-
Guest, 🎅🎄Looking for a stocking filler idea? Why not treat yourself or a loved one to our high quality CUPRA or SEAT valve caps. Order now from the merchandise store
No these are not the AFS lights(ones that turn in corners) they are the ones with the chrome dome around the projector lense. I think it probably cost me around £500 - 600
for everything, quite alot but they look ace and ill get my moneys worth
Hi, thanks for your comment. I think as regards to new cars with factory fitted xenons your correct they will come with self levelling and headlight washers.
But im not sure if the same legalities apply to retro fitted ones as they were not done by the manufacturer. Also would a MOT testing station not just check your beam alignment to make sure your not dazzling people? Im probably wrong but thats my thoughts.
No these are not the AFS lights(ones that turn in corners) they are the ones with the chrome dome around the projector lense. I think it probably cost me around £500 - 600
for everything, quite alot but they look ace and ill get my moneys worth
wasnt aware that SEAT just did xenons with out the AFS? was that an option then?
i thought the motors were part of the assy?
Leon_MHX do you have any pics of the light pattern on the road at night?
might be interested in doing this, if no there is no proper aftermarket solution available.
might be interested in doing this, if no there is no proper aftermarket solution available.
bizzaboy
Guest
I had a set of aftermarket HID Xenons fitted to my MK4 SEAT Ibiza (that had no washers or self levellers).
In the 3 years they were fitted, they passed every MOT without questions asked and I was never stopped by the Police with them on - evening / night time.
All I did, once they were fitted, was take the car to an MOT testing station who aligned them properly. So I didnt get flashed by on-coming cars either.
The light emitted was nothing like that of "standard" headlights (effectively glow worms in jam jars).
It was a piercing white/blue tint - Driving through country lanes was such a transformation, almost lit up like daylight.
In the 3 years they were fitted, they passed every MOT without questions asked and I was never stopped by the Police with them on - evening / night time.
All I did, once they were fitted, was take the car to an MOT testing station who aligned them properly. So I didnt get flashed by on-coming cars either.
The light emitted was nothing like that of "standard" headlights (effectively glow worms in jam jars).
It was a piercing white/blue tint - Driving through country lanes was such a transformation, almost lit up like daylight.
Last edited by a moderator:
I don't think the rules have changed, they are just so grey that Renault read them in a way that makes the lights in that pic legal.
Taken from a website you seem to know well Nath.
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.
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.
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.
I hope this information helps clear up some of the legality questions on HID's - cyb
So even though a complete Xenon unit has been replaced it still has to have headlamp cleaning & self-levelling. However the chances of this beong inforced are low, especially if like the OP the complete unit has been installed
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.
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.
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.
I hope this information helps clear up some of the legality questions on HID's - cyb
So even though a complete Xenon unit has been replaced it still has to have headlamp cleaning & self-levelling. However the chances of this beong inforced are low, especially if like the OP the complete unit has been installed
Last edited:
So can you give an idea of how that Renault and a few thousand others, came out of the factory the way it did.
Hi Leon_MHX, sorry dunno your 'real' name. I see you got yourself sorted out with bulbs and ballasts then. Nice stuff. My Xenons are still in the box at the moment. What did you do about levelling?? Are the blanks still in the lamps to hold the xenon beams or have you got them wired up to the rheostat on the dash? Thats whats holding me up at the moment, that and a 1001 other jobs the missus has me doing. Drop me a PM and let me know how you got on. Nice one....![[B)]](/forums/styles/seatcupra/oldforumsmileys/shades.gif "Cool [B)]")
Hi Leon_MHX, sorry dunno your 'real' name. I see you got yourself sorted out with bulbs and ballasts then. Nice stuff. My Xenons are still in the box at the moment. What did you do about levelling?? Are the blanks still in the lamps to hold the xenon beams or have you got them wired up to the rheostat on the dash? Thats whats holding me up at the moment, that and a 1001 other jobs the missus has me doing. Drop me a PM and let me know how you got on. Nice one....
At the moment i dont have any sort of levelling on the lights other than the manual levelling on the light unit itself.
I understand that this manual adjustment is for the "max" height the beam will go to and the self levelling operates within this range, if that makes sense.
My name is Mike btw
Well the Renault you featured does actually have washers for a start (they are on the bumper facing toward the lights) so that complies with point 2 in the ''in practice'' above. I would also imagine they have self height facility as this car sale for a 2003 car suggests, EX34 http://cars.trovit.co.uk/used-cars/renault-laguna-headlights-xenon
The whole area is greyer than an MP's expense claim but I would suggest what the OP has done passes off as the most likely NOT to be stopped and checked
Last edited:
Similar threads
