HIDs... Legal or illegal?

[suprasize]

Hello,

 

I've got a set of 6000k dips for my supra but found out the other day that you can be pulled over for having modified lights, and given a fine or reported for an offence? Can anyone shed some "light" () on the situation?

 

Ta,

Dan

[jazz1]

Well I beleive pistonbroke is a police officer, he runs 10k ask him

[suprasize]

That's true, I'll ask, ta dude

[Abz]

Dan, bascially with HID's you are supposed to have an automatic leveling system in the headlight unit & I believe also headlight washers. If you are in any new car with Xeon lights, you will see when you turn on the headlights the light goes up and down, this is to ensure it is not blinding any drivers in front. I think I remember the washer is so then particles or dirt on the headlight glass don't break up the light distribution.

 

Though to be honest (Think Dan can confirm this), only traffic officers would be fully clued up on this.

 

I've been pulled over by a traffic officer (I have the 6k lights) and he had nothing to mention about the lights. This was a road block near my house where they sometimes pull over cars randomly to check insurance, condition of cars etc.

[pistonbroke]

As far as I know, cars from factory have to have headlamp washers fitted to hids for the purposes of type approval (which all new cars must conform to) there is also a requirement for auto-levelling and headlamp washers if HID lights are fitted. These things are NOT tested as part of the MOT.

 

Providing the lights they are fitted to are projector style lamps (which the supra has), they will pass an MOT providing the level and colour is correct.

[jagman]

Illegal at the end of 2011 with the new MOT rules along with ECU piggybacks and alterations , So I guess the Authorities dont want us to A) see at night , B) go faster than stock !!

[pistonbroke]

It never said they're becoming illegal, it states 'bulb incompatability', which I read as using HIDS with old style non projector lamps.

 

The other thing it states about ECU's is 'illegal engine chipping'. Engine tuning isn't illegal, and the only way I can summise that it might be, is where some oik is messing with more modern cars ECU's to reset mileages, match engine numbers etc etc.

 

if something like that does get through and we all become outlaws overnight, I'll be removing my number plates, not paying anymore road tax, and failing to stop for any officer of the law.....it's not like they're gonna catch you anyway

Edited December 27, 2010 by pistonbroke (see edit history)

[den1]

Illegal at the end of 2011 with the new MOT rules along with ECU piggybacks and alterations , So I guess the Authorities dont want us to A) see at night , B) go faster than stock !!

 

This seems to be doing the rounds on other forums ......and it seems to have started with a suggestion

http://www.civinfo.com/forum/general-discussion/47708-mot-changes-2011-a-2.html

 

[den1]

This page 1st http://www.civinfo.com/forum/general-discussion/47708-mot-changes-2011-a.html

and this http://www.motester.co.uk/TradeMagazines/MOTTestingMagazine/2010MOTInspectionManualChanges.aspx

[pistonbroke]

It's in the latest VOSA newsletter, so it's not just suggestion.

[neo2810]

My car recently passed it's MOT with 6000k HIDs and although initially he said he should fail me as I didn't have auto-levelling, he passed me once he'd done the light check with the testing box. The white was acceptable and the level was fine. Nothing was mentioned regarding headlight washers (I don't have any) so not sure that's a consideration at all.

[pistonbroke]

It's not being suggested until next year mate.

[Ian W]

Just to muddy the waters a bit.....my DC2 came with HID's from the factory, however does not have headlamp washers or a self-levelling system

[den1]

So what does this all mean then? We are all wasting our time on mods to our cars ???

If that's the case.!!.Then shouldn't we be making more of a fuss about it rather than it being posted in a backwater post?

[Keefred]

I would say not, though its a bit vague, are projector beam style headlights, which originaly take halogen lamps ok because the look like projector beams on new cars which do have hids ? Then it says not permitted in th Uk but they cannot refuse to register a European car

 

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.

[den1]

Thank's Keefred for all the time and effort it took you to post that