Been down to Devon and Cornwall for a week, left the car with my mech, to fit my 500K HIDs,

working a treat, no bulb errors, he used the existing wiring loom grommets to run the wires so all neat and tidy.

While away I wondered if they would work on the auto side of the switch, did not need to worry, turned the ignition on lights came on nice sharp white light.

Got them from HIDs 4 u, also came with matching side light bulbs

I have used them for my sons Laguna a very helpful company.

I assume by wording above and source you've illegally fitted them to existing halogen headlamp units?

I assume by wording above and source you've illegally fitted them to existing halogen headlamp units?

Allegedly, but they are not part of the MOT test, all that is required is they work and  correctly set.

My Octavia went through 2 taxi tests with them fitted

Passing an MOT does not make it legal, also FYI, it's now part of MOT test.

They can't work correctly if you fit them to a halogen headlamp, that's why Skoda et al fit them to projector style lamp enclosures with clear lenses. In addition, retro fitting in the UK any HID above 2000 lumens requires self levelling and headlamp washers to be legal.

Fitting HID's to halogen headlamps dazzles oncoming traffic, and unfortunately it's becoming an all to common event.

Don't take this the wrong way, you are fully entitled to do what you want, but it's neither legal or correct.

Off my soap box now ;)

I used a HIDS4U kit in my Octavia and had no problems with bulb warnings. Quality was good and the ballasts were small enough to fit in the rear of the lamp housing. 

Steve - The MOT actually says MAY have them fitted and if fitted should work. If they are a requirement then it should say MUST. Basic rules of requirements and specifications. 

The MOT is not the only factor. Type approval and therefore insurance (did you tell them?) come into play as well.

 

A bit of google searching (different car forum) shows at least one of the forum sponsor insurers will not insure a car with after market HIDs.

I used a HIDS4U kit in my Octavia and had no problems with bulb warnings. Quality was good and the ballasts were small enough to fit in the rear of the lamp housing. 

Steve - The MOT actually says MAY have them fitted and if fitted should work. If they are a requirement then it should say MUST. Basic rules of requirements and specifications.

You are confusing the MOT with legality. The MOT is an annual road worthiness test. VOSA issue the exception guidelines for legality of retrofit HID's. They require self levelling and washers.

As for MOT it now checks that headlamps are e marked and designed for fitted light source. So if checked correctly HID's fitted to a halogen headlamp would now fail too.

Fitting HID's to car's without headlight washers and self-levelling is not illegal.

 

This has been done to death on several other forums including the Octavia MkII.

 

Agreed it is a bit of a grey area but as long as they are fitted to projectors (which all MkII Superb's have) and they are aligned and positioned correctly there is no issue.

I'm sick to the back teeth of these threads. I'm also sick off getting blinded and dazzled by people who clearly have fitted HID's without washers or self leveling system or just way to bright and not aligned correctly.

Sent from my Windows Phone 8X by HTC using Board Express

It's no doubt been done to death everywhere. It's also not a grey area. People like to think it is, so they can bend the rules. Take the time to look into it and contact DVLA and VOSA as I had to do and you'll see it's quite straight forward.

The UK has not updated its vehicle lighting laws for decades. As a result the only legal light source you can fit in a headlamp is halogen. There are two exceptions for this. First is that the UK also accepts European Type approval over and above UK vehicle law. So if you have a vehicle that is type approved it's exempted from this and therefore it can have HID's fitted to type approval at the time granted.

The second is an exception guideline issued for retro fit of HID's. This guideline lets you be exempt from UK vehicle lighting law by fitting HID's in an emarked headlamp assembly designed for that light source. You also have to have headlamp washers and self levelling.

If you contact VOSA, you will find that the only exception to fitting self levelling and headlamp washers is if the light source is below 2000 lumens. VOSA have also stated that the same rules apply to LED headlamps.

So it's quite simple, if you retrofit headlamps that are not halogen you have to follow their guidelines to be exempt from UK vehicle lighting law. Don't follow their guidelines to the full, and you are illegal.

It's all very black and white. The only grey area is people's personal interpretation of them ;)

I'm sick to the back teeth of these threads. I'm also sick off getting blinded and dazzled by people who clearly have fitted HID's without washers or self leveling system or just way to bright and not aligned correctly.

