MOT and headlights
Discussion
Just had the car MOT'ed at the weekend and it would have failed on the headlights. They were too high. So I got them to correct them for me. Even though I have never changed the height setting, and containly one would have been manufacture set.
Driving home last night and I cant see a damm thing on roads without streetlights (and I travel more unlit than lit roads). This got me thinking... How can I check what they should be, DfT should have a list of MOT requirements somewhere, but I cant see anything on their site. Have the DfT now reduced the requirements for headhights and how far they point?
I really hate it when the car behind has its headlights too high, but now I consider it too dangerous to drive how I did, as I just cannot see the road ahead enough for the speed I use to travel at. (I'm no speed freak, but unlit roads, poor cat eyes, and too much traffic coming the other way for full beam, means I'm now travelling slower to be just as safe as before.)
Or Is this the idea is?
Driving home last night and I cant see a damm thing on roads without streetlights (and I travel more unlit than lit roads). This got me thinking... How can I check what they should be, DfT should have a list of MOT requirements somewhere, but I cant see anything on their site. Have the DfT now reduced the requirements for headhights and how far they point?
I really hate it when the car behind has its headlights too high, but now I consider it too dangerous to drive how I did, as I just cannot see the road ahead enough for the speed I use to travel at. (I'm no speed freak, but unlit roads, poor cat eyes, and too much traffic coming the other way for full beam, means I'm now travelling slower to be just as safe as before.)
Or Is this the idea is?
Rodeneeeeee....
www.motuk.co.uk
> Testers Manual
go to Page 1.6.
Or if you are mathematically minded then mark the height and distance apart of your glims on the garage door with a X. Park the vehicle say 6 feet from the door.
Now using the measurements obtained above draw a plan to scale taking into account the drop required at law on the dipped beam to ground.(See below) Mark your 6 ft from Garage Door point. Measure from where the vertical line intersects to beam line and measure upwards from that point to the height of the centre of your lamp. If you mark this drop under the X's on the Garage door then thats the point the beam should hit to be lawful.
Road Vehicles Lighting Regs 1989
Main beam no requirement on alignement - only to the front.
Dipped headlamp:
4. Alignment-
When a vehicle is at its kerbside weight and has a weight of 75 kg on the driver's seat, and any manual headlamp levelling device control is set to the stop position, the alignment of every dipped-beam headlamp shall, as near as practicable, be as follows:
(a) In the case of a vehicle having a maximum speed exceeding 25 mph-
(i) If the dipped-beam headlamp bears an approval mark its aim shall be set so that the horizontal part of the cut-off of the beam pattern is inclined downwards as indicated by the vehicle manufacturer in a marking on the vehicle, as mentioned in sub-paragraph 12(b) or, where no such marking is provided-
(A) 1.3 per cent if the height of the centre of the headlamp is not more than 850 mm above the ground, or
(B) 2 per cent if the height of the centre of the headlamp is more than 850 mm above the ground;
(ii) If the dipped-beam headlamp does not bear an approval mark and the headlamp can also be used as a main-beam headlamp its aim shall be set so that the centre of the main-beam pattern is horizontal or inclined slightly below the horizontal;
(iii) If the dipped-beam headlamp does not bear an approval mark and the headlamp cannot also be used as a main-beam headlamp its aim shall be set so as not to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road;
Don't know if they still do it but a Traffic Police uuhhhh Road Policing Unit Garage may do it for free. We used to do it in my day on the machine. Saves a lot of head scratching.......
dvd
(S'ok FiF I am still reeling at Clarkies suggestion all the Ridings and Umberside.
Bro will have a fit....)
>> Edited by Dwight VanDriver on Tuesday 21st March 16:33
www.motuk.co.uk
> Testers Manual
go to Page 1.6.
Or if you are mathematically minded then mark the height and distance apart of your glims on the garage door with a X. Park the vehicle say 6 feet from the door.
Now using the measurements obtained above draw a plan to scale taking into account the drop required at law on the dipped beam to ground.(See below) Mark your 6 ft from Garage Door point. Measure from where the vertical line intersects to beam line and measure upwards from that point to the height of the centre of your lamp. If you mark this drop under the X's on the Garage door then thats the point the beam should hit to be lawful.
