Hey guys need a bit of help, I dont want the hassle of installing HIDs and then having issues at MOT time and as we all know that the B6 headlights are awful so guys what are my options short of installing HID's is it possible to uprate the bulbs to get better headlights at night?
Headlights......options
- Thread starter T0m
- Start date
marktdisport
Registered User
ive just fitted these but with the projection junk type of headlight i havent seen much improvment and i had these in my cupra which i seen massive improvments
Halogen bulbs are only ever going to get you so so results compared to gas discharge ones.
If you don't want HID's then retrofitting oem Xenon units is your only other alternative really. But unless you do washers and self levelling rear suspension you still have the potential for mot issues.
If you don't want HID's then retrofitting oem Xenon units is your only other alternative really. But unless you do washers and self levelling rear suspension you still have the potential for mot issues.
There are plenty of uprated bulb options which will improve your lights, but none that will match the performance of HID's.
I have HIDs fitted to my A4 cab, it's been for 2 MOTs since then. I have never had any issues with them at all.
As of this year the rules have changed I put a post up about it a couple of weeks ago
The test center can fail you for not having self leveling and headlight washers they never used to be able to
PetrolDave
Registered User
This is an urban myth that is being put about, but it is NOT TRUE - read the actual Inspection Manual here MOT Documentation Contents Page
See Section 1.7 where it says:
"Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge
(HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted
with headlamp washers and a suspension or
headlamp self levelling system.
Where such systems are fitted, they must work;
however, it is accepted that it may not be possible
to readily determine the functioning of self levelling
systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt
must be given."
The key word is MAY, note it doesn't say MUST. So you can still pass the MOT test if you have HIDs but don't have self-levelling or washers - but if those are fitted they must work.
if you have hids and it falls the mot just pop your old lights back in for the re test and then swap back after i could not go back to normal lights now after having my HIDs in just so much clearer
hmmm interesting
i posted this a bit back and the link is where i got my info from!
This is from Vosa, dated March 2011 but with reference to the change in MoT legislation from Jan 2012:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/technicalpenpicture3-lighting.pdf
That seems quite clear, but this does introduce an element of doubt:
..... although there isn't really any 'doubt' that they'd required from the first quote.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/technicalpenpicture3-lighting.pdf
That seems quite clear, but this does introduce an element of doubt:
..... although there isn't really any 'doubt' that they'd required from the first quote.
The official handbook issued to mot stations, says what petroldave stated.
I have a copy at work that is in PDF, if anyone can host it, I can email it to them.
It's very clear that levelling and washers is a MAY be fitted, not a must.
I have a copy at work that is in PDF, if anyone can host it, I can email it to them.
It's very clear that levelling and washers is a MAY be fitted, not a must.
The official handbook would be published by Vosa would it not?
Odd that the same authority is offering two different stories.
Odd that the same authority is offering two different stories.
IMO its not two different stories. What you posted is from early last year. There were about half a dozen updates, until they came up with the final version which has now been issued to mot stations.
My only worry would be that the construction and use regs still say xenons require levelling and washers, so although they can pass an mot, they are still technically unlawful, meaning you could still be done at the roadside
If that ends up as the case then it won't be too bad. You be pretty unlucky to get a ticket for well maintained and adjusted 6000k bulbs in a projector headlight, and if it eliminates the dazzle from 12000k bulbs in reflector headlights then it can only be a good thing.
Just need to work out what's happening with remaps now! Lol.
im thinking of putting some thing like this on mine just to be safe although id get smaller ones and then all id be missing is the self levling but as far as i no that cant be tested BMW 5 SERIES 528I E39 1996-2003 HEADLAMP WASHER JET (DRIVER) | eBay
No mention of Remaps in the manual. Diesels still don't need a cat either.
IMO they'll never be able to check remaps. How could an mot station possibly keep records of every standard map for every model of car, and check it against what's currently running?
pah theres a lot of stuff you "NEED" for Mots, just like I "needed" a catalytic converter on my last two civics.... they still went through fine.
For something as minor as HIDs, youl probably find in 9/10 cases that a simple call to your smaller local independant MOT tester explaining you believe your cars HIDs are aftermarket, and simply asking whether theyed be willing to pass it to save you swapping out for standard bulbs for the sake of one day will get you further than you think.
You have to also remember alot of these testers are human aswell, so if they passed you with aftermarket HIDs even if it was completely illegal to do so- whats to stop the tester saying they werent present for the test and were clearly swapped? Its a minimal thing for them to pass really and I think most of them realise that.
For something as minor as HIDs, youl probably find in 9/10 cases that a simple call to your smaller local independant MOT tester explaining you believe your cars HIDs are aftermarket, and simply asking whether theyed be willing to pass it to save you swapping out for standard bulbs for the sake of one day will get you further than you think.
You have to also remember alot of these testers are human aswell, so if they passed you with aftermarket HIDs even if it was completely illegal to do so- whats to stop the tester saying they werent present for the test and were clearly swapped? Its a minimal thing for them to pass really and I think most of them realise that.
