MOT and HIDs on a classic

[benjj]

I'm considering doing a HID upgrade on one of my older cars (a 1980 BMW).

However someone has just mentioned that it may be a current MOT requirement to have a wash/wipe system in place if running HIDs.

Does anyone know if this is the case? If so it's a show stopper as I'm not going to add a washer system.

Cheers all.

[kambites]

They have to work if fitted, but it's certainly not a blanket requirement for them to be fitted because some new cars don't have them.

I don't know if there are special rules for aftermarket ones (which are of dubious legality anyway)?

[TooMany2cvs]

MOT says washers have to work, where fitted to a car with HIDs.

Construction & Use says HIDs have to be fitted with washers and self-levelling.

e-Marking of lights is also an issue usually, but might not be for a 1980 car. I think it was about '81 or '82 that the requirement for e-Marking comes in, which means the _right_ bulbs for the light have to be fitted.

Edited by TooMany2cvs on Thursday 19th June 09:05

[benjj]

kambites said:

They have to work if fitted, but it's certainly not a blanket requirement for them to be fitted because some new cars don't have them.

I don't know if there are special rules for aftermarket ones (which are of dubious legality anyway)?

Thanks. Interesting, will look into that.

[benjj]

TooMany2cvs said:

MOT says washers have to work, where fitted to a car with HIDs.

Construction & Use says HIDs have to be fitted with washers and self-levelling.

Thanks.

To my brain that equates to: yes, I can add HIDs to my old car and pass an MOT (provided they're pointing in the right direction.)

[TooMany2cvs]

benjj said:

To my brain that equates to: yes, I can add HIDs to my old car and pass an MOT (provided they're pointing in the right direction.)

MOT's total wording relating to HIDs is at http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s01000701.htm - so, yes, you'd pass.

...but that doesn't mean it'll be legal - and so many eejit chavs have HIDs that Mr Plod will be on the lookout for 'em.

B'sides, they'll look silly.

[LOW4LYFE]

Don't do it. It looks so out of place on old 80s cars.

[V8forweekends]

kambites said:

They have to work if fitted, but it's certainly not a blanket requirement for them to be fitted because some new cars don't have them.

I don't know if there are special rules for aftermarket ones (which are of dubious legality anyway)?

Incorrect. All new cars have washers and auto self levelling and have done since at least 2001 for Type Approval.

Good thing too, considering how few people seem to know what the little wheel with a picture of headlights and numbers on is actually for.

[Slow]

V8forweekends said:

Incorrect. All new cars have washers and auto self levelling and have done since at least 2001 for Type Approval.

Good thing too, considering how few people seem to know what the little wheel with a picture of headlights and numbers on is actually for.

My 03 focus doesnt have washers?

[V8forweekends]

TooMany2cvs said:

and so many eejit chavs have HIDs that Mr Plod will be on the lookout for 'em.

I wish. Not looking forward to winter and being dazzled by these chavlights fitted to about 1 in 20 crapmobiles around here. Police aren't in the slightest interested or there wouldn't be so many about.

Where will it end? When we've all fitted qunitillion candlepower lasers? There are no winners in this brightness arms race and the folk who claim they can't see using standard lights need to get down to SpecSavers - pronto.

[TooMany2cvs]

V8forweekends said:

Incorrect. All new cars have washers and auto self levelling and have done since at least 2001 for Type Approval.

All new cars with HIDs. And HIDs weren't strictly legal before then.

New cars without HIDs don't have to have auto-levelling or washers, still.

[triggerh4ppy]

please dont do this unless you have projector lenses. I hate cars who have HIDS in reflectors only blinding everyone. One of the many things that gets on my nerves

[V8forweekends]

Slow said:

V8forweekends said:

Incorrect. All new cars have washers and auto self levelling and have done since at least 2001 for Type Approval.

Good thing too, considering how few people seem to know what the little wheel with a picture of headlights and numbers on is actually for.

My 03 focus doesnt have washers?

Then it doesn't/didn't have factory HIDs.

[kambites]

V8forweekends said:

Incorrect. All new cars have washers and auto self levelling and have done since at least 2001 for Type Approval.

Sorry, I didn't mean new now. I meant some cars that had HiDs when they were new didn't have such systems, so it couldn't be a blanket requirement for the MoT.

[zcacogp]

TooMany2cvs said:

... so many eejit chavs have HIDs that Mr Plod will be on the lookout for 'em.

Nice idea, but so many people have them that the local BiB here don't give a flying f***.


Oli.

[kambites]

triggerh4ppy said:

please dont do this unless you have projector lenses. I hate cars who have HIDS in reflectors only blinding everyone. One of the many things that gets on my nerves

There have been fully EU type approved cars with HiDs in reflector enclosures too.

[benjj]

Ok, thanks all.

Decision reached - I'm going to chin it off. The car doesn't get used daily so I'll just upgrade to some decent Osrams and fk off the HIDs.

Ta.

[kambites]

Might be worth putting some "super-bright" filament bulbs in as a cheap upgrade if they lights are really appalling.

[zcacogp]

kambites said:

Might be worth putting some "super-bright" filament bulbs in as a cheap upgrade if they lights are really appalling.

This, and run them using some separate relays connected directly to the battery. You'll be surprised how much difference this will make.


Oli.

[triggerh4ppy]

kambites said:

There have been fully EU type approved cars with HiDs in reflector enclosures too.

doesnt make them look any better..