Xenon headlights without washers
Discussion
There’s definitely been some form of change; every car with xenons that we’ve ever had came with auto levelling and headlight washers, including the 2 series I bought in 2016. I bought an A3 e-tron in 2014 fro my partner, which had LED lights that auto levelled and had headlight washers. That was replaced by a new SEAT IBiza with LED headlights last year; they were auto levelling from memory, but definitely didn’t have headlight washers. It was written off after 8 weeks, and the MINI Clubman I bought to replace it also had LED headlights, but no auto levelling or headlight washers.
Mr Tidy said:
My understanding was that since the MOT revisions in May last year, Xenons required washers for a pass - but some of it is so confusing I might be wrong!
I read somewhere that under 2000 lumens now meant washers not required, can't find a link so may be BS. However I read the MOT rules as, if washers are fitted they must work on cars first used after 2009, but absence doesn't appear to be a fail
https://bit.ly/2RyBABu
4.1.6 Headlamp cleaning devices
You must inspect vehicles first used on or after 1 September 2009 equipped with headlamp washers.
You can identify HID headlamps from:
‘DCR’ mark on the headlamp lens or body
an igniter module or inverter behind the headlamp
taking a few seconds to reach full intensity
a bluish tinge to the light
HID headlamps use high voltage. You should take care when inspecting these headlamps.
Defect Category
Headlamp cleaning device:
inoperative
Minor
inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)
Major
A source for 2000 lumens limit on dipped. I would guess recent cars without washers have less than 2000 lumens, although the dazzle factor from some LEDs seems to have ramped up well beyond HID...
https://www.carlightblog.com/2013/10/22/a-clean-be...
Edited by 928 on Thursday 17th January 22:02
PSRG said:
There’s definitely been some form of change; every car with xenons that we’ve ever had came with auto levelling and headlight washers, including the 2 series I bought in 2016. I bought an A3 e-tron in 2014 fro my partner, which had LED lights that auto levelled and had headlight washers. That was replaced by a new SEAT IBiza with LED headlights last year; they were auto levelling from memory, but definitely didn’t have headlight washers. It was written off after 8 weeks, and the MINI Clubman I bought to replace it also had LED headlights, but no auto levelling or headlight washers.
I don't think there's been any legislation change, Xenons have always required them if over a certain bightness and I assume its similar if the LEDs are over a certain output as well, but most aren't. We've got a January 2015 Seat Leon with LED headlights and there's no washers on that, although I think they were an option as part of a "Winter Pack" so that may explain why some cars have them.LocoBlade said:
I don't think there's been any legislation change, Xenons have always required them if over a certain bightness and I assume its similar if the LEDs are over a certain output as well, but most aren't. We've got a January 2015 Seat Leon with LED headlights and there's no washers on that, although I think they were an option as part of a "Winter Pack" so that may explain why some cars have them.
Ah right, I see. Makes sense...manufacturers have realised they can save the cost of headlights washers by making sure the output is just below the threshold!!I thought the issue with Xenons and mot is they need to be fitted into the projector type lamp not a regular reflector type and the headlamps must have working headlamp alignments either auto or manual. Washers must work if fitted and are now for the bi-xenon lamps which have low and high beam output where as earlier xenon fitted cars only had xenon hid in dipped beam with a regular halogen for main beam.
drdino said:
Xenons can be had in reflector-type units, there is no specific requirement for projectors. Quite a few OEMs had such applications.
Have to be honest and have never noticed a oem hid bulb fitted into a reflector headlamp? Any particular vehicles you know of? I can have a peep when I see one parked up 
RobXjcoupe said:
drdino said:
Xenons can be had in reflector-type units, there is no specific requirement for projectors. Quite a few OEMs had such applications.
Have to be honest and have never noticed a oem hid bulb fitted into a reflector headlamp? Any particular vehicles you know of? I can have a peep when I see one parked up My 1 Series came with an aftermarket Xenon conversion without washers or self levelling, and has never had a problem with getting through an MOT until this year. However the lack of washers wasn't an issue for me, it was judged that I'd modified the original lights to fit an HID kit.
This is also nonsense from what I can tell, as the previous owner also replaced the headlamps with models designed to be used with an HID Kit so should be legal. I've got halogens in at the minute whilst the arguments carry on, however if the one you are looking at is factory fit, it shouldn't be an issue.
This is also nonsense from what I can tell, as the previous owner also replaced the headlamps with models designed to be used with an HID Kit so should be legal. I've got halogens in at the minute whilst the arguments carry on, however if the one you are looking at is factory fit, it shouldn't be an issue.
RobXjcoupe said:
Have to be honest and have never noticed a oem hid bulb fitted into a reflector headlamp? Any particular vehicles you know of? I can have a peep when I see one parked up
Volvos as mentioned, Renault Laguna, Peugeot 607, Nissan Primera. More modern stuff would be Mercedes E classes with base low wattage HIDs. Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff