HIDs and new MOT rules

[olsonn]

With the MOT rules changing on 20.5.18, I should be able to get another 12 month ticket on my Z4 E85 with its HIDs in situ in the front lights, but It now means that I have just over 12 months to source a solution to my front lighting issue. I certainly wont be going back to halogen, the stock lights are so rubbish its a disgrace. The obvious solution is to fit xenon, but despite looking for a couple of years I have not been able to locate a decent set of second hand ones. Does anybody make a set that are compatible with my car at a price less than the stealers charge, or am I looking at stumping up almost £2000 before my 2019 MOT??

[bmwaddict]

Have you looked into LED bulbs? Haven't tried myself but my mate with an older Mercedes has changed his HIDs to LEDs because of the new rules, they look nice and bright and he says he'll never go back to Xenon bulbs now. Cheap too comparatively.

[PerryGunn]

....or am I looking at stumping up almost £2000 before my 2019 MOT??

as the MOT is just a point-in-time examination, do you have a simple way to swap back to halogens for the MOT and refit your HIDs afterwards? I know this will depend on how you've done your HID conversion and could be a bit of a ballache but it's only once a year...

[olsonn]

It is a possibility, but the way I have done the ballasts, it may well involve removing the bumper and if you have had the pleasure of doing this, you will know it tends to involve replacing at least one of the bumper clips, a lot less than £2000, but still a ball ache

[Mark-Z4]

What is happening to the law?

I thought it changed ages ago, where you couldn't have HID on a non-projected headlight that wasn't self adjusting?

Ive had HID fitted since I bought the car and never had any issues.

[RustyZ4]

What is happening to the law?

I thought it changed ages ago, where you couldn't have HID on a non-projected headlight that wasn't self adjusting?

Ive had HID fitted since I bought the car and never had any issues.

I too thought the law changed years ago, and on my last Z with them, no issues at all

[Darkangelv2]

The law changed years ago however the MOT didn't check for legalities of the headlights, just the condition of the components required to work with each light type.

The rough difference (as i understand it):

Old MOT -
Check beam height, cut-off etc.
If headlights have washer jets, ensure they work
If headlights have self-adjustment, ensure it works

New MOT -
All the above PLUS
If headlights use HID or LED, ensure the headlight assembly was designed for it.


This means, in theory, all HID kits can be failed if the MOT tester decides to. It's going to mean either swapping back to halogen once a year or a friendly chat with your tester. Our cars aren't dangerous with HIDs after all.

That said, i've just re-read it and it states....

4.1.5 Levelling devices
Where a manual headlamp levelling device (driver control) is fitted it must work. Before operating the
control, check the setting it is on and return it to the same place.
Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be
fitted with 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 selflevelling
systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt must be given.

4.1.6 Cleaning devices
This inspection only applies to vehicles first used on or after 1 September 2009 equipped with
headlamp washers.
HID lamps may be identified by:
 taking a few seconds to reach full intensity
 having a bluish tinge to the light
 having an igniter module/inverter behind the headlamp
 having ‘DCR’ marked on the headlamp lens or body.
HID headlamps use high voltage and extra care should be taken when inspecting these items.

[Mark-Z4]

That doesn't seem too bad, I cant see my MOT tester taking off the covers of the arch just to check what kind of lamp ive got in there. Plus I've hidden all the ballasts and wiring.

[MACK]

As above really. I'd take for its mot and see what happens. Hopefully it will just pass unnoticed or they'll pretend they did notice.

[Magicarcher]

Have you looked into LED bulbs? Haven't tried myself but my mate with an older Mercedes has changed his HIDs to LEDs because of the new rules, they look nice and bright and he says he'll never go back to Xenon bulbs now. Cheap too comparatively.

There is no certainty LEDs will pass as generally it is very difficult to find LEDs any warmer than 5500k which is bluer than stock halogens or Xenons, the new MOT rules also fail overly blue lights (you also need to be careful beam pattern matches). There is also no certainty on their legality as your light units have been homologated with standard filament bulbs and won't have been homologated with LEDs. Its a pain to be honest because stock halogen light performance is dismal. What is it about BMW and lights, my Mini is the same, with halogen lights the beam pattern and illumination levels are really bad.

[cj10jeeper]

You seem to have miss3d the section that is very clear that it is not permissible to convert a halogen light to hid. Such is a fail
4.1.4
Some vehicles may be fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps. It is not permitted to convert existing halogen headlamp units for use with HID bulbs. If it is clear that such a conversion has been carried out, rather than replacing the entire unit with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs, the headlamp should be rejected.

There are clear guide lines on how to spot it from colour, intensity and speed to ignite.
For sure some will, pass but if seen by the tester it’s a fail

[bmwaddict]

Ah right, my mate must be on good terms with his tester then. Thanks to both for the clarification, apologies to the OP, I didn't know LED bulbs didn't pass.

[cj10jeeper]

Ah right, my mate must be on good terms with his tester then. Thanks to both for the clarification, apologies to the OP, I didn't know LED bulbs didn't pass.

It doesn’t come in until May and regs are draft only at present

[Ewazix]

It looks like the new rules have been firmed-up for introduction on 20th May 2018

Idiots guide https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mot- ... 0-may-2018

Full Monty version https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ting-guide

Some light reading