Discussion
Been toying with the idea of upgrading the lights on my Royale Sabre to HID's for a while but to be honest I hardly ever drive it in the dark so haven't actually done it as yet. However just received our club Newsletter and there's an article in it that says as from May (I think) any cars fitted with HID's have to have a working headlamp wash system fitted otherwise it's an MoT fail point. Anyone know if that's true?
If it is I reckon quite a few folk who've upgraded their production cars lighting system could be in the doo doo too.
If it is I reckon quite a few folk who've upgraded their production cars lighting system could be in the doo doo too.
ahhh, HID's are a nightmare. As far as i am aware (i did a lot of reading into it when i changed the lights on mine) HID's not only need a working washer, but they also need to be automatically self levelling, which in a kit car would be a certifiable ball ache. Most after market kits are illegal, and have heard of a lot of people in older cars being pulled by the rozzas because they are clearly not factory fitted etc etc.
I ended up fitting some boggo halogen 7" lamps and bought some nice expensive ultra bright bulbs. I also fitted a set of driving lamps for main beam use too. Lighting up the road is now wonderful, better than my dads 2005 vauxhall vectra and 2007 C4, really is a joy to drive at night now, plus no reflections from glass for me either!
I ended up fitting some boggo halogen 7" lamps and bought some nice expensive ultra bright bulbs. I also fitted a set of driving lamps for main beam use too. Lighting up the road is now wonderful, better than my dads 2005 vauxhall vectra and 2007 C4, really is a joy to drive at night now, plus no reflections from glass for me either!
looks like i was right-
Department for transport MOT test guidlines-
Lights: Check condition, operation including HID and LED headlamps for cleaning, self leveling and security. Headlamp aim. Main beam
warning light
Also a very interesting and informative read here
http://www.sinspeed.co.uk/blog/are-xenon-hid-conve...
Hope this helps,
Niall
Department for transport MOT test guidlines-
Lights: Check condition, operation including HID and LED headlamps for cleaning, self leveling and security. Headlamp aim. Main beam
warning light
Also a very interesting and informative read here
http://www.sinspeed.co.uk/blog/are-xenon-hid-conve...
Hope this helps,
Niall
The big problem with HID's is the light source, being a gas discharge is not exactly the same size or shape as a halogen filament. So, if the headlight is designed for the light source to be in a specific focal point in the reflector to get the dip beam cut off, it will no longer focus correctly when you change to HID, so you end up lighting up passing aircraft on dip. Highly antisocial as best. (Not however that's stopped all the local boy racers fitting them to their old Astra's etc.) Projector type headlights are less effected with HID's as you have individual blobs of light to make up the dip beam pattern with much less pre-focus. The Police have been taking some action against HID's using a rule that prohibits the use of inappropriate lighting on a vehicle, but I don't think(?) it carries penalty points.
its dangerous, as you are blinding other motorists:
From the DfT:
December 2006
Aftermarket HID headlamps
In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.
The following is the legal rationale:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:
1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.
In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.
If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:
Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street Telephone: 020 7944 2078
London Fax: 020 7944 2196
SW1P 4DR Email: TTS.enquiries@dft.gsi.gov.uk
From the DfT:
December 2006
Aftermarket HID headlamps
In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.
The following is the legal rationale:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:
1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.
In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.
If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:
Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street Telephone: 020 7944 2078
London Fax: 020 7944 2196
SW1P 4DR Email: TTS.enquiries@dft.gsi.gov.uk
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