Mot & Hids

[Leesfarm07]

Whilst waiting for my van test this morning I noticed a poster on the wall which read "new items tested effective 20/03/13 include - self levelling and washers when fitted to vehicles using Hid or led headlights'
I took it up with the tester whether this meant (as read) that the levellers and washers are only tested if fitted or if they are required if you had Hids. He assumed the latter but wasn't 100% sure. I then asked if this applied to aftermarket or Oem or both. Again this confused the matter. So still none the wiser. Might have to keep a spare set of lights just for mots.

 

[ben g]

it's still a grey area, even with the new rules in place. there's no black and white answer yet, unfortunately.

i'll just take them out come MOT time to make 100% sure it passes. only takes 10 minutes anyway.

 

[Marius]

The rules are clear .
You can't fit hid kit to halogen headlamps as whole light spectrum will be wrong ,it's doesn't matter if you have self leveling system and washer ,it's still not going to meet mot requirements. You can buy hid conversion kit witch includes new lenses designed to work with hid bulbs .

The headlights has different marking for hid's and halogens and they can be easy checked by mot tester .However ,extra £10-20 usually makes tester go blind .

 

[Leesfarm07]

The rules are clear .
You can't fit hid kit to halogen headlamps as whole light spectrum will be wrong ,it's doesn't matter if you have self leveling system and washer ,it's still not going to meet mot requirements. You can buy hid conversion kit witch includes new lenses designed to work with hid bulbs .

The headlights has different marking for hid's and halogens and they can be easy checked by mot tester .However ,extra £10-20 usually do the trick .

When you say 'whole light spectrum will be wrong' do you mean they wont work any better than halogens (dipped beam). Will I not achieve a better light by fitting aftermarket Hid's?

 

[itguy]

No, it's the beam pattern that will be wrong. You will get lots more light.

If you've driven in thick fog with halogens you'll notice random bits of light going all over the place but when they design HID lenses they try to sort all those out. My MINI and Zed (both with factory HID) dont spill any light anywhere. My wife's fiesta with factory projector style halogens is awful.

 

[Marius]

The rules are clear .
You can't fit hid kit to halogen headlamps as whole light spectrum will be wrong ,it's doesn't matter if you have self leveling system and washer ,it's still not going to meet mot requirements. You can buy hid conversion kit witch includes new lenses designed to work with hid bulbs .

The headlights has different marking for hid's and halogens and they can be easy checked by mot tester .However ,extra £10-20 usually do the trick .

When you say 'whole light spectrum will be wrong' do you mean they wont work any better than halogens (dipped beam). Will I not achieve a better light by fitting aftermarket Hid's?

Sorry ,i've meant pattern. You will get more light ,but it doesn't mean you will see more .Perfectly adjusted halogens can be much better than after market hid's.
alot of information can be found here http://www.hidplanet.com/

 

[ben g]

but hid headlamp bulbs will be legal if you buy a xenon projector, hence where the confusion is.

take the halogen projector out, insert the xenon projector in and the beam pattern should be perfect.

 

[Leesfarm07]

but hid headlamp bulbs will be legal if you buy a xenon projector, hence where the confusion is.

take the halogen projector out, insert the xenon projector in and the beam pattern should be perfect.

How can you tell a xenon projector

 

[ben g]

i'm not 100% sure, but they look the same as the halogen projector inside my headlamp.

a lad i know on another forum has used these morimoto xenon projectors as an upgrade to the halogen's in his E36 M3, with great results.

 

[slick]

High Intensity Discharge (HID) and LED
dipped beam headlamps (whether original
fitment or after-market) must be fitted with a head
lamp washing system (a wiper is not
required) and be self levelling. This may be achiev
ed by the use of either headlamp or
suspension levelling systems. However, some high pe
rformance vehicles fitted with HID
headlamps that have limited luggage space and stiff
suspension do not require a self-
levelling system. It is accepted that it may not be
possible to readily determine the
functioning of self levelling systems. In such case
s, the benefit of the doubt must be given.
Where headlamp levelling or cleaning devices are mi
ssing or defective, but there is doubt
as to whether they are required, the benefit of the
doubt should be given.
Headlamp washers may work in conjunction with the w
indscreen washers (when the dipped
beam headlamps are switched on) or by a separate sw
itch.
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 headla
mp
•
having ‘DCR’ marked on the headlamp lens Copied direct from the Testers Manual (online version)


http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/Freedom%20of%20Information/Light%20Vehicle%20Inspection%20Manual/Lamps%20-%20Headlamps.pdf

 

[ben g]

However, some high performance vehicles fitted with HID headlamps that have limited luggage space and stiff suspension do not require a self-levelling system. 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. Where headlamp levelling or cleaning devices are missing or defective, but there is doubt as to whether they are required, the benefit of the doubt should be given.

that's the main bit. basically, it's at the direction of the tester.