UK MOT question on HID lights

[S2central.net]

Whats the rule here on cars with HID lights ?

My understanding is that cars with HID lights must have headlight washers... which is fine for us, except that mine have stopping working for some stupid reason.

I swear my car is crusting over with lack of use & TLC lately...


Paul

[S2 Ant]

AFAIK they are meant to be self levelling, headlamp washers and projector style.

However i know of several friends who have passed a proper MOT with none of the above, they were fit in to a Pug 306 with standard type bulbs previous, no washers and no levelling.

[S2central.net]

Self levelling - or adjustable lamps ?

I know our Xenon equipped AR has self levelling on the lights, but I always thought that was cos the AR has the whizzy pneumatic ride height system.

I just bet I get some nob of a jobsworth... They passed in Scotland last year no probs.

[pastures16]

Self levelling

[Jas11n]

HID's don't have to be on projectors style headlamps only. They can come from the factory fitted to reflector style headlamps too. (They roll off our production lines everyday)

Self levelling and headlamp washers are the requirements by law.

Mine just went through the MOT without any hitch. My headlamp washers are disconnected by choice as I hate them (Pulled relay) and of course the levelling system is manual as you know.

It'll be all down to how "ana1" the tester is. Mine agreed they were way better for safety then the stock halogen as they allow me to see where I'm going in the dark

[GlynRS2]

As long as they are correctly adjusted, you should be OK in your MOT. Wheteher or not you headlights work and correctly adjusted is what the MOT tester is checking for. AFAIK it does not say in the notes to MOT testers that they have to check for self-levelling and headlight washer in the case of HIDs, although this is a legal requirement for all new cars fitted with these.
As long as you don't have HIDs that are well into the blue/violet end of the colour spectrum you probably not going to upset your tester.
At the end of the day, with the VAG Parts kit it is only going to take you 30 mins to re-install the regular bulbs, and then with a free re-test within 24 hrs you will pass. So unless you have an over-officious MOT tester I think you will be OK.

[Fat Audi 80]

My MOT tester is harsh but fair and does everything by the book. My sailed through with the VAGparts HID extreme kit fitted. I must admit I was worried as I could see me having to take that off as well as change the Cats every MOT....

[Sidspud]

HIDs only require self levellers and washers if fitted to NEW cars. If fitted as aftermarket additions then they'd pass no problem, as long as they're adjusted properly.

[Greg_S]

There was an article in Audi Driver last month about lighting & HID's.

[dan_b]

Mine went through the MOT with not a single raised eyebrow over the HIDs - they just checked that the two lamps were of equal intensity and aimed correctly and that was that.

[S2central.net]

Alright - cool then - I'm not going to sweat this then... I'll adjust the lamps down a tad with the cabin control just to be sure (to be sure).

Follow the related thread below for a very worrying discovery I made tonight whilst trying to isolate the fault in the headlamp washer system.

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=145733

Paul