New MOT rules - HIDs *UPDATED*

[noiseboy72]

To legally use HIDS, you need to have headlight washers and automatic headlamp levelling. The lamps also need to be "E" marked

This has nothing to do with the mot but is part of the Construction and Use regulations.

The police regularly use this as a reason to pull and impound boy racers, so do be careful!

 

[JamieZ4C]

All good points. Mine were fitted by the previous owner. At a guess they're 5/6k. Headlamp washers are fitted, but I'm 99% sure the headlamps don't auto level. No idea about the E!

Will have to do some research on LEDs. Although I'm happy to go back to standard, whether that means a simple swap back to halogens or the more expensive and complicated option of xenons.

 

[Mark-Z4]

Auto Levelling and washers has been a HID mot requirement for years. I have 6000k, washers but not auto level and I've never had my HID's mentioned.

I take it there changes are for HID kits only, not manufacture fitted?

 

[JamieZ4C]

I take it there changes are for HID kits only, not manufacture fitted?

Not a clue, and I'm hoping I won't find out for over a year!

 

[Magicarcher]

Will have to do some research on LEDs. Although I'm happy to go back to standard, whether that means a simple swap back to halogens or the more expensive and complicated option of xenons.

If your research is good you will find out that LEDs are also not legal for external use. The only way I see that changing is if some of the big guys like Osram, Philips, Bosch get them E marked as a direct replacement to an existing filament bulb. If you find different let me know because I would love to use them, they are now sufficiently bright and the beam pattern is also very good (not sure on reliability).

 

[R60BBA]

Sorry to jump in but would this beam pattern pass MOT?

 

[Magicarcher]

Sorry to jump in but would this beam pattern pass MOT?

I'm not an expert on beam pattern, but when I was comparing I did back to back LED vs standard halogen. Fitted camera on tripod took photo of Hal in dip and high, then from exact same positions did LED. I was looking to make sure LEDS were not higher or further right, but they were identical. Bear in mind the same will not be true for all LEDs I was using one of the recent designs with the Philips chipset which reviews very well (and is also very expensive from some suppliers).

 

[R60BBA]

Sorry to jump in but would this beam pattern pass MOT?

I'm not an expert on beam pattern, but when I was comparing I did back to back LED vs standard halogen. Fitted camera on tripod took photo of Hal in dip and high, then from exact same positions did LED. I was looking to make sure LEDS were not higher or further right, but they were identical. Bear in mind the same will not be true for all LEDs I was using one of the recent designs with the Philips chipset which reviews very well (and is also very expensive from some suppliers).

These are LEDs but I think my drivers side light is too high or my passenger light isn’t high enough?

 

[Ewazix]

Previously new car regs said washers must be fitted with HIDs, but the old MOT manual said washer systems MAY be fitted with HIDs, and where they are fitted they must work. This gave latitude for a pass with aftermarket HID and no washers with some testers, that loophole is now closed,

The new May 2018 MOT manual s.4.1.4 says "Existing halogen headlamp units shouldn’t be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp"

Be interesting to see how it goes.

https://training.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/class3457/Section-4-Lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment.html#section_4.1

 

[ben g]

Sorry to jump in but would this beam pattern pass MOT?

I'm not an expert on beam pattern, but when I was comparing I did back to back LED vs standard halogen. Fitted camera on tripod took photo of Hal in dip and high, then from exact same positions did LED. I was looking to make sure LEDS were not higher or further right, but they were identical. Bear in mind the same will not be true for all LEDs I was using one of the recent designs with the Philips chipset which reviews very well (and is also very expensive from some suppliers).

These are LEDs but I think my drivers side light is too high or my passenger light isn’t high enough?

drivers side beam looks a little high to me. Try and adjust that one down a little, to match the passenger side beam height.

what LED bulbs are those? They look like they give out a decent beam pattern. Others i've seen appear to give out a scattered light.

 

[ben g]

Sorry to jump in but would this beam pattern pass MOT?

I'm not an expert on beam pattern, but when I was comparing I did back to back LED vs standard halogen. Fitted camera on tripod took photo of Hal in dip and high, then from exact same positions did LED. I was looking to make sure LEDS were not higher or further right, but they were identical. Bear in mind the same will not be true for all LEDs I was using one of the recent designs with the Philips chipset which reviews very well (and is also very expensive from some suppliers).

These are LEDs but I think my drivers side light is too high or my passenger light isn’t high enough?

drivers side beam looks a little high to me. Try and adjust that one down a little, to match the passenger side beam height.

what LED bulbs are those? They look like they give out a decent beam pattern. Others i've seen appear to give out a scattered light.

 

[R60BBA]

These are LEDs but I think my drivers side light is too high or my passenger light isn’t high enough?

drivers side beam looks a little high to me. Try and adjust that one down a little, to match the passenger side beam height.

what LED bulbs are those? They look like they give out a decent beam pattern. Others i've seen appear to give out a scattered light.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01N2G43WR?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title&th=1

Had to bend the light holders to make them fit though

 

[kis]

The station i use is on a junction with two separate accesses. There is literally five different directions you can drive off in. They need a major police operation to capture everyone leaving and not everyone will have been Mot'd anyway.

Sounds like that's a contingency plan you've pre-planned for :evil:
Reminds me of a similar post I made recently about the "scramble" in Fast and Furious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_arK4MTbcTM

 

[MACK]

The station i use is on a junction with two separate accesses. There is literally five different directions you can drive off in. They need a major police operation to capture everyone leaving and not everyone will have been Mot'd anyway.

Sounds like that's a contingency plan you've pre-planned for :evil:
Reminds me of a similar post I made recently about the "scramble" in Fast and Furious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_arK4MTbcTM

Lol!
No my mate owns the place, it's just a coincidence your honour!
In fact GMP traffic division base is just around the corner and quite a few of those folks use it for their personal cars. You should see the state some of their own cars roll in in! Best case I've ever seen of not practising what you preach!

 

[JamieZ4C]

MOT booked for Thurs 17th. Having only just bought the car and not had the chance to get underneath her yet, I've asked to have a proper poke around underneath while she's up on the lift. Hopefully have a chat with the guy about new MOT rules while I'm at it, trying to gauge whether the HIDs are a problem... without bringing them to his attention. Not sure how I'll do that?!

I'll report back with my findings and maybe even a photo or two.

 

[Darkangelv2]

I don't think you'll have an issue - mine has your exact set up.

 

[jgu80]

Aren’t led bulbs as none compliant as HIDs anyway?

I thought the whole issue was the dazzle issue hence Xenons have the self levelling systems.

 

[Darkangelv2]

Aren’t led bulbs as none compliant as HIDs anyway?

I thought the whole issue was the dazzle issue hence Xenons have the self levelling systems.

Yes to the first one.

The second one - sort of. Seeing as the tester isn't able to test whether or not this is working, it's moot. I've never understood the sense anyway as the driver should be trusted to adjust the level using the dial according to the weight they are towing anyway. Not really a problem in a Z4!

 

[Ewazix]

Aren’t led bulbs as none compliant as HIDs anyway?

I thought the whole issue was the dazzle issue hence Xenons have the self levelling systems.

Yes to the first one.

The second one - sort of. Seeing as the tester isn't able to test whether or not this is working, it's moot. I've never understood the sense anyway as the driver should be trusted to adjust the level using the dial according to the weight they are towing anyway. Not really a problem in a Z4!

I don't know about the current regs but as of 20th May 2018 the MOT manual only refers to HIDs being a failure if fitted aftermarket to a non-HID unit, LED's don't get a mention specifically.

 

[Darkangelv2]

Aren’t led bulbs as none compliant as HIDs anyway?

I thought the whole issue was the dazzle issue hence Xenons have the self levelling systems.

Yes to the first one.

The second one - sort of. Seeing as the tester isn't able to test whether or not this is working, it's moot. I've never understood the sense anyway as the driver should be trusted to adjust the level using the dial according to the weight they are towing anyway. Not really a problem in a Z4!

I don't know about the current regs but as of 20th May 2018 the MOT manual only refers to HIDs being a failure if fitted aftermarket to a non-HID unit, LED's don't get a mention specifically.

That's a massive oversight when creating such a big overhaul! Can't believe they couldn't just refer to non-standard or something