LED Headlights
Discussion
gruffalo said:
I saw a much more recent paper (on here, 2012 update I think) that went into much more detail, it stated that for car such as ours (sports cars)the need for a levelling system and cleaning system was not required due to the car, by it's nature, not being designed to carry heavy loads and having stiffer suspension thus not needing a levelling system, the need for a cleaning system I thought had been scraped after it had been shown to make no difference to the ability of the lights to dazzle.
This was a relaxing of the rules you referenced above, I would however not know where to look for it.
Pretty sure theres no relaxation of rules. Heres a link clarifying the situation under the freedom of information act. Its dated 2013. The only exemptions are where the car has leveling suspension, or the light out put falls below a specified limit. You'd still need HID type approved headlamp units. This was a relaxing of the rules you referenced above, I would however not know where to look for it.
The 2010 DFT regulation would still stand. You can bet your car that if you were involved in a collision with another vehicle and you had aftermarket HID's fitted to these old style reflector type units, your insurance provider will use it as a reason to not complete your claim.
Loads of people take the chance, so If your happy doing the same I guess it personal choice, but its still illegal.
ChimpOnGas said:
Hi J,
Mine came from Russ too, TBH you probably should have asked him to drill yours before he sent them out but it is a risky business so I'm not sure he openly offers this service.
He was great and talked me through everything, as initially I didn't realise they were not a direct swap (I didn't read the listing in full). He said that they would need to be drillied to make them the same pattern, but that it could lift the silver material. He didn't offer to do it for me and to be honest I dont blame him. I might run it past him and see what he says, with the risk being on me if they do start to lift. He also mentioned that many people run with them as they are, even through the pattern is slightly different.Mine came from Russ too, TBH you probably should have asked him to drill yours before he sent them out but it is a risky business so I'm not sure he openly offers this service.
I need to arrange to get them from him actually, so maybe he will be at the Bucks meet and we can talk it through.
I'm pretty keen to fit the LED's on the new reflectors without the drilling and see how they fare...... Would also love to see your car and how these lights are before I get started on mine. I think you are close to me, i'm near Beaconsfield.
ChimpOnGas said:
Yep, I'm Rickmansworth.
I will let you know once I've fitted the reflectors, if you'd like to see them with the LEDs your welcome to pop over, or meet up for an expensive refreshment at the Crazy Bear
Would like to see them, so maybe I can pop over and grab my reflectors from Russ at the same time. Also happy to buy you beer for your help, but the Crazy Bear is not where you wanna go.I will let you know once I've fitted the reflectors, if you'd like to see them with the LEDs your welcome to pop over, or meet up for an expensive refreshment at the Crazy Bear
m4tti said:
At the end of the day the fitment of certain types of lighting to particular headlight housings is illegal. Plainly listed on the DFT site it's black and white. Whether people choose to ignore it is another matter.
it seams that people dont care about rules or law...otherwise such a discussion like this wont come up.interesting is that those people still find, for themselves, excuses to fit such lights, even they are aware about the facts that they will harm other motorists (e.g. blinding them)..thats unbelievable
RochdaleGT said:
it seams that people dont care about rules or law...otherwise such a discussion like this wont come up.
interesting is that those people still find, for themselves, excuses to fit such lights, even they are aware about the facts that they will harm other motorists (e.g. blinding them)..thats unbelievable
If they are set to the correct heights, how will they blind people?interesting is that those people still find, for themselves, excuses to fit such lights, even they are aware about the facts that they will harm other motorists (e.g. blinding them)..thats unbelievable
RochdaleGT said:
it seams that people dont care about rules or law...otherwise such a discussion like this wont come up.
interesting is that those people still find, for themselves, excuses to fit such lights, even they are aware about the facts that they will harm other motorists (e.g. blinding them)..thats unbelievable
Tar-ing everyone with the same brush....................but when you see the proliferation in UK of one headlamp lit; fog lights on (no fog or drizzle or poor visibility), side lights only in pouring rain - be very happy that you live in Germany and your driving "rules" appear to be followed almost without question!!interesting is that those people still find, for themselves, excuses to fit such lights, even they are aware about the facts that they will harm other motorists (e.g. blinding them)..thats unbelievable
Rules in UK are for the guidance of wise men and the blind obedience of fools, as we have a Highway "Code" that very few take much heed of.
