HID Kit on TD5 Facelift Legal?

PMSL at people reading the internet and arguing with a guy who does the actual job, been to the seminars, asked the questions and shown a document with an issue date of 31 jan 2012.

I swear some people just love to argue on here.

The Internet is not always right people, next you will be quoting from Wikipedia

So to summerise

1) If you have aftermarket HIDs fitted already you will pass an MOT but get an advisory regardless of the fact if you have self leveling headlights or washers (but if you do they must work)

2) It is now illegal to sell and fit HID conversion kits (although like with 100w bulbs etc there is the usual 'for offroad use only' loophole)


Personally i think they should have made it a fail unless you have projector style headlights as on normal headlights its like 2 500w halogen search lights on the front of the car

What a faff, why is the law so darn complicated.. So basically you can still buy and fit them and they will pass an MOT with advisory (surely this wont be allowed to continue as it makes a mockery of the entire mot test, - been told you need to change them but they can't legally enforce it)

Also theres no sure way of knowing until you fit them that the beam pattern maybe all screwed up, so it could be a very expensive lesson (to buy and possibly failing an mot as mine is due soon i think)

So to go the right way about fitting these HID units, one would have to change the whole headlamp unit to HID approved ones? (but no one seems to know if they do sell these for the Disco II's and if so where to get them from)?

Starting to become too complicated for my liking, maybe I will stick to some good old fashioned bulbs - shame really as I do fancy upgading the lights on my disco to the HID's. Maybe I shall have few spot lights fitted instead (the light bars that clamp to the guttering are legal for use on the road are they not?)

cheers..

ukairborne said:

. Maybe i shall have few spot lights fitted instead (the light bars that clamp to the guttering are legal for use on the road are they not?)

Cheers..

Click to expand...

No

UKAirborne said:

What a faff, why is the law so darn complicated.. So basically you can still buy and fit them and they will pass an MOT with advisory (surely this wont be allowed to continue as it makes a mockery of the entire mot test, - been told you need to change them but they can't legally enforce it)

Also theres no sure way of knowing until you fit them that the beam pattern maybe all screwed up, so it could be a very expensive lesson (to buy and possibly failing an mot as mine is due soon i think)

So to go the right way about fitting these HID units, one would have to change the whole headlamp unit to HID approved ones? (but no one seems to know if they do sell these for the Disco II's and if so where to get them from)?

Starting to become too complicated for my liking, maybe I will stick to some good old fashioned bulbs - shame really as I do fancy upgading the lights on my disco to the HID's. Maybe I shall have few spot lights fitted instead (the light bars that clamp to the guttering are legal for use on the road are they not?)

cheers..

Click to expand...

If your lights are crap then the best option is usually new lights, you will be amazed at the difference it can make sometimes, reflectors on old style lights tend to rust quickly.

Roof lights are terrible, you can only see your bonnet, its almost impossible to drive with them, they are only good for laning and as work lights really.

An A-bar with spots is your only option really for full beam, you need the lights up front

redhand said:

No

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Is it me or do you take pleasure from bringing people bad news .. oh well.. one can still dream!

Jongould said:

If your lights are crap then the best option is usually new lights, you will be amazed at the difference it can make sometimes, reflectors on old style lights tend to rust quickly.

Roof lights are terrible, you can only see your bonnet, its almost impossible to drive with them, they are only good for laning and as work lights really.

An A-bar with spots is your only option really for full beam, you need the lights up front

Click to expand...

Cheers, I popped into my local automotive store today and they sorted me out with a full set of lights, four bulbs cost me £60 but it was worth it! I CAN SEE!! no more horrible blue tint!

Shame about the HID kit being a touchy subject.. was looking forward to fitting a set, but it's sounding like its not worth the hassle (I checked with the lads at the automotive store and they had a leaflet from somewhere that stated that the HID conversions kits if fitted would have to be removed to pass an MOT) Seems that there is info been circulated that isn't quite matching whats stated on the MOT computer system. (I shalll take the word of the MOT testers any day).

I shall save the cash and put it towards an A bar (frontal protection system.. or what ever they are called now) and a nice set of spots).

Thanks for the advice!

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Edit: (Extra info)

Just browsing and spotted these XBC501480 - Headlamp and Indicator Assembly RH - RHD (with automatic headlamp levelling) - from 3A000001
on http://www.paddockspares.com/xbc501480-headlamp-and-indicator-assembly-rh-rhd-with-automatic-headlamp-levelling-from-3a000001.html for "£125.00 (exc.VAT)" no image but I'm guessing this would solve the self leveling issue surrounding the HID converstion problem? (Maybe not the beam spread perhaps)?

Just thought it was worth a mention.

hi guys it must be said that it is a grey area, but on the side of the law, if you get stopped by a Vosa womble or traffic cop theres no point arguing. Because its a grey area they will ask you why is this fitted and then to why it hasnt got the required features. A few of my freinds have had points and vehicle advisory notices to where they have had to get it re-tested on the grounds of these lights. I know it may look good... but at the end of the day even the new defenders dont have these is it worth points and fines in the long run possibly costing you more than the 90.00 odd quid of fitting them?

go to halfords and buy some decent blue tinge bulbs, i myself have the irradescent yellow reflector light units. But i have been stopped a few times with no question to them.

cheers dave.

Noseybora said:

go to halfords and buy some decent blue tinge bulbs, i myself have the irradescent yellow reflector light units. But i have been stopped a few times with no question to them.

cheers dave.

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Noooo..... Definitly not, anything with a blue light to it is illigal (unless not part of the testable lights i.e. show lights). It will fail an MOT and a moody copper will happily get you to remove them...

The VOSA and HiD lights thing is a very grey area as the EU says they are illigal but the UK laws don't, I cant see how VOSA could tell us one thing and then do another on roadside checks but we all know how organised this country is when it comes to stuff like this...

Just read this thread magic! But looking at the dft sample advisory notice it says the following.

Items listed overleaf, in the personal opinion of the tester are:
• testable items which are only just passable and may need attention soon; or
• items which are not within the scope of the MOT test and may need attention; or
• any peculiarity of the vehicle.
2 You should obtain expert advice on any defects listed overleaf. Continued use of the vehicle (even though a test
certificate may have been issued), may make you, and/or anyone who drives the vehicle, liable for prosecution or​

invalidate your vehicle insurance

So a road side stop by VOSA could leave you open to prosecution or am i wrong in thinking this? Anyone

Jongould said:

Roof lights are terrible, you can only see your bonnet, its almost impossible to drive with them, they are only good for laning and as work lights really.

An A-bar with spots is your only option really for full beam, you need the lights up front

Click to expand...

We shall see about this, I'm fitting 4 pencil beam spotlights to my roof so hopefully if I angle them right I shouldn't have too much bonnet glare if not I'll fit a shade under them to reduce it