

lamps or have such lamps permanently

disconnected, painted over or masked that are:

• only used during daylight hours, and

• not used at times of seriously reduced visibility.

If this situation occurs, the vehicle presenter should

be issued with a VT32 (advisory notice) recording

the above.

A similar thing for wipers:

This inspection applies to all vehicles, except

those with an opening windscreen, or with some

other means of providing the driver with an

adequate view.