L316 Defender - Headlight MOT help needed!

[Sewardg]

Hi Team,
I’ve recently taken the plunge and bought a 2009 Defender, loving it so far and it’s a far cry from the ‘14 Audi I traded for it!

As expected, I took it to the garage for a once over, £3k later it’s almost road worthy bar one thing.

The car had crap aftermarket LED headlights on, which caused an MOT failure.
Now, I’ve bought the WIPAC S7197LED lights from LRparts as a replacements which are the same lights I had on my previous one of these with no issues.

The MOT garage has tried to tell me that for these lights they need to self level or have a leveling switch in the cab. As far as I’m aware, this is not usual.

My understanding is that if I fit those lights and they are aimed correctly, the MOT should pass without requiring any levelling tech.

I’m not mechanically inclined so would love anyone’s opinion, and if I’m right, please can someone tell me how I explain it to the garage without calling them idiots!

Many thanks in advance.

[LivLL]

Mot rules changed a few years ago, they need self levelling to pass if LEDs were retrofitted to headlights.

It popped up on the kit car forums are the time.

[Athlon]

Pretty sure that is incorrect:

Vehicles with high intensity discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with a suspension or headlamp self-levelling system. If these systems have been fitted, they must work.

[LivLL]

Hmm, perhaps it has changed again since. Clearly remember it being introduced at the end of Covid around 2021 sometime.

Best bet is to get the tester to show you the testers handbook section he's referring to or the special notice.

[Athlon]

That is a direct quote from the manual and I don't recall any special notices to suggest otherwise, if ther were it would be to advise of an update to the manual..

[LivLL]

Found this, withdrawn in 2023. From memory there was whole load of commentary on the kit car forums about LEDs and the changes as the legislation around them changed.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special...

Seems that notice is now incorporated into the Mot manual

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-...

MOT manual said:

Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must 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 for light source and lamp not compatible.

This does not refer to complete replacement headlamp units which may be constructed with HID or LED light sources.

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for Light source and lamp not compatible but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test.

As the regs say LED or HID fitted to new cars have to have self levelling, I read this as if you fit a full LED headlight assembly it needs to adhere to those same rules.

Anyway, OP looks like you need to challenge your Mot tester and if they insist, have them show you the section on why its a fail.

Edited by LivLL on Sunday 22 March 13:26

[Sewardg]

This is the assumption I’ve been working on, the fact that the car as it came out the factory would not have had any levelling capability, it therefore doesn’t need any with retro fitted, road legal LED lights.

It’s going back in on Tuesday so I will keep you all posted!

[Sewardg]

Athlon said:

Pretty sure that is incorrect:

Vehicles with high intensity discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with a suspension or headlamp self-levelling system. If these systems have been fitted, they must work.

This is what I believe it true, and as far as I’m aware, as standard, an L316 Defender doesn’t have any kind of leveling technology, automatic or manual.