Would this be road legal?

SiDaBa · Post by **SiDaBa** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 5:41 pm

Ok i'm looking to paint the inside of the headlights black (probably in the new year now for financial reasons), but i didn't think of the legalities of it. Does anyone know whether this is road legal in the uk or what is needed to pass the MOT (when it comes round)??

Please feel free to move this if it's in the wrong place!

dxg · Post by **dxg** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 6:04 pm

With these new "clear glass" headlamps, it's the bulb cover and the reflector behind the bulb alone that shape the beam (i.e. send it off into the gutter). In years gone by, it was the actual headlamp glass that shaped the beam using lots of small prisms (hence, the glass wasn't "clear").

So, afaik, the painted parts in that imnage don;t actually have anything to do with the function of the headlamp (i.e. projecting light). If you look closely, the actual reflectors are still unpainted, so I guess these woudl still be legal.

There is a geocities (i think) page somewhere detailing the process (including the baking the lamp to get the glue to soften

) -- can't seem to find it on google, though...

Deek.

SiDaBa · Post by **SiDaBa** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 6:26 pm

*few* yeah the link is still in one of the posts in this part of the forum......some where, i've got it book marked so it's not a problem, i'm expecting a headlamp to practice on soon.

ta for the info

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 8:30 pm

there was a massive thread on this subject on vwvortex in the golf2 forum, except they were talking about golf rallye lights.....

be careful. very careful.

SiDaBa · Post by **SiDaBa** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 10:06 pm

hmmm, ok, well any suggestions on the best way to find out for definite?

dxg · Post by **dxg** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 10:29 pm

You could try phoning one of these and asking them:

http://www.via.gov.uk/vehicle_testing/s ... ations.htm

Might be a bit hard to explain over the phone though. Or you could ask how to get hold of the SVA Inspection Manual -- that'd tell you exactly what a car has to have on it to be deemed roadworthy (I think).

Deek.

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 11:35 pm

I don't know if any of you guys have seen the orange FTO that was on the front of fast car magazine a few months back? The guy who owns it is a friend of a friend and he has done this painting technique to the inside of his lights - they're orange... He got it done at: "PPS BODYTECH - Full body shop facilities which include all insurance work, custom body work , and Body kit fitting & custom colour work. Open Mon - Fri 8.30 - 5.30 TEL: 0118 9773737"

It's based in Reading, BTW.

Dave