I think it's the Island Nation physic and "freedom to do as one wishes..........."
I see a flaming coming................lol
T
OutlawFlat4 said:
If they are set to the correct heights, how will they blind people?
because the light output is often too high on such aftermarket items, surplus when the car´s boot has been loaded or instead 2, 5 perople are sitting in the car...whats than??? that´s why self leveling is usually standard with such lights.surplus the light is generally brighter and the smallest differnce in the mechanical setup (height) will cause more blinding than on usual lights...another reason why self leveling was established.
RochdaleGT said:
because the light output is often too high on such aftermarket items, surplus when the car´s boot has been loaded or instead 2, 5 perople are sitting in the car...whats than??? that´s why self leveling is usually standard with such lights.
surplus the light is generally brighter and the smallest differnce in the mechanical setup (height) will cause more blinding than on usual lights...another reason why self leveling was established.
Understoodsurplus the light is generally brighter and the smallest differnce in the mechanical setup (height) will cause more blinding than on usual lights...another reason why self leveling was established.
I find that with a TiV:
with the roof in the boot there is no room for anything heavy
with only 2 seats there is no room for mor passengers - especially in the back
The suspension is very stiff so very little in the way of rear end squat
so not a lot to make the lights point up into oncoming traffic - unlike most modern cars with 'self leveling' but not correctly aimed lighting.
with the roof in the boot there is no room for anything heavy
with only 2 seats there is no room for mor passengers - especially in the back
The suspension is very stiff so very little in the way of rear end squat
so not a lot to make the lights point up into oncoming traffic - unlike most modern cars with 'self leveling' but not correctly aimed lighting.
So I still haven't fitted my new reflectors yet 
But a few weeks ago I did make some crude adjustments, which has been followed by hundreds of nighttime miles without a single flash.
Yesterday I popped into see my MoT tester for a chat, we discussed the lights and looked at the comments on here.
In his words not mine "all you nanny state wingers are a bunch of ghays"
Bit of a straight talker old school hot rodder my tester, and to be honest wouldn't know what "politically correct" was if it jumped up and bit him on the arsh
We had a mug of tea, discussed the various merits and demerits of positive displacement superchargers vs centrifugal, then looked at the new induction kit on his blown F150 pickup.
I don't think I'll have any issues with my ticket in the spring
But a few weeks ago I did make some crude adjustments, which has been followed by hundreds of nighttime miles without a single flash.
Yesterday I popped into see my MoT tester for a chat, we discussed the lights and looked at the comments on here.
In his words not mine "all you nanny state wingers are a bunch of ghays"
Bit of a straight talker old school hot rodder my tester, and to be honest wouldn't know what "politically correct" was if it jumped up and bit him on the arsh
We had a mug of tea, discussed the various merits and demerits of positive displacement superchargers vs centrifugal, then looked at the new induction kit on his blown F150 pickup.
I don't think I'll have any issues with my ticket in the spring
adam quantrill said:
What's the bit about "drilling the reflectors" to adjust the beam pattern - do you have any pics to explain what was drilled?
The original reflectors used by TVR were off a truck, the only ones available now are off a Porsche.The holes for the mountings on the Porsche ones are in a slightly different place, essentially you have two options:
1: Use the new mounting holes and adjust to compensate
2: Re-drill the reflector in the correct spot
Option 1 isn't ideal, option 2 is better but you're going to be breaking through the silvering which is also less than ideal.
I went with option 2 followed by a number of protective coats of 2K clear coat.
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