LED headlight conversion bulbs - now illegal

[//j17]

Not seen this highlighted so far, and probably won't effect the majority of owners but it's in the latest copy of my car club mag. to drop through the door.

A change to MOT manual was published on 11-Jan-2021 that states:

"Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp."

This DOESN'T cover cars converted with LED headlights (i.e. a specific LED headlight bowl/lamp) JUST the conversion H1/H4 LED bulbs. It also DOESN'T cover other bulbs - LED side/brake/turn lights are still legal, it's just headlights that are outlawed.

Oh, and it also DOES cover cars over 40yrs that are MOT exempt. Those cars still need to be "considered roadworthy", which effectivly means "must be able to pass an MOT", so are still impacted. It's the need to go to the MOT station and pay to put the car through the test that you're exempt from, not the need to be able to do so.

[Turbobanana]

//j17 said:

Not seen this highlighted so far, and probably won't effect the majority of owners but it's in the latest copy of my car club mag. to drop through the door.

A change to MOT manual was published on 11-Jan-2021 that states:

"Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp."

This DOESN'T cover cars converted with LED headlights (i.e. a specific LED headlight bowl/lamp) JUST the conversion H1/H4 LED bulbs. It also DOESN'T cover other bulbs - LED side/brake/turn lights are still legal, it's just headlights that are outlawed.

Oh, and it also DOES cover cars over 40yrs that are MOT exempt. Those cars still need to be "considered roadworthy", which effectivly means "must be able to pass an MOT", so are still impacted. It's the need to go to the MOT station and pay to put the car through the test that you're exempt from, not the need to be able to do so.

Interesting stuff - thanks for raising

[a8hex]

I guess it is very easy to end up with a headlight which would never have passed type approval in the first place.
About a year ago I remember driving up a country road and a cyclist was coming the other way with a front light which just totally dazzled me, it was worse that looking into the average cars full beams, all I could do was stop and wait for it to pass and for my eyesight to return to something useful. I guess with the power supply available from a car it would be too easy to end up with this sort result.
(generally it is a good thing that bike lights are now far better than the semi concussed glow worms of old, but things can get out of hand)

[GoodOlBoy]

Is there a reason given for banning LED headlights ?

[HealeyV8]

It has always been that LED are not street legal in H4 reflectors it’s just now they are making testers aware to fail immediately. Before most would check alignment and pass if there wasn’t too much scatter.

[Mike-tf3n0]

The reason is that filament bulbs and LEDs require a different shaped reflector to control and focus the light. Is you put an LED into a reflector made for a filament the light goes everywhere and dazzles badly.

[tog]

Interestingly the rules specifically say "Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs."

Does this mean that lamp units designed for regular pre-halogen, tungsten filament bulbs are ok to retrofit with LED?

[//j17]

GoodOlBoy said:

Is there a reason given for banning LED headlights ?

They aren't (although I can't say I'd object to a cross-the-board ban on all the current "blind the driver coming the other way/going the same way in a low car" headlights), they are just banning fitting LED bulbs in headlight bowles designed for filament bulbs. You're still free to fit specifically constructed LED headlights (if you can find any that don't look like rejected low budget Sci-fi props).

[Brian_996TT]

i’m glad my car came with hid as standard as candle bulbs look dull compared to led and hid

[a8hex]

//j17 said:

GoodOlBoy said:

Is there a reason given for banning LED headlights ?

They aren't (although I can't say I'd object to a cross-the-board ban on all the current "blind the driver coming the other way/going the same way in a low car" headlights), they are just banning fitting LED bulbs in headlight bowles designed for filament bulbs. You're still free to fit specifically constructed LED headlights (if you can find any that don't look like rejected low budget Sci-fi props).

I've thought for sometime that cars with super bright lights should have to have some improved way of avoiding dazzling other traffic, something along the lines of a sensor that detected the height of oncoming headlights and made sure that they were then aiming below those. SWMBO recently had a loaner car which seemed to do just that, the lights were great, but never seemed to be aiming at other cars even when you were coming up to the prow of a hill. About the only bit of tech on the thing I though was worth having.

