HID aftermarket kits
 

something to read if your thinking of fitting a aftermarket HID kit in you car, like i was thinking of doing

Department for Transport - Aftermarket HID (Xenon) headlamps

Alcazar will be pleased, but I don't think BOB will be.

This is one of the main reasons why I went back to halogen bulbs from installing a HID kit because I got so much light scatter and not enough light on the road where it is needed.

lol i really didnt know this, and all the stuff you need fitted to make the law stay off your back, wow

BOB gets around this with selling his kits marked for 'off-road use' and I can see why. So technically he is not breaking any law.

how much does he sell his kits for?

look in the GB section

That's fine except the light units are identical on new-age cars, UK vs JDM, it's only self-leveling and washers that are missing...

So what ?

I can drop mine IF I think I may be a problem to other road users, and in all this wet weather who has clean headlights ?

DunxC

There is a lot of misunderstanding with regards to this documentation.


They are "listed guidelines" and only legally apply to "Type Approved" New vehicles. The rules were introduced to stop manufacturers from cutting corners in producing xenon lights.

It acts as a "guideline" for used cars, and although it states it is" Illegal" to retrofit Xenon's without the usual projectors etc, it actually is not "Illegal" as it is not enforced by the law, nor by the DVLA.

This is why MOT testers will and can ONLY test the beam/spray pattern of headlights, and why so many people pass with aftermarket xenon kits.

So many people read the guidelines and take it for the law because of the "clever" wording and marketing by the DVLA, then get scared off of changing their lights to HID.


They give it away with the first sentence:

This is not the law, just their Advice.

There has not been a single person, (nor will there be according to current UK Law) that has been prosecuted solely for the purpose of retrofitting a Xenon HID conversion to a reflector headlight.


As for scatter and results, I have had a set fitted to my morettes for a long time now, and the results were excellent. The car has sailed through MOT's without issue, and never have I had any complaints of "Glare" from anyone...

Most aftermarket kits nowadays have been E Marked and therefore cannot be classed as Illegal units in this country.

The above just outlines the fact that they cannot make a "law" or regulation for used cars, however advise that aftermarket kits "should" adhere to the same criteria that manufacturers use, as in the DVLA's view:
The above underlines the fact that the only criterion that the legality of a HID kit is based upon is the beam and spray pattern.

Therefore, if a HID kit retrofitted into a reflector headlight, passes the beam and spray pattern tests within the MOT, it IS road safe AND perfectly legal to drive with.

This is also why to this day there hasn't been anyone prosecuted for using, selling, or fitting these kits.

Projector's are ideal, but not the be all and end all of Xenon lighting.

LOL, are you BOB5 in disguise?

Alcazar

;) so as my car is NOT type approved im fine ;)

I've fitted them to mine and I feel like every time I turn them on I am annoying people to the point whereby I am considering taking them off. They passed the MOT and give loads more quality light rather than the yellow but if over the winter I keep getting flashed by oncoming cars mistaking them for full beams then they will have to go. Plus a police car flashed me the other day about them! :-\

I've got them fitted to a blobeye as well and haven't had one other car flash me

got them fitted to mine been flashed few times sat being police many times no problems went through mot no problems even the vosa mot teaster had them fitted on his micra.great upgrade oh yea thats on a classic too

These interpretations arent a statement of law. This one contains errors: your lamps do not have to be self levelling, for example, they simply must not dazzle... In other places the MoT (or wtf they call themselves this week) state that 'some expensive estate cars with self levelling rear suspension' dont require self levelling headlamps. They fail to acknowledge that some cars have TA HID installations and dont have any self levelling (either in the lamps or the suspension): they dont need it because in practice you cant load the rear enough to dazzle oncoming vehicles.

Likewise :thumb:

hey even after reading all the crap about these and im fed up with the **** light from my 2003 wrx i think i will still get some

Join the GB :thumb:

https://www.scoobynet.com/group-buys...mance-ltd.html

Hooooo, if you rate the '03 WRX lights as crap, you've never driven an untouched classic:D

Alcazar

yeah i have heared there even worse, you poor people.

Got 2 of BOB5 kits on my car and never once been flashed or had any beam problems etc.

The quality of the kits is very good IMO and i cant see any issue with them . Id highly recomend them, and i would never go back to OEM bulbs.

I've a set of bob's HID's on my Classic and they are simply awesome. Dipped is at a comfortable level to see much more than the halogen bulbs but not to much to dassel other road users. I've never been flashed for using them.

Turn on High Beam and the whole road for some distance is lit which is what you need.

Iv got the gas lights or whatever theyre called on my clio 172, and even though they don't particulary look that bright from my side of the viewing from the drivers seat....people still flash me!! which to their suprise i reply by putting my full beam on to prove a point...lol

Having some fitted to my Blobeye on Saturday :norty: Will see how I get on. :thumb:

Be seen or be dead, especially on a motorbike!

What? Awesome even with classic reflectors? ;)

Same setup on mine and same experience :D :thumb:

I've put the ciorrections in place, LOL:D

Always amazes me how changing a bulb makes crap lights perfect;)

Alcazar

Oh Alcazar :D

Harry Enfield's "Kevin" voice, ON:
"What?:confused:

Harry Enfield's "Kevin" voice, OFF.

Alcazar:D

I have just watched this video that was posted on DW forum re HID

YouTube - Illegal HID Convesion Kits Explained

Not to put you of mind you....

It's been posted before...

It's a shame that Auto Express didn't research things properly.

First off, they start off stating they are illegal, based on the DOT press release, which is NOT law and is not enforceable.

The rest is just to back up their case, which is flawed from the outset.

No issues of glare from our HID kits or any other issues. Everyone that has one of our kits seems delighted with the improvement over normal/uprated halogens