HID retro kits are illegal!

[tobodestroyer]

Hi,

I've just been told that the Government here in the UK has banned the retro fitting of HID kits.

Are you guys removing them as your car will now fail an MOT and you'll get a hefty fine if pulled over by a vigilant cop?

What legal upgrades are available instead?

Tobo

[Acidburn]

Just unplug and plug your old wiring in for the mot.

Some people have got thru tho as most testers just let them thru thinking its better for safety.

[s2driveruk]

i heard about this, what is the rationale for the move?

[Fat Audi 80]

Touch wood, 2 x MOTS so far since fitting and counting....

[waad_uk]

Clear as mud ... http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps but in short we would need to have headlight units designed to run HID bulbs

I don't think it will be anything to worry about, plus the HID`s may have been fitted by a previous owner and you are none the wiser :mischeif:

I have not failed an MOT as a result, nor been pulled over.

[A80Avant]

european law states that hids can be used if:
1)there is a wind screen headlamp washer
2)It is E shape light
3)has adjustable height

those things are available in the RS2 headlamps.As far as im concerned,when i come the the UK i wont remove them

[Nuvo]

There is nothing new here. Retrofitting of HID kits has always been illegal when fitting to car without auto-levelling head lights.

[waad_uk]

Do RS2`s have auto levelling light units then? Manual adjustment to me seems fine, but reading the above link it requires them to be automatic

[s2driveruk]

what a load of utter b*()&^s. Why not introduce a test for HIDs in the MOT with a test for beam pattern and spread?

[Nuvo]

Do RS2`s have auto levelling light units then? Manual adjustment to me seems fine, but reading the above link it requires them to be automatic

No they are manual.

[A80Avant]

oh