MOT and Spotlights

[VEX]

Buying a new-to-me Mini Cooper s and I was thinking about front spots in the style of The Italian Job.

In the original film they were three spots with the middle one centred and higher than the other pair.

But all I can find as a kit for sale is either a twin or quad set. What is restricting my from doing a set of 3?

Thanks.

V.

[CanAm]

Regulations used to stipulate a minimum distance between lights or from the centreline. Don't know if this is still the case; perhaps check Construction & Use regs.

[KevinCamaroSS]

CanAm said:

Regulations used to stipulate a minimum distance between lights or from the centreline. Don't know if this is still the case; perhaps check Construction & Use regs.

Indeed, and also they must be paired in that formation. I would think it would depend on the age of the car, pre-regulation would 'likely' be fine with 3.

[CanAm]

No more like this Healey! Shame, as it's a very neat installation.

[Exige77]

Would it still be an issue if the centre spot was for show only and didn’t work ?

[LandRoverManiac]

AFAIK they would be considered 'Auxiliary' lighting and thus untested.

Same goes for front fog lights, roof mounted lights, bonnet pods and whatever other format you might have.* The only exception is if they are wired to come on with main-beam - then they are kind of considered to be 'main lighting' with all the requirements that entails.

• I've had all sorts of wacky additional lighting setups on my vehicles - the tester has never even checked they've worked.

[grumpy52]

For an MOT they would probably be fine , a copper on a mission and a construction and use fetish would take a different view .
I like many of my generation had auxiliary lights on cars in the past , many that were far from legal according to construction and use .
Mine were usually marked as for off road use only as they had 150w bulbs fitted .
If you do fit them use proper wiring, switches, relays and fuses and make sure your charging system is up to running everything.

[steveo3002]

seperate switch marked off road only ?

[VEX]

Thanks, so may be a single middle one, not wired to anything, or to a seperate switch (or a sperate kill MOT switch )

[SteveR1979]

Only lights that come on with side lights and dipped beam are checked,

Anything that comes on with full beam has, in my experience, been ignored.

As long as your 3 lights only come on with main beam I think you should be OK

[gareth_r]

I assume that driving lamps count as "optional main-beam headlamps"?


http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/made

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
SCHEDULE 5
PART II: Requirements relating to optional main-beam headlamps
Any number may be fitted and the only requirements prescribed by these Regulations in respect of any which are fitted are those specified in paragraphs 7, 10 and 12(a) of Part I and, in the case of a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1991, paragraph 5 of Part I.


SCHEDULE 5
PART I:
Requirements relating to obligatory main-beam headlamps and to o7ptional main-beam headlamps to the extent specified in part ii

5: Markings–
(a) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragaph (b), (c) or (d): An approval mark or a British Standard mark
(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986: No requirement
(c) A three-wheeled motor vehicle, not being a motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st April 1986 and having a maximum speed not exceeding 50 mph: No requirement
(d) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination: No requirement

7. Colour: White or yellow

10. Electrical connections –
(a) Every main-beam headlamp shall be so constructed that the light emitted therefrom–
(i) can be deflected at the will of the driver to become a dipped beam, or
(ii) can be extinguished by the operation of a device which at the same time either –
(A) causes the lamp to emit a dipped beam, or
(B) causes another lamp to emit a dipped beam.
(b) Where a matched pair of main-beam headlamps is fitted they shall be capable of being switched on and off simultaneously and not otherwise.

12. Other requirements –
(a) Every main-beam headlamp shall be so constructed that the direction of the beam of light emitted therefrom can be adjusted whilst the vehicle is stationary.




The above is different from the MOT requirements, of course.
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

Edited by gareth_r on Friday 6th October 17:43