[//j17]

a8hex said:

I've thought for sometime that cars with super bright lights should have to have some improved way of avoiding dazzling other traffic, something along the lines of a sensor that detected the height of oncoming headlights and made sure that they were then aiming below those. SWMBO recently had a loaner car which seemed to do just that, the lights were great, but never seemed to be aiming at other cars even when you were coming up to the prow of a hill. About the only bit of tech on the thing I though was worth having.

Really? I've found a clear increase in dazelling by incoming cars on A roads in the last few years, and not just those with ultra-white HID/LED lights, something I put down to the 'amazing new self dipping headlight' craze...and those systems only being able to detect other modern car headlights, so not seeing/dipping for my classic candles!

[a8hex]

//j17 said:

a8hex said:

I've thought for sometime that cars with super bright lights should have to have some improved way of avoiding dazzling other traffic, something along the lines of a sensor that detected the height of oncoming headlights and made sure that they were then aiming below those. SWMBO recently had a loaner car which seemed to do just that, the lights were great, but never seemed to be aiming at other cars even when you were coming up to the prow of a hill. About the only bit of tech on the thing I though was worth having.

Really? I've found a clear increase in dazelling by incoming cars on A roads in the last few years, and not just those with ultra-white HID/LED lights, something I put down to the 'amazing new self dipping headlight' craze...and those systems only being able to detect other modern car headlights, so not seeing/dipping for my classic candles!

OK, I'm sorry then. Only had the thing for a few days and didn't drive it at night that much (hated the thing). Didn't come across any classic cars so I can't comment on whether the system recognised them. Would be interesting to test and then to report back to manufactures that they've a bug in their SW. The more automated reignition systems modern cars depend on, the more problems with them failing to recognise things they should are likely to occur.

[Evolved]

Doesn’t stop someone whipping the LED bulb out for the MOT and putting back once passed?.

My Evo came with an aftermarket HID kit, went back to standard as I rarely drive it at night anyway,

[steveo3002]

so will they dismantle a projector lamp to see whats fitted ? cant see the bulb from the front

[john2443]

Evolved said:

Doesn’t stop someone whipping the LED bulb out for the MOT and putting back once passed?.

It doesn't, but the car needs to be roadworthy and it woudn't be with LEDs - nt that it's very likely anyone would ever be stopped/get a ticket for it!

It sounds like the rule Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to...LED was written by someone too young to know that cars used to have filament bulbs.

Presumably the intention is that you can't replace anything with LEDs, even though it says halogen - would be interesting to see what happened in court if you replaced filament with LED . (Where's Breadvan when you need him )

[sherbertdip]

john2443 said:

It doesn't, but the car needs to be roadworthy and it woudn't be with LEDs - nt that it's very likely anyone would ever be stopped/get a ticket for it!

It sounds like the rule Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to...LED was written by someone too young to know that cars used to have filament bulbs.

Presumably the intention is that you can't replace anything with LEDs, even though it says halogen - would be interesting to see what happened in court if you replaced filament with LED . (Where's Breadvan when you need him )

Halogen bulbs still have a filament, they are filled with an inert gas and a dash of Iodine or Bromine (Halogen gases).

I had my Westfield fail at last MOT due to having LED bulbs fitted, the MOT tester still tested the beam pattern and cut off, they were perfect.

[john2443]

sherbertdip said:

Halogen bulbs still have a filament, they are filled with an inert gas and a dash of Iodine or Bromine (Halogen gases).

Of course! I do know that but wasn't fully thinking straight

[HealeyV8]

So you can't just swap a bulb but has anyone experience of these 7" , usually chinese, supposedly E9 approved LED units?



Generally retailing on fleabay arounf £50.
Is the light pattern terrible or seriviceable, at £50 I'm tempted.

[rampageturke]

HealeyV8 said:

So you can't just swap a bulb but has anyone experience of these 7" , usually chinese, supposedly E9 approved LED units?



Generally retailing on fleabay arounf £50.
Is the light pattern terrible or seriviceable, at £50 I'm tempted.

they are popular for mk1 MX5 owners, try a google around for mx5 specific sites/forums and see what they say.