Fitting H I D headlights to the Rover 75

[timbo6063]

Hello,
Rover 75 HV04 NJX
I have just spent £3K mainly on an overheating problem which included a new Cylinder Head Gasket - following lots of helpful advice from this club.
Whilst these are sunk costs I also had to get an M O T and it initally failed on the headlights. I had fitted H I D bulbs and these are broadly illegal being fitted on "old" cars subject to certain matters that might make it legal. The bulbs were changed and the car passed the M O T. To say the very least I was disappointed as I had fitted these to improve night driving visibility.
Looking up the legal position it seems that -
1. a new (legal) headlamp unit should be fitted
2, headlamp cleaning should be installed
3. the car should be self-levelling - I don't know what this is or whether the car has it or can be adapted to comply, or that the unit can be made self-levelling
4. the dipped beam must stay on with the full beam
5. be in good working order
My basic questions are -
1. Are the parts available for my car?
2. I understand the car shares some similarity with the BMW 5 series - might that be an avenue to investigate?
Any assistance/advice greatly appreciated
Tim

[Tracker]

You need to speak to Rick-Sta on here - he is the expert on all things headlamp related.

[stevestrat]

The self levelling is a sensor on the rear suspension connected to an upgraded (self adjusting) LSM. I am not aware of anyone who attempted to retrofit the self levelling system. Prior to the new regulations fitting xenons simply involved swapping the headlights.

[suzublu]

Fitted xenons to mine 10 years ago, never had any problems with MOTs 😎

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[timbo6063]

Hello,

Thanks to current repliers.

I had these bulbs fitted around 2 or 3 years ago - so if the worst came to the worst I wonder whether the change was retrospective?

Thanks

Tim

[Rick-sta]

Fitting a HID kit to halogen projector or halogen reflector headlights is a MOT failure if noticed by the tester, this has been the case since 2018. You can swap your halogen headlights out for factory xenon headlights and they'll pass a MOT fine. No headlamp self levelling or headlamp washers needed.

[timbo6063]

Hello

Thanks to all contributors - thanks Rick-Sta.

Car now back with me with ordinary headlights also new C H G.

Suggestions from my garage -
1.put some simlar brighter (presumably of ordinary type otherwise) bulbs in - 150% brighter - bumper off and replace
2. they have a similar coloured Rover 75 (Tourer and Facelift) available to donate front bumper/apron and grill so that the 2 pairs of H I D headlight units (probably to be bought) would fit.

So my choice appears to be -
A Leave it as it is and probaly avoid out of town driving on dark stormy nights
B Take option 1 - cheaper and feasible
C Take option 2 - unless this is technically impossible - get the best lights at a high cost.

Your views wecomed.

Kind Regards to all,

Tim

[suzublu]

Forgive me but your garage don't seem very knowledgeable on our cars. Bulb replacement only needs you to pop off the rubber cap behind the headlight unit, twist out the old bulb and refit new. The light units are interchangeable between the facelift models, simply unbolt each and swap over. No need for bumper change unless you're fitting mk2's to mk1's or vice versa. Leads mt to believe your HGF may also have been mis-diagnosed
Access to the bulbs can also be gained from inside the wheel arch, there's a removeable hatch

[timbo6063]

Hello
Thanks suzublu.
Sorry I should have pointed out that the Tourer Facelift that the garage have is not the same as mine. Mine is a prefacelift model (Mk 1?).
I shall be driving the car after dark tonight mainly over lit roads that I know well so that may help me decide whether to take this further at present.
Later when the new C H G has bedded in I might re-examine this but I am currently uncertain whether the donor car might fit mine.
So my Mk1 might be more difficult sort so I can fit H I D lights.
Thanks anyway.
Happy Xmas all helpers.
Tim

[suzublu]

Mk 1 as mine in the picture, you just need to source a pair of OEM xenons to fit. Straight swap. Good luck

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