Are my headlights an MOT fail??
Are my headlights an MOT fail??
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Discussion

TriumphVitesse

Original Poster:

939 posts

208 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
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Hi All,
Just a quickie. I got fed up of the sealed beam headlamps fitted to my Eunos as replacements were not available anywhere locally so I had to send off for one every time one blew. They were not cheap either, around £15 a go so I have converted the car to UK spec headlights therefore I only have to change a bulb rather than the whole unit next time one pops. However the headlamps that I bought are crystal clear ones i.e. no ripples in the lenses. They are EXTREMELY bright, they do not blind other road users on dipped beam but when I switched them to main beam for the first time a couple of months ago they lit up the Pennines!!
Question is, being crystal clear are they really legal? MOT is tomorrow so will they fail with these headlamps? I have only one good sealed beam unit so converting them back for the MOT isn't really an option....

Cheers

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

243 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
quotequote all
Should be fine as long as they are 60/55w H4 bulbs. Worst case scenario and it fails, get some dirt-cheap bulbs from a local factors and thick them in as a temp measure. Even better, ask them when you drop it in if they think it will be ok with the bulbs as they are. wink

My bet is that they aren't really mega-bright. The seal beam units are really crap - a couple of candle would be a match for them so you've probably just got used to them and the current bulbs look mega bright in comparison biggrin

TriumphVitesse

Original Poster:

939 posts

208 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
quotequote all
Aye maybe you are right, coupled to the fact I rarely drive the Eunos in the dark (no reason just never seem to be out in it at night!). It might be worth another night run soon as I was well impressed when I lit up them Pennines.....yes I need to get out more!!! biggrin

gdaybruce

763 posts

249 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
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I swapped mine to the Wipac clear lens units (sourced from MX5 Parts) a month or so ago and fitted a pair of Bosch +90% bulbs of the correct wattage. It had its MOT last Saturday and the headlights were fine, apart from needing their beams lowering a little, which the tester did on the spot. This time of the year it barely gets driven in the dark so I've yet to find out if I agree with them about the beam alignment (easily put back, if not). I do agree with your comment that they are so much better than the sealed beam candles!

Rocketman105

387 posts

231 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
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I also swapped to Wipac units, from Autolink, and they went straight through MOT last week with no tweaking required.

They do feel quite high but I have to remind myself it's a low car and thus the lights have a flatter angle especially when compared to my previous cars!

skeggysteve

5,724 posts

241 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
quotequote all
Your MOT man will not check the wattage of the bulbs.
He will check the light pattern and hight.

If your lights look like these - ignore the orange bit, I did a quick Google search and this was the first picture.



They will be fine so long as they are set correctly.

If they are not set correctly most MOT guys will adjust them FOC.

VeeFour

3,339 posts

186 months

Friday 20th May 2011
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You'll probably find that the reflector is patterned to ensure a good beam pattern, which is why the lens is crystal clear.

Mazdamender

173 posts

187 months

Sunday 22nd May 2011
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I had raybrigs in for years With off road PIAA bulbs in and they were crystal clear jobbies,planes use to try and land on me wink and she never failed an MOT, you will be fine.thumbup
M-m

TriumphVitesse

Original Poster:

939 posts

208 months

Tuesday 24th May 2011
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Passed the MOT, tester said nothing regarding the headlights - that's 6 straight passes now. Not bad for a car coming up to 22 year old!