ricardo

Over on 5ive-o there is a thread about whether aftermarket HID lighting is legal. It seems that it is, currently, but the worrying bit is a mention of some new legislation apparently coming along in January.

http://www.5ive-o.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7886
(see post number 9)

This suggests that the legislation will outlaw aftermarket HIDs retrospectively unless they meet the requirements for the washy things and self-levelling. MOT failure ?

Mine is OEM HID, but JDM, so no washy things and no self-levelling (although they are height-adjustable). Strictly not an aftermarket fitting, but not SVA-approved either.

Does anyone know any more about this ?

(Sorry about all the TLAs, the subject matter just seemed to attract them... !)

ScoobyDoo555

Hmm interesting - doesn't affect me yet, but as my next car will probably be JDM.............

Thanks for bringing it to public attention

Dan

mart360

car mechanics ran an article about hid a while back..

the leveling and washing were quoted as being mandatory to prevent dazzle..


now i can understand for the projector headlights, there an odd thing to start with, but most hid setups are effectivly superbright bulbs in normal headlights

or is it once again bb closing in...


if i wanted to do it restrspectivly it would cost me best part of a grand...

lows and highs.. 4 bulbs..



M

ricardo

I think it uses the one bulb for 'dipped' and 'high' on some of them, with an electromagnetic switch to flip it between low and high beam. It moves the light source rather than any prisms or reflectors.

The UK version must have the washers, I guess they'd not be tooooo difficult to retrofit to another car. The levelling bit could be more interesting - some cars do it via self-levelling suspension, but I would think that a mechanism that moves the lights would be fine. Probably a zillion quid to retrofit though...