Road Vehicles Lighting Regs 1989
Main beam no requirement on alignement - only to the front.
Dipped headlamp:
4. Alignment-
When a vehicle is at its kerbside weight and has a weight of 75 kg on the driver's seat, and any manual headlamp levelling device control is set to the stop position, the alignment of every dipped-beam headlamp shall, as near as practicable, be as follows:
(a) In the case of a vehicle having a maximum speed exceeding 25 mph-
(i) If the dipped-beam headlamp bears an approval mark its aim shall be set so that the horizontal part of the cut-off of the beam pattern is inclined downwards as indicated by the vehicle manufacturer in a marking on the vehicle, as mentioned in sub-paragraph 12(b) or, where no such marking is provided-
(A) 1.3 per cent if the height of the centre of the headlamp is not more than 850 mm above the ground, or
(B) 2 per cent if the height of the centre of the headlamp is more than 850 mm above the ground;
(ii) If the dipped-beam headlamp does not bear an approval mark and the headlamp can also be used as a main-beam headlamp its aim shall be set so that the centre of the main-beam pattern is horizontal or inclined slightly below the horizontal;
(iii) If the dipped-beam headlamp does not bear an approval mark and the headlamp cannot also be used as a main-beam headlamp its aim shall be set so as not to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road;
Don't know if they still do it but a Traffic Police uuhhhh Road Policing Unit Garage may do it for free. We used to do it in my day on the machine. Saves a lot of head scratching.......
dvd
(S'ok FiF I am still reeling at Clarkies suggestion all the Ridings and Umberside.
Bro will have a fit....)
>> Edited by Dwight VanDriver on Tuesday 21st March 16:33
I've always found that looking at the boot of the car in front, while at a distance of 20 yards or so, is a good indication. If your lights are cutting off above the boot (ie through the window), they're too high. If they're below the bumper, then they're too low.
Not perfectly accurate, but a good guide
Not perfectly accurate, but a good guide
It had been my impression that part of the reason why headlights in general are more dazzling these days was due to a change in MoT regulations... I understood that whereas originally MoT regs only specified a maximum height for the dipped beams, and people generally set their beams a bit lower than this to give a bit of margin, the regs now set a minimum height as well, which results in significantly more dipped beams being set too high for comfort.
I had a numpty tell me my headlights were way too high in the past - I pointed out he'd jammed the handbrake on going onto the 4 post lift while the car was still going forward making the rear of the car sit falsly low, so released the handbrake, rolled back and forward 6 inches and hey waddya know, the beam was perfect. Bloke still tried to argue it but obviously of too low intelligence to come up with any defence so carried on muttering under his breath 
Yep, I really should, take it back. Cos driving home last night I got so annoyed (from not being able to see), I got the tape measure out when I got home.
And I really cannot see how they set them where they did?
From centre of bulb to ground is 60cm. At 2 metres away the top of the beam is 55cm. Result in nowhere near a 1.3% drop. (or 2% for that matter).
I'll give them a call later today.
And I really cannot see how they set them where they did?
From centre of bulb to ground is 60cm. At 2 metres away the top of the beam is 55cm. Result in nowhere near a 1.3% drop. (or 2% for that matter).
I'll give them a call later today.
Called them and really unhelpful. They claim that at the time of the car being tested the lights were incorrect and they were changed according to the requirements stated, and if I take the car to be checked elsewhere, dont even think about reporting them, as I could have done anything to the car since Saturday and now. There point being that at the time the car was tested the lights were wrong and they were corrected. "We cannot be held responsible for the headlight settings, 4 days later, or even after it has left our garage."
Shallnt be taking it to them next year.
Shallnt be taking it to them next year.
Dwight VanDriver said:
(S'ok FiF I am still reeling at Clarkies suggestion all the Ridings and Umberside.
Bro will have a fit....)
It will be steam rollered through just like the Midlands which I said was a done deal months ago.
Until July 6 to object in West Mercia case and blod and stomach pills the campaign is building nicely, would be nice if those jug ears end up cauliflower like.
:downs several Johnnie Walkers:
:lights up extremely large Romeo y Julieta:
:adopts a Winston-like stance:
:flicks the Vs at 2 Marsham Street:
:looks for a beach to fight on:
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