Sent from my Windows Phone 8X by HTC using Board Express

 

Where are  all these people with blindling HIDs fitted to cars without levelling systems etc? I see perhaps one a quarter (and usually the same Lupo with 8000k set fitted). People with badly adjusted halogens (and fogs) and factory fit Xenon systems bouncing around (Yes you Range Rover!)

It's no doubt been done to death everywhere. It's also not a grey area. People like to think it is, so they can bend the rules. Take the time to look into it and contact DVLA and VOSA as I had to do and you'll see it's quite straight forward.

The UK has not updated its vehicle lighting laws for decades. As a result the only legal light source you can fit in a headlamp is halogen. There are two exceptions for this. First is that the UK also accepts European Type approval over and above UK vehicle law. So if you have a vehicle that is type approved it's exempted from this and therefore it can have HID's fitted to type approval at the time granted.

The second is an exception guideline issued for retro fit of HID's. This guideline lets you be exempt from UK vehicle lighting law by fitting HID's in an emarked headlamp assembly designed for that light source. You also have to have headlamp washers and self levelling.

If you contact VOSA, you will find that the only exception to fitting self levelling and headlamp washers is if the light source is below 2000 lumens. VOSA have also stated that the same rules apply to LED headlamps.

So it's quite simple, if you retrofit headlamps that are not halogen you have to follow their guidelines to be exempt from UK vehicle lighting law. Don't follow their guidelines to the full, and you are illegal.

It's all very black and white. The only grey area is people's personal interpretation of them ;)

 

I agree.  The legislation is black and white on this matter.  Unfortunately people think that passing an MOT each year is the only requirement to keeping their car "legal".  The MOT "test" is a one-off annual check for a vehicle's road worthiness.  It is not a check on whether your vehicle complies with the law or not: which applies at all times, and is your responsibility.

 

Unfortunately for as long as companies continue to sell HID conversions made up of a new bulb and ballast, people will continue to buy them.

 

It's right up there with my pet hates, along with drivers that still think it's ok to drive with a mobile in one hand, with the other hand on the steering wheel and changing gears at the same time.  Recently I've considered getting a front-facing camera fitted just to catch them in the act, and then submit the video as evidence to the police.  I see it more and more prevalent with delivery drivers and service vehicles that are looking around left and right to find a property, whilst on the phone.  I guess the only positive side is that if they were to hit my kids, they'd hit them at 20, rather than 30mph.

 

Rant over.  Sorry to go off topic.

Edited 23 October, 201312 yr by JakeBlade

I've never seen a mainstream HID kit seller state that any of their kits are road legal, they are all sold 'for off road and show use only'. That in itself speaks volumes on the legality of them.

Oh Jesus, I'm not doing this again. Like I said it has been done to death. Hundreds of threads and no definitive answer.

 

There are a million interpretations of what the regs say and might say. It's very easy to pick out the bits that support your argument and miss out the bits that don't. Everyone has their own view.

 

If it was as much of an issue as it is sometimes made out to be then VOSA would have issued a "black and white" statement about their usage by now.

 

Mercedes now have LED headlights on their E-Class in the UK that are over 2,000 Lumens with no headlight washers.

 

I have a car with factory fit xenon's and one with an aftermarket HID kit. I get flashed very occasionally in the car with factory fit xenon's despite them being checked over by Skoda. I've never been flashed in the other car with the kit.

 

They don't dazzle and are fully legal for use in the UK.

Oh Jesus, I'm not doing this again. Like I said it has been done to death. Hundreds of threads and no definitive answer.

Don't post then if you are not doing it again - ???? Definitive answer provided above. Prove it's not the case then if you disagree. Cite whatever laws you want and post them here to try and prove the above is not the case.

 

They don't dazzle and are fully legal for use in the UK.

If you've retro-fitted as per the guidelines then yes you are legal, if you haven't the are illegal. As black and white as that.

:zzz:  :zzz:  :zzz:  :zzz:  :zzz:

Definitive answer provided above. Prove it's not the case then if you disagree.

 

I've nothing to prove.