Dim skoda roomster headlights - what best to do?

[markyd23]

Hi folks, am struggling with my headlights. Have an 07 roomster 3 and doing minimum of 60 miles a day on rural roads. The dipped beam is acceptable (just) but the main beam seems little different to the dipped, doesn't light up much, not much higher, is slightly to one side and patchy in light. When looking at the bulbs head on it looks fine but not when driving. Replaced the bulbs a few months ago (with just standard bulbs) but no difference again. My wife's Toyota urbancruiser lights up so much more and even our old campervan lights up nearly to Jupiter with the front spots!

 

Have seen posts on Osram and Philips bulbs but don't want to spend more if the headlights seem just the same. It keeps passing MOT's and services flag up nothing. I would happily upgrade if it meant an improvement and maybe also replace the front fogs - how easy is it to get in to the front fog bulbs?

 

Just as an aside, I had major problems getting into to change the sidelight bulbs but for anyone trying, who values the skin on their hands lol, a strong thin crocodile clip was perfect to get into the stupid useless metal housing around the bulb holder - grip the holder, twist and remove, wish I had known about that tip at the start, would have saved hours of trying!

 

Thanks in advance of some help

[Jonny5ive]

Some clarity as to the type of headlights you have fitted to your vehicle will help.

If you have reflector style headlights, upgrade the bulbs.

If you have projector a style lights, spend circa £30 on an aftermarket HID kit.

Fog lights are straight forward to get to. A sharp pull on the surrounding plastic trims will then reveal some screws to free the light housing and then obtain access to the rear and replace the bulb.

[markyd23]

Thanks, how do you tell if they are reflector or projector?

[Jonny5ive]

1. Does the lamp unit have a visible round lens at the front?

2. Are dipped and main beam seperate bulbs?

[markyd23]

yes, visible round lens and no, just one bulb

[Jonny5ive]

Then I'd put money on them being projector headlights, in which case, see above about HIDs.

I'd recommend 4300k which gives a nice OEM white light colour, not blue/purple.

If you weren't so far North I'd offer to fit them for you!!

[markyd23]

Thanks and that would be a very kind offer if I wasn't so far North! have to say, having looked at the kit, looks a bit daunting when you see wiring! wouldn't bother me on my old van but a modern car is a different matter. Wishing it was just replacing the bulb really! :(

[malcster]

Thanks and that would be a very kind offer if I wasn't so far North! have to say, having looked at the kit, looks a bit daunting when you see wiring! wouldn't bother me on my old van but a modern car is a different matter. Wishing it was just replacing the bulb really! :(

tbh honest its just as easy as swapping a bulb 

 

total install time on mine about 90 minutes would have been a heck of a lot quicker but i am dead anal about hiding wires and control boxes etc 

 

you cant tell looking under the bonnet of mine its an aftermarket kit 

control ballasts are hidden in the inner wings 

 

 

the difference in light is staggering 

[jonro2009]

I would second the upgrade to HID and if you weren't so far south I'd help you out.

You say the dipped beam is acceptable, just. The high beam is just the same bulb but a mechanical shutter raises to allow more light out, could it be that the shutters aren't raising properly?

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[markyd23]

could well be, i didn't know it was just mechanical!

[jonro2009]

Yes, when you flash your headlights, engine off, you should here a clunk as they raise and lower

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[markyd23]

Had no idea it might be a mechanical problem!

[jonro2009]

It's just a thought, could be way off the mark but if dipped is ok and main is poor then it could be

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[silver1011]

Projector Headlights...

 

  

 

Standard Reflector Headlights...

 

[silver1011]

If you have projector headlights then an aftermarket HID kit will literally be like night and day.

 

An eBay supplier called London Colour offer very well built kits that have a great reputation on here...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XENON-HID-CONVERSION-KIT-H1-H3-H7-H9-H11-HB3-HB4-9006-/330379335700

[markyd23]

Am confused as to how many of the HID sellers state that they are sold for shows and off road use only - suggesting they are not uk road legal??

[Jonny5ive]

Am confused as to how many of the HID sellers state that they are sold for shows and off road use only - suggesting they are not uk road legal??

I've had mine fitted for almost 4yrs. MOT's have not been an issue with my projector headlights.

I'm not familiar with the legislation that pertains to their road legality or not.

[silver1011]

The topic of legality surrounding aftermarket HID kits is a hotly debated one that divides opinion.

 

Vehicles with factory fitted HID (High Intensity Discharge) lights i.e. xenon and bi-xenon come equipped with a headlight wash system and automatic self-levelling beam adjustment.

 

These are to prevent the dazzling of other road users due to the sharper cut-off of a xenon beam compared to traditional halogen headlights.

 

There are sensors on the front and rear suspension arms that detect the angle of the car which allows the lights to automatically adjust the height of the beam, much like the manual control in a non-xenon equipped car does. The idea behind the wash system is to reduce the liklihood of dirt deflecting the light in unwanted directions.

 

So in theory if you fit a HID kit without the other elements then it is possible an MOT tester could fail your car, although it does stipulate that they only need to be present, not actually working.

 

Saying that a bit of common sense can often prevent issues. Fit them to projector headlights not normal reflector headlights, reflector headlights aren't able to control to direction of the light output as well as projectors, keep them clean and manually adjust the beam height if you are carrying rear seat passengers, have a heavy load in the boot or are towing - and you won't inconvienience other road users.

 

I've had a HID kit fitted to my car for a good few years now and it has been through three MOT's (at two different test centres) without issue.

[jonro2009]

.

So in theory if you fit a HID kit without the other elements then it is possible an MOT tester could fail your car, although it does stipulate that they only need to be present, not actually working.

Agree with all the comments made by silver1011 apart from the one quoted.

It is stipulated that where present they must be working, not that they need to be present but not actually working.

It is hotly debated but in my opinion the above is quite clear. As long as the beam pattern is also correct there should be no question from a tester.

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[brad1.8T]

Am confused as to how many of the HID sellers state that they are sold for shows and off road use only - suggesting they are not uk road legal??

That's because they aren't road legal without self-levelling & headlight washers.

 

Plenty of otherwise law abiding citizens run just the kit without issue.

 

I really wish you hadn't mentioned it because then all the black & white people start chiming in about how a kitten dies everytime an aftermarket hid kit is fitted

[jonro2009]

Brad1.8T, at this time of year it is a reindeer that dies [emoji6]

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[bigjohn]

That's because they aren't road legal without self-levelling & headlight washers.

 

Plenty of otherwise law abiding citizens run just the kit without issue.

 

I really wish you hadn't mentioned it because then all the black & white people start chiming in about how a kitten dies everytime an aftermarket hid kit is fitted

 

Meow! No kittens died as part of this thread

[ChrisTids]

This was a statement originally posted by Department for Transport about 5 years ago (or perhaps more) on the subject, but keep in mind it is still only a “view” and interpretation of the law not a judgement. So make what you will with this…

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.

[jonro2009]

.

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.

Not wanting to get into a heavy debate as it is just going over old ground which includes subjective guidelines.

I am just wondering if the wording above are your words or a direct quote and if so can you reference it just so I can have a look. It's just an area of interest to me. If this is a direct quote by the DoT then it is not transferred to the current MOT guidelines which again are subjective.

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[softscoop]

Just to throw this in the water

 

I have an Octavia elegance which has projector headlights and washers. It does not have auto-levelling.

 

I have an HID kit fitted, which gives a perfect beam pattern.

 

I had my car MOTd on Tuesday, during which my dashcam was left running.

 

The testers simply tested the beam pattern. They made no attempt to check whether the headlight washers are working or not.

 

It passed with no advisories