Upgrading to Xenons > The definitive thread
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:10 pm
Hopefully this thread will clear up all the confusion over HID Xenon upgrades.
I am looking into upgrading my headlights from standard halogen to HID's so instead of spending a few hundred quid on them i went to see Simon (sidaba) as he has upgraded his to 6000K HID's.
There is a lot of different opinions going around about legality of them without self levellers and headlight washer jets. So today i decided to find out for myself;
The Police (traffic dept) Said they do not know of any reason why you cannot fit aftermarket kits without washer's and levellers.
An online retailer Said they are not aware of any legal problems with fitting a kit to any car. The lady on the phone said she has had a kit on her car for sometime and has passed every MOT it has had
MOT Test Station Said they would not fail a car with an aftermarket kit as a check for levellers and washer's are not part of the MOT.
Department of Transport Said that it is illegal to convert a halogen headlight unit to a HID headlight. This is because HID headlight units are designed to have xenon lights and have been designed not to dazzle other road users. Although there is no written law legislation says not to use lights that can dazzle other road users.
I said that i have an adjustment button in my car for the headlight level but this is not sufficient and need washers to keep the lenses clear to stop dirt build up.
If they are fitted as an after market kit you are committing an offence and can be served with a notice to put the headlights as factory standard. There is also a possibility of a fine (points can be issued in extreme circumstances too)
The difference is amazing!
So if you still go ahead with a conversion remember the above and do it at your own risk*
* Disclaimer - UK-POLOS.net and myself will not take any responsibility if you are caught with a HID conversion or any damage caused whilst the installation or any part of fitting/removing the kit. Take the above as advice not gospel, it may not be 100% correct but it is what i have been told.
I am looking into upgrading my headlights from standard halogen to HID's so instead of spending a few hundred quid on them i went to see Simon (sidaba) as he has upgraded his to 6000K HID's.
There is a lot of different opinions going around about legality of them without self levellers and headlight washer jets. So today i decided to find out for myself;
The Police (traffic dept) Said they do not know of any reason why you cannot fit aftermarket kits without washer's and levellers.
An online retailer Said they are not aware of any legal problems with fitting a kit to any car. The lady on the phone said she has had a kit on her car for sometime and has passed every MOT it has had
MOT Test Station Said they would not fail a car with an aftermarket kit as a check for levellers and washer's are not part of the MOT.
Department of Transport Said that it is illegal to convert a halogen headlight unit to a HID headlight. This is because HID headlight units are designed to have xenon lights and have been designed not to dazzle other road users. Although there is no written law legislation says not to use lights that can dazzle other road users.
I said that i have an adjustment button in my car for the headlight level but this is not sufficient and need washers to keep the lenses clear to stop dirt build up.
If they are fitted as an after market kit you are committing an offence and can be served with a notice to put the headlights as factory standard. There is also a possibility of a fine (points can be issued in extreme circumstances too)
The difference is amazing!
So if you still go ahead with a conversion remember the above and do it at your own risk*
* Disclaimer - UK-POLOS.net and myself will not take any responsibility if you are caught with a HID conversion or any damage caused whilst the installation or any part of fitting/removing the kit. Take the above as advice not gospel, it may not be 100% correct but it is what i have been told.
