alcazar

iTrader: (2)

There has long been debate about the legality, or otherwise, of HID aftermarket kits. The debate has raged, often with frayed tempers, on this site.

Today, as posted elsewhere, I got pulled for a full vehicle check by VOSA/Humberside Police.

Amongst other things, the officer questioned waht bulbs I had in my headlights as they looked brighter than normal. They are Philips Vision plus, the 90% uprated ones.

He mentioned that they, (the olice and VOSA), are now on the lookout for aftermarket HID kits fitted to vehicles and that anyone found with such a kit will be asked to remove it, or face prosecution.

Personally, I wouldn't want to be the first person to test the DfT stance that they are illegal.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Cheers for the heads up.

Bugger - I have 'em fitted.

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Nice one Alcazar.

I recently fitted the Ring Xenonmax 100%+ after debating HID's. Looks like i saved myself a few quid, not to mention the hassle.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

For me, I feel torn, because on the one hand I've been vindicated, I warned two years ago that this might happen, and now it appears that it is going to.

On the other hand, I'm disappointed, as, for me, the only aftermarket HID sets that cause problems are the H4 ones. The others, the single filament ones, are all pretty good.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Will the police request that it be changed, even if it's aimed correctly, etc.? Will they clamp down on ANY aftermarket HID, regardless of how it's fitted/whether it has H4s or not?

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

It is said to be coming in as part of the MOT revamp from what i have read. To have HID's fitted, iirc, you must have auto levellers and light washers.

No biggy to swap back for MOT, but if the bib and VOSA are going to actively enforce it...

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi guys have look at this http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...47:0072:EN:PDF
Its new commission directive for every country of EU.



Jura

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

He didn't say, just that they were looking for them in the wrong lights, ie: those not marked for their use.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

And there it is: section 4.1.4, reason for failure: c) lamp and light source not compatible.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

So because my STi 5's lenses/holders are obviously OEM non-HID types, then I'd get pulled up on it by the filth, yeah?

TurboAndy

iTrader: (1)

will I be ok as Im using uk300 headlights and dip beam is a magnifer so you cant see the bulb.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

No-one knows the answer to these questions.

The idea of my post is simply a further "heads up" as to the state of play with HID aftermarket kits. DfT and the EC reckon they are not legal used in light units not made for them.

If you need to know why, nip over and read my answers to some questions in this thread:https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...s-on-hids.html

AFAIK, NO-ONE has yet been prosecuted for their use, so you should all be alright.

Please don't quote me in court, however, should it come to that

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Sorry me ol' mucker - too late for that now. lol

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Tazman861

iTrader: (2)

Alcazar, Does this just apply to HIDs fitted to lights designed for normal bulbs? What about HIDs in Projector lights that have been retrofitted as per other threads on this BB?

Thanks

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

As far as I can understand, the fitting of aftermarket HID's into lights designed for halogen WILL become illegal, if it is not already. As I've said elsewhere, it's untested at the moment.

As regards HID projectors, retrofitted, that would be a grey area.

OFFICIALY they should still have headlamp wash and self-levelling, plus they should be e-marked.
The projectors, IF SOURCED IN THE EC would be e-marked, but the light unit they had been retro-fitted into WOULD NOT BE.
You see the problem?

Also, projectors sourced from the USA, even if for a RHD car may, or may not, be e-marked. A total minefield.

winston69

iTrader: (30)

Cheers for the warning fella! And there was me considering putting H7 HIDS in my soon to come p1 driving lights

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Hopefully then, because of these seemingly hard-to-pin-down definitions, then they might not enforce it.

And pigs can fly.

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Also with JDM's, they do not have 'European Community Whole Type Approval' so we may find a loophole developing at some point during the process if they intend to enforce it with any vigor.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Good thinking, bat ^^^.

A bit akin to the pre-1995 Jap cars re UK emissions i.e. not recognised on the database for specific model testing parameters.

Stevesbluewrx

iTrader: (4)

Nice one fella. Was going to fit my set sat in my garage for the past 2/3 years at the weekend.

Thanks for the heads up.

Steve

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

If it were me, and I had lights with single filament bulbs, I'd fit HIDs.

I would especially do it for driving lights as those are unlikley to be tested. Just fit a switch and switch them out when it's being tested.

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Yeah, i was thinking more of the number plates at the time but we're on the wave length.

+1 Alcazar, i wouldn't of thought driving lights would be a problem as they are not part of the MOT and as you say, easily isolated. Also they are not going to be on if your head on with plod.

Jamz_

iTrader: (12)

I dunno how they are going to do this though... Honda Civic, factory fitted HID's, Renault Leguna's with factory fitted HID's (no projector lenses in them either)

As of now, the law states nothing more powerfull then 35watts, my HID's produce less then 35watts, no where in the rule book does it go on Lumens

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Hmmm. Under what law, section and act? Just curious.

Pity they don't prosectute/give points to all the cars with blown headlight/brake light bulbs.
And what about all the cars with dull headlamps due to worn out bulbs, corroded connections and fogged+degraded lense/reflectors? I'm pretty sure there are plenty of cars that pass MOT with lighting being far from adequate


PS. I've got a die stamp kit...do you want to borrow my "E"

Jimbob

iTrader: (13)

This is what I say

Sod them, at the end of the day everything is E marked, theres nowt they can do, as if it passes an mot test then what can they say??

just123

iTrader: (1)

Police up my way are trying to justify their jobs at present, got pulled twice yesterday never been pulled for 10 years prior to it

Hid lights should have auto level'ers and washers, i have a set fitted to my classic and wont be taken them off for anybody, too may HID scaremongers going about

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

That's just it Jimbob, you will not pass the MOT with them fitted, as in (c) in the new regs below.

4.1.4. Compliance with requirements ( a ).
Visual inspection and by operation.
(a) Lamp, emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements ( a ). (b) Products on lens or light source which obviously reduce light intensity or change emitted colour. (c) Light source and lamp not compatible.

The same as a you will not pass a road side emissions test if your car requires cats, then you decat after MOT. VOSA will/could issue a PG9 and the bib can also use s.59 Police Reform Act 2002, on the grounds of "DISTRESS OR ANNOYANCE" or possibaly s.165 for effectively, having no/invalid MOT.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Nope not right, the only day that your mot really covers is the day its taken on, after that if your pulled and the vehicle fails an inspection you can be "requested" to take your car to a vosa testing station, trust me you dont want to go to one of those

Tony

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

BAT: those regs aren't in place yet.

Knowing how fast VOSA are, it'll be quite some time before these regs are put in place because of the red tape involved (they need to train/advise all the testers of the new proceedures, literature, training vids, bringing test station inspectors up to speed etc).

Trust me, we run an MOT station. I'd know if they did

Police laying down the "law" before its even implemented is typical; they did that with me with the insurance registration database, they used it to pull me over even though the system wasn't "officially" in operation. It sometimes appears like they are playing with a new toy.