A mate of mine took his car for an "mot" yesterday & failed. He was told his aftermarket "HID" bulb kit will not pass an MOT unless it is connected to a self-leveling system linked to the suspension. He questioned this & was told it was a recently added new rule.
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Your joking!!!! There is some propper jobworths about. I'm up the s h I t creak without a paddle them when it comes to my MOT. Wish me luck.
Just some finishing touches to do now -
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Ask to see the exact wording of the MOT testing document and ask for a VT17 form.Carlos.
On the look out for less bits for my s2 saloon project. Now supporting myself by shooting for my food. www.airgunforum.co.ukComment
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I know a good mot bod i'll find out tomorrow 4 ya.Comment
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It's not a new rule it's been there for years, search the forum I raised it as a concern years ago.
The MOT station he went to is a jobs worth IMOComment
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the only stipulations i know of are these:
-requires the beam not to be difused through the lense
-requires the alignment to be correct
-requires a headlamp wash system for the 1st point
Sounds like the tester was talking rubbishsigpic
1992 3b S2 CoupeComment
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If you have HID lights you need to have self leveling lights and washer sprays and projector
Paul raised it here
I'll have to find my original post on it which I asked when I bought the Vagparts HID's in 2005
Or google it, it's a major subject on just about every car forumComment
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all right calm down dear i believe you 
so we have washers, projectors and a manual leveling system and 99.x% of the users here have never had an issue getting them through the MOT. I still think i will sleep easy on it...sigpic
1992 3b S2 CoupeComment
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Funny, my car failed on headlight aim, German number plates and emissions - obviously they missed that rule! Fortunatley my mechanic when and kicked up fuss and it was very quickly passed :mischeif:
Oh they clearly didn't notice my headlight washer system has the fuse pulled either
AUDI - saving Dad's from minivans since 1994
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I had this out with a bloke on the GTI forum as I said that you legally can't fit HID's to NON projector lights...
DOT say this...
MOT testing manual on Headlights...Fact sheet: Aftermarket HID headlamps
December 2006
In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.
The following is the legal rationale:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:
1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.
In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.
If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:
Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR
Telephone: 020 7944 2078
Fax: 020 7944 2196
Email: TTS.enquiries@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Seems the tester was being over zealous IMO...Comment
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Given that the newest A8 now comes with fully LED headlamps, and I have seen full LED cluster lamps available for the US aftermarket for round lamps (eg auxiliary lighting) ...I'm wondering if there will be a raft of new regulations for those too?Martin Cutting
aka Keeper of "The Teutonic Kitten"
It's not better than sex, but it runs it a close second.Comment
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As stated above HIDs have to be fitted to a vehicle with headlamp washers and self levelling. That was the previous ruling
The manual changed completely at the beginning of june, and all the changes made are only recently surfacing-Even the inspectors don't know all the changes 100%, I will check the latest manual tomorrow and let you know what the current situation is.
personally i prefer HIDs as they give a much clearer beam pattern (when fitted to projector lenses) and are a LOT easier to check.
Headlamp aim is the one area where the MOT inspectors are hot on- one of the boys i work with recently passed his final Mot testing practical exam, the guy was wandering round scratching his **** till it came to the beam setter then he woke up and asked him about a million questions about how/why etc..
The online test manual as shown above is 4 years old, i have had about 4 special notices in the last two months about changes to the manual- so don't take that one as gospel.Comment
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My S6 doesn't have headlight washers, and the MOT station has never picked up it has HID. Lucky I guess!?!
Although once, the cops gave me a 30 fine because on my number plates, where the country should be stated on the left, I have the Audi logo. The actual font and size of the numbers on the plate are fully compliant - and they'd passed an MOT the week before. Not that plod cared much...Comment
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I'm curious as to why HID lights need to be self levelling? Do normal lights not need to be? If not then whats the difference, if they both light up the road in front adequateley, and as long as they are aiming in the right direction and not going to be a glare hazard for oncoming traffic etc, why does it matter?"So long, and thanks for all the fish!"Comment
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The proyectors not are necesaries and the old Audis have manual electric regulation with HID lamps -A8, S6Plus...-photobucket SUCKS
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