Hi all,

Just wondered if there's anything I can do with my dipped headlights which just never seem to be bright enough (main beam is fine). My lights always seem to feel drowned out by oncoming cars and I need some lights to get through country lanes safely. Are there LED bulbs that can be used?

Vehicle is a 2004 L&K estate with standard xenons

Cheers

Vijay

Remember these lights are over 20 years old now, and comparing to new lights now, they’ll always look dim.

You can try and get some brighter ds2’s, but not LED’s if you’re in the UK as it will fail MOT.

Orsam or Philips seem to be quite good. Also ensure the lights are clean, inside too. There is a guide somewhere on how to clean the inside but you must take care.

Morning Dean,

Thanks for the info. What's the issue with led and mot's?

On 23/12/2025 at 08:34, Vijay2018 said:

Morning Dean,

Thanks for the info. What's the issue with led and mot's?

WILL LED BULBS PASS AN MOT?

There are two popular alternative light sources that are often fitted to halogen headlights – HID and LED.

But on 11th January the wording in the MOT inspection manual was updated to state that conversion of halogen to either HID or LED bulbs will automatically fail an MOT. To quote section 4.1.4 of the MOT Inspection Manual:

Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.

HID lights (high intensity discharge) fitted to halogen headlights have been reason to fail an MOT for a while now, but fitting LEDs has always been a bit of a grey area.

Technically only “E Marked” bulbs could be fitted to headlights, and LEDs do not typically carry such markings. However many people would continue to fit them as an alternative for halogen for longer life and greater output.

LED’s are also a cheaper and far simpler alternative to HID Xenon bulbs that often require extra work installing additional wiring and ballasts.

Any ambiguity on the rules for LEDs has been put to rest with this clear MOT guidance now though.

It’s not entirely clear on the reasoning behind this new wording – some cite changes stemming from Brexit, others argue it’s just to keep any loopholes closed.

But now it’s important as a motorist that if your vehicle is not using halogen bulbs when it should be, you’d better consider swapping them back as an MOT failure would now be entirely justified.

I had LED side bulbs in mine to match the whiteness of the xenon bulbs, to be fair they were in there when I bought the car. A mate doing my MOT says they have to be removed before I do the MOT, thankfully he had a check over everything for me. I also found I had LEDs for the high beams that made my lights flicker so they came straight out!

Edited 25 December, 202525 Dec by Dean

Thanks Dean,

Apart from the MOT situation, what was your view on LED in a xenon headlamp unit?

On 25/12/2025 at 11:09, Dean said:

I had LED side bulbs in mine to match the whiteness of the xenon bulbs, to be fair they were in there when I bought the car. A mate doing my MOT says they have to be removed before I do the MOT, thankfully he had a check over everything for me. I also found I had LEDs for the high beams that made my lights flicker so they came straight out!

From the note above about the MoT rules it seems as though it is only the headlamps that are affected by the 'upgrade' issue, and not the sidelights - or presumably any other non-headlamp light?

7 hours ago, MikeTheThinker said:

From the note above about the MoT rules it seems as though it is only the headlamps that are affected by the 'upgrade' issue, and not the sidelights - or presumably any other non-headlamp light?

Sidelights are included as mine were LED and would’ve failed straight away.

Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-1-4