Judging by the number of cars on the road with illegal HIDs then it does seem that the enforcement apparently meant to exist does not in practice have any effect. For the OP though, it always seemed to me that the original headlights were already very good notwithstanding that the HID ones are brighter.

If the current headlights are not working well i.e., not giving good vision however bright or not they may be, then it might be something other than the type of lightsource/bulb that is causing the problem e.g., water ingress, dirty optics, poorly adjusted etc

"London colour"?  I have searched on both google and ebay.co.uk and cannot find a supplier called London colour - am I missing something?

:wonder:

"London colour"?  I have searched on both google and ebay.co.uk and cannot find a supplier called London colour - am I missing something?

:wonder:

 

eBay ID: http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/londoncolour?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

 

eBay store: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/HIDONLINEUK?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

The "Standard" projectors on my VRS are pretty good compared to the projectors on the Saab 93 I had before it which were shockingly dim.

 

If you dont want to go down the aftermarket HID route, I used these in the saab:

 

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/H7-Ring-XENON-Ultima-120-Headlamp-Bulb-55W-pair.html

 

certainly cheaper than getting bulbs from Halfords.

I find the standard lights very good on my car,way better than my mk1,id check as others have said that the bulbs are fitted correctly & not damaged & the alignment is ok. 

Blown me balls and bought uprated bulbs from halfrauds.Gonna wack em in tonite and hopefully my street will be like blackpool illuminations lol ;-)

Try eBay again this time entering "londoncolour" as one word (without quotes). It works, I just did it

Try eBay again this time entering "londoncolour" as one word (without quotes). It works, I just did it

 

Or use the direct link, above

Blown me balls and bought uprated bulbs from halfrauds.Gonna wack em in tonite and hopefully my street will be like blackpool illuminations lol ;-)

HALFORDS

To help out the stupid (me) are the night breaker etc lights for 'full beam' or 'dipped beam' ?

Thinks, can you get separate bulbs for either? I'm guessing the full beam on the Octy is a separate bulb (realising I know chuff all about my car!)

I've used aftermarket hid kits in 4 different cars over the last few years and never been stopped by the police or failed an mot. Have asked a few mot testers and they said as long as beam pattern is correct then it is fine. Have factory xenons on my vrs now so don't need to worry if they change the law about aftermarket.

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120606172804/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/dft-information-sheets/aftermarket-hid-headlamps.pdf

The above makes interesting reading but the definitive answer is only a magistrate can judge if they are actually illegal.

HALFORDS

 

I think it was Halfrauds on purpose

 

They can be so expensive its almost fraud

The MOT Testers Manual

 

1.7 Headlights

 

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.

Headlamp washers may work in conjunction with the windscreen washers (when the dipped beam headlamps are switched on) or by a separate switch.
 

Method of inspection

 

Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted, switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted.

 

Reason for rejection

 

A headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.

I think it was Halfrauds on purpose

They can be so expensive its almost fraud

I know that's everyone's reasoning for using the term, strange that these people who claim to have been defrauded weren't intelligent enough to see that before they went through the door

The MOT Testers Manual

1.7 Headlights

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.

Headlamp washers may work in conjunction with the windscreen washers (when the dipped beam headlamps are switched on) or by a separate switch.

Method of inspection

Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted, switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted.

Reason for rejection

A headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.

Sadly, just because something passes an MOT, doesn't make it legal. Window tints are a good example.

I know that's everyone's reasoning for using the term, strange that these people who claim to have been defrauded weren't intelligent enough to see that before they went through the door

 

Yep, I know they are often more expensive that other outlets but still shop there. I think its the added choice and convienience - which I guess you pay for! 

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120606172804/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/dft-information-sheets/aftermarket-hid-headlamps.pdf

The above makes interesting reading but the definitive answer is only a magistrate can judge if they are actually illegal.

Anyone got a few thousand quid to burn on lawyers to try and get an answer?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Sadly, just because something passes an MOT, doesn't make it legal. Window tints are a good example.

 

With that in mind, what is the best source of information for what is legal or illegal?

With that in mind, what is the best source of information for what is legal or illegal?

It would have to be tested in court and the case be put into the statute book. Alternatively a specific amendment to the Road Traffic Act could outlaw them.

The former is not likely to happen. Traffic enforcement is at best scarce and on a car with projector lenses, only the trained eye would know they aren't stock. The same cannot be said if kits fitted to reflector lenses.

It would have to be tested in court and the case be put into the statute book. Alternatively a specific amendment to the Road Traffic Act could outlaw them.

There is case law

There is statute law

Cases, therefore, do not get put on the statute book

Blown me balls and bought uprated bulbs from halfrauds.Gonna wack em in tonite and hopefully my street will be like blackpool illuminations lol ;-)

Hopefully this will solve your problem,im guessing you know how easily the headlamps come out so you can change the bulbs? 

There is case law

There is statute law

Cases, therefore, do not get put on the statute book

 

 

So the answer is they might be illegal or they might not be.  It doesn't matter what VOSA/DfT or Joe Bloggs thinks.

 

Until Parliament (or Brussels) puts something down in writing or a judge (or more likely quite a few judges) decides one way or another that's the closest we get, the end.

Just lurching back on topic, is there anyone in the York area with a mkII Octavia (without the evil HIDs of Doom!!!!) who could compare their lights with the OP's?

eBay ID: http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/londoncolour?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

 

eBay store: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/HIDONLINEUK?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Thanks Wardy 

It's happening again! You said you wouldn't be drawn in Mike....