Done for HID headlights.
Discussion
Well, After 3 years of having them fitted I was stopped by traffic police for having an Unauthorised lamp fitted.
The headlights are approved for Xenon/HID lamps and the HID kit and ballast are E marked only for use in the correct approved housing which mine are.
But when i was stopped they asked to see under the bonnet. I obliged and they looked at them and because they are 'aftermarket' kit they are immediately illegal. I told them the above that both were OEM equipment other than the HID's being made by a different company.
They said because my car doesnt have self leveling headlamps and washers that they are illegal. But, None of the cars the same as mine that have these as standard have either of these things aswell?
So mine was the same as a factory model fitted with them except because i replaced my dead ones with aftermarket, Im a criminal?
The done me anyway and told me to remove them. £30 lighter.
P.s They are not blinding and are correctly fitted and alligned.
The headlights are approved for Xenon/HID lamps and the HID kit and ballast are E marked only for use in the correct approved housing which mine are.
But when i was stopped they asked to see under the bonnet. I obliged and they looked at them and because they are 'aftermarket' kit they are immediately illegal. I told them the above that both were OEM equipment other than the HID's being made by a different company.
They said because my car doesnt have self leveling headlamps and washers that they are illegal. But, None of the cars the same as mine that have these as standard have either of these things aswell?
So mine was the same as a factory model fitted with them except because i replaced my dead ones with aftermarket, Im a criminal?
The done me anyway and told me to remove them. £30 lighter.
P.s They are not blinding and are correctly fitted and alligned.
afaik most aftermarket hid's are illegal cos they are mounted in the housings for halogen bulbs. Full replacement hid light units (like oem) are fine and do not need self-levelling or washers - only factory-fitted ones need these. From what you say, you fell foul of the first part - but if your headlamps were projector-lens type for hids then they were (probably) incorrect to prosecute you.....
172ff said:
Cool story bro!
Glad to see the filth doing something about illegal lights.
What dont you understand? They arent silly, they are no different to the one from the factory. They are projector headlights correctly alligned and fit for Xenon use. The only problem they have was that i chose to buy £60 E-MARKED lights on-line rather than £405 for E-MARKED one's from Renault.Glad to see the filth doing something about illegal lights.
Crusoe - It's a 2002 Renault Megane.
JoPo1 said:
172ff said:
Cool story bro!
Glad to see the filth doing something about illegal lights.
What dont you understand? They arent silly, they are no different to the one from the factory. They are projector headlights correctly alligned and fit for Xenon use. The only problem they have was that i chose to buy £60 E-MARKED lights on-line rather than £405 for E-MARKED one's from Renault.Glad to see the filth doing something about illegal lights.
Crusoe - It's a 2002 Renault Megane.
Let us know how you get on.
Its still a Renault Megane.
They are factory fitted ffs. Mine died and instead of paying the £400 Renault wanted. I bought other E-Marked and ECE something or other ones for £60 that are the same tempature, wattage etc.
They said they took a chance that mone wouldnt be factory even though there is no difference to mine now than from before other than the ballast saying Philips and not Renault.
They are factory fitted ffs. Mine died and instead of paying the £400 Renault wanted. I bought other E-Marked and ECE something or other ones for £60 that are the same tempature, wattage etc.
They said they took a chance that mone wouldnt be factory even though there is no difference to mine now than from before other than the ballast saying Philips and not Renault.
ensignia said:
I normally hate it when the Police try and do you for a seemingly minor offence, but this time I'm glad, because HIDs in none-HID equipped cars really pisses me off.
What colour temperature were the bulbs?
Did you not read it either? It is an HID equipped car.What colour temperature were the bulbs?
To pu it simple, Its like buying your halogen bulbs from Renault everytime.
Its still a helogen equipped car, You just bought replacements else where.
Jesus christ.
Why are you getting so worked up? If they are E marked as you say and identical to the factory fitted ones then you can contest it in court. Its like you said about buying halogen bulbs from Renault instead of Halfords.
I used to sell them on Ebay and never saw a single E marked kit
I don't see why they singled you out as every other car has them nowadays
I used to sell them on Ebay and never saw a single E marked kit
I don't see why they singled you out as every other car has them nowadays
Nickyboy said:
Why are you getting so worked up? If they are E marked as you say and identical to the factory fitted ones then you can contest it in court. Its like you said about buying halogen bulbs from Renault instead of Halfords.
I used to sell them on Ebay and never saw a single E marked kit
I don't see why they singled you out as every other car has them nowadays
Sorry Nicky, just some people dont read my car is an HID car.I used to sell them on Ebay and never saw a single E marked kit
I don't see why they singled you out as every other car has them nowadays
I asked them too how they could even tell and they said they took a chance cos they are doing a crackdown. And because my new ballasts arent as perfectly mounted as my originals they said they'll assume they are aftermarket.
The normal universal kits arent e-marked, but mine are philips ballasts specifically sold to replce my old units.
On the car when you purchased it ...
What a load of tosh
I have HID units on a truck no issue
Get flashed with HID on my X5 but never the truck
Its a pity that PLOD dont chase up ...
No use of dipped head lights in the rain
Fog lights when visibilty is good
Defective head lights
Degfective Rear & Brake lights
What a load of tosh
I have HID units on a truck no issue
Get flashed with HID on my X5 but never the truck
Its a pity that PLOD dont chase up ...
No use of dipped head lights in the rain
Fog lights when visibilty is good
Defective head lights
Degfective Rear & Brake lights
Beyond Rational said:
Is this to do with the bulbs or the fact that you don't have the washers and leveller on a factory install, which you must?
Renault maybe messed up supplying a car without the full specification.
No, just because the ballasts 'looked' after market and i told them they were replacement.Renault maybe messed up supplying a car without the full specification.
And no, Looked on AT today and 20 odd cars have the same spec.
ZesPak said:
Just to clarify, do they stop every car that has xenons? Or maybe yours looked very aftermarket? I have xenons and the police never queried about them once 
Me neither, had them 2 years with no issues. Replacements been in a year. Dont know if its to do with the 'crackdown' and stopping cars they beleive aftermarket or what. No idea.Tbh I think they shouldn't be used in all cars/from factory too.
There will always be times when a car with hid's (as standard) come over the brow of hill as you enter and burn your f
king retinas for a few seconds. Hate the things. Just absolute inconsideration towards other drivers.
So what did pc plod say when you said they were fitted as standard??
There will always be times when a car with hid's (as standard) come over the brow of hill as you enter and burn your f
king retinas for a few seconds. Hate the things. Just absolute inconsideration towards other drivers.So what did pc plod say when you said they were fitted as standard??
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