LED headlight upgrades. MOT Rules?

stocktake · 13th January 2021, 16:03

A classic car site that I am a member of have just posted this?

Update to MOT rules from 1st Feb. Until now fitting HID headlight upgrades have been illegal, LEDs have been a grey area. From 1st Feb LEDs cannot be fitted into headlight units that were designed for std halogen! The mot testers now MUST fail if you have done this and it's part of the MOT check!

Mickyboy · 13th January 2021, 16:18

Direct from my online testing manual.

4.1.4 Headlamps - Compliance with requirements - Changed sentence from 'Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.' to 'Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.'

So Yes it would be a fail, our VOSA guy told me a few days ago that they are going to get tough on conversions.

Hope that helps
Mick

stocktake · 13th January 2021, 16:21

Thanks Mick,
So, does that include led sidelights and halo rings?

Mickyboy · 13th January 2021, 16:41

I’d say so if it’s been done as part of the halogen headlamp unit conversion, Mark (sworks) will probably clarify this more clearly, but this part is also interesting too as the wiring will be checked too.
I know our tester has said he’s going to be on this as it’s a important safety aspect, he expects to fail a fair few.
4.11. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Electrical wiring - Changed sentence from 'You must inspect all visible electrical wiring, other than on Class 3 vehicles.' to 'You must carry out a visual only inspection of all visible electrical wiring. The check does not apply to Class 3 vehicles.'
4.11. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Electrical wiring - Added sentence 'You should be mindful of high voltage components and cabling as these may be capable of delivering a fatal electric shock.'

Mick

marinabrian · 13th January 2021, 17:24

It's about time too, the amount of plums driving around in cars with LED headlight bulbs in reflector style lamps scattering ultra bright blinding light is appalling.

I would go one step further and ban outright the sale of LED bulbs in H4 and H7 format.

I have halogen projector lamps in the ZT, and the Mini has factory fit Bi-Xenon lamps, and if I'm honest the ZT has a better beam pattern and a much warmer colour output which is certainly much kinder to other road users and perfectly satisfactory for night time driving.

Don't get me started on the latest crop of SUV style cars with arc lamps at eye level

Brian

torque2me · 14th January 2021, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by marinabrian

Don't get me started on the latest crop of SUV style cars with arc lamps at eye level

Brian

Once-upon-a-time there used to be a maximum height for headlights but if one looks at a series 1 Range Rover then to-day's SUV's are really no different. I guess the vehicles are still within the legal!

Kev

rab60bit · 13th January 2021, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickyboy

I’d say so if it’s been done as part of the halogen headlamp unit conversion, Mark (sworks) will probably clarify this more clearly, but this part is also interesting too as the wiring will be checked too.
I know our tester has said he’s going to be on this as it’s a important safety aspect, he expects to fail a fair few.
4.11. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Electrical wiring - Changed sentence from 'You must inspect all visible electrical wiring, other than on Class 3 vehicles.' to 'You must carry out a visual only inspection of all visible electrical wiring. The check does not apply to Class 3 vehicles.'
4.11. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Electrical wiring - Added sentence 'You should be mindful of high voltage components and cabling as these may be capable of delivering a fatal electric shock.'

Mick

Mick,
I read that as
'look at the main lighting wiring' and 'be careful if HID is fitted, you are expected to just look, don't touch'
I too really hate these high beam jocks but it's a lot of newish cars too that are being driven with badly aimed OEM fitted kit (especially the faux 4WD stuff) - why I don't know but it's far too common and I believe it's got a lot to do with suspension meaning the high beam is not set sufficiently low to accommodate the normal range of road surface 'bounce'. Do the standards for what is a static alignment process need a bit of correction?

Mike Trident · 13th January 2021, 22:07

I think LED lights should be banned. They totally blind me on a regular basis. Even new cars with them fitted as standard are down right dangerous. That's before they start driving over speed bumps with them turned on.

MarkS · 15th January 2021, 05:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by stocktake

Thanks Mick,
So, does that include led sidelights and halo rings?

I think the operative word is "bulb"

If something is not removable, can it be classified as a "bulb" ?

I would think that Halo rings are not bulbs.

H4s and H7s are bulbs, and therefore LED and HID versions are a straightforward failure.

Ditto LED sidelight bulbs.

But if LEDs were not fitted as bulbs but as an addition and not a "conversion", ie leave the original H7/H4 halogen .....

SCP440 · 15th January 2021, 06:53

Here is a thought, if as in our cars you have HID dipped and you replace the main beam with an LED I wonder if that is aloud or even replace the existing HID with an LED?

I will have a talk to my MOT tester and ask his view.

13th January 2021, 16:03	#1
stocktake Vis Whiz Rover 75 2.5 auto Saloon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: LEEDS Posts: 20,587 Thanks: 2,057 Thanked 3,056 Times in 1,621 Posts	LED headlight upgrades. MOT Rules?? A classic car site that I am a member of have just posted this? Update to MOT rules from 1st Feb. Until now fitting HID headlight upgrades have been illegal, LEDs have been a grey area. From 1st Feb LEDs cannot be fitted into headlight units that were designed for std halogen! The mot testers now MUST fail if you have done this and it's part of the MOT check! __________________ Dave... Lost a few stones and a Gall Bladder and part of a bile duct and all of my dignity in the suppository incident Last edited by stocktake; 30th March 2021 at 16:25..

13th January 2021, 16:18	#2
Mickyboy SERVICING AND DEALER DIAGNOSTICS MG ZT CDTI 135 + & MGZT CDTI AUTO 160 & ROVER 75 TOURER CDTI 160 TROPHY YELLOW Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Hernebay Posts: 4,331 Thanks: 818 Thanked 2,414 Times in 1,141 Posts	Direct from my online testing manual. 4.1.4 Headlamps - Compliance with requirements - Changed sentence from 'Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.' to 'Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.' So Yes it would be a fail, our VOSA guy told me a few days ago that they are going to get tough on conversions. Hope that helps Mick __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] T4 Owner Jobs done : new UBP, Spy hole mod, Rear hub(wheel bearing),plenum cleaned and emptied, Inline thermostat fitted,Full service, In car Digital tv/DVD Bluetooth Satnav etc, Replaced UBP, Restored headlights,Fixed airbag connection.replaced HP pump,replaced rear light seals,changed intercooler O rings. Jobs to do: ,replace drivers lock,.[/SIZE]

13th January 2021, 16:21	#3
stocktake Vis Whiz Rover 75 2.5 auto Saloon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: LEEDS Posts: 20,587 Thanks: 2,057 Thanked 3,056 Times in 1,621 Posts	Thanks Mick, So, does that include led sidelights and halo rings? __________________ Dave... Lost a few stones and a Gall Bladder and part of a bile duct and all of my dignity in the suppository incident

13th January 2021, 16:41	#4
Mickyboy SERVICING AND DEALER DIAGNOSTICS MG ZT CDTI 135 + & MGZT CDTI AUTO 160 & ROVER 75 TOURER CDTI 160 TROPHY YELLOW Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Hernebay Posts: 4,331 Thanks: 818 Thanked 2,414 Times in 1,141 Posts	I’d say so if it’s been done as part of the halogen headlamp unit conversion, Mark (sworks) will probably clarify this more clearly, but this part is also interesting too as the wiring will be checked too. I know our tester has said he’s going to be on this as it’s a important safety aspect, he expects to fail a fair few. 4.11. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Electrical wiring - Changed sentence from 'You must inspect all visible electrical wiring, other than on Class 3 vehicles.' to 'You must carry out a visual only inspection of all visible electrical wiring. The check does not apply to Class 3 vehicles.' 4.11. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Electrical wiring - Added sentence 'You should be mindful of high voltage components and cabling as these may be capable of delivering a fatal electric shock.' Mick __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] T4 Owner Jobs done : new UBP, Spy hole mod, Rear hub(wheel bearing),plenum cleaned and emptied, Inline thermostat fitted,Full service, In car Digital tv/DVD Bluetooth Satnav etc, Replaced UBP, Restored headlights,Fixed airbag connection.replaced HP pump,replaced rear light seals,changed intercooler O rings. Jobs to do: ,replace drivers lock,.[/SIZE] Last edited by Mickyboy; 13th January 2021 at 16:49..

13th January 2021, 22:07	#8
Mike Trident Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDTi Saloon & Citroen C1 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Oakenshaw, Near Bradford Posts: 1,622 Thanks: 385 Thanked 552 Times in 328 Posts	I think LED lights should be banned. They totally blind me on a regular basis. Even new cars with them fitted as standard are down right dangerous. That's before they start driving over speed bumps with them turned on. __________________ Rover 75 2.0 CDTi (131Ps) Conn SE Saloon. (Manual) 160 Remap, cruise control, electric window blind, temp gauge, Real walnut / ZT interior, FBH with GSM control. BORN Tuesday, 5th October 2004 @ 12:35:52 This vehicle was the 104,679th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 3,318th 75 CDT Connoisseur SE (135) to be made out of 4,744 This vehicle was the 12,440th 75 in Starlight Silver (code: MBB) to be made out of 14,280 Starlight Silver 75s

13th January 2021, 17:24	#5
marinabrian MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 20,151 Thanks: 3,565 Thanked 10,837 Times in 5,718 Posts	It's about time too, the amount of plums driving around in cars with LED headlight bulbs in reflector style lamps scattering ultra bright blinding light is appalling. I would go one step further and ban outright the sale of LED bulbs in H4 and H7 format. I have halogen projector lamps in the ZT, and the Mini has factory fit Bi-Xenon lamps, and if I'm honest the ZT has a better beam pattern and a much warmer colour output which is certainly much kinder to other road users and perfectly satisfactory for night time driving. Don't get me started on the latest crop of SUV style cars with arc lamps at eye level Brian

15th January 2021, 06:53	#10
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	Here is a thought, if as in our cars you have HID dipped and you replace the main beam with an LED I wonder if that is aloud or even replace the existing HID with an LED? I will have a talk to my MOT tester and ask his view.