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Xenon's
- Thread starter sparkrs
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bizzaboy
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...Not only that, you are also supposed to have automatic levelling feature too!
How does this all add up when the MOT comes around?
If the tester understands you have Xenon's, is he also going to look for washer jets and auto levelling installed, otherwise its a fail !??
How about the police, can they be a bit fully about these super bright Xenons?
(they shouldn't be able to say much tho, you see THEM a mile away with theirs - on their traffic cars!).
sparkrs
Guest
As far as i was aware if you have Xenons factory fitted you must have washer jets, however by fitting an aftermarket kit you dont. Its one of them grey areas thats only come about in recent years.
Many people i know who have aftermarket kits have got MOT places to set the leveling on them, so their not likely to then fail them on having an aftermarket kit fitted
Many people i know who have aftermarket kits have got MOT places to set the leveling on them, so their not likely to then fail them on having an aftermarket kit fitted
If they're after market they don't need washer jets however you do still need the lights to auto level, and you need to use a projector as using an HID bulb with a normal reflector not designed for it can cause glare.
I'm pretty certain thats what the updated law states as there was a thread on here about it and someone quoted the law change.
Personnally auto leveling doesn't bother me much but I am trying to get a set of OE Xenon Headlights and ballast's but so far I've had no luck. (mainly trying on eBay atm)
Heres the official view from the Department of Transport Website:
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.
The following is the legal rationale:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
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.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
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.
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.
The following is the legal rationale:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
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.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
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.
nixu
Guest
Look at my singature if you intersted send me an e-mail
if those are from a european car then the beam pattern will be pointing the wrong way for UK...
Projector beam patterns are easily adjusted right enough, should be aligned after fitting without say anyways.
right im really wanting this on my cupra now i want blueish 1's im wanting a propper kit what is te best kit then peeps
sorry to highjack this thread
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=Xenon+HID+kit
sorry to highjack this thread
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=Xenon+HID+kit
Any of those ones would do Rash.
Just buy a set that gives H7 fitment, the most common temperature tends to be 6000K - that's what I use and never had a problem in nearly three years.
So long as you get one of those that would do... the Bi-Xenon kit are for people who don't have a separate bulb for their main beams.
Fitting is a doddle too - most will come with instructions... but its pretty much plug in where it'll fit...
I wouldn't say any kits are better than others, my expensive kit from HIDS4U was not in the slightest different from either of my cheapo's from eBay
Just buy a set that gives H7 fitment, the most common temperature tends to be 6000K - that's what I use and never had a problem in nearly three years.
So long as you get one of those that would do... the Bi-Xenon kit are for people who don't have a separate bulb for their main beams.
Fitting is a doddle too - most will come with instructions... but its pretty much plug in where it'll fit...
I wouldn't say any kits are better than others, my expensive kit from HIDS4U was not in the slightest different from either of my cheapo's from eBay
I bought a kit for mine, and they have improved the lighting alot. It was nice and easy to fit and havnt had any probs what so ever with them. Not had an mot done on the car yet so will just have to wait and see how the new owner gets on. It would be only a 10 min job to put back to the standard if needed. It was a group buy on here where I ended getting them for £150 for Bosch ones.
I've never seen them in a shop mate but I buy most things online now. I know loads of people who have bought them on eBay, me twice and my father also and never heard anything but positive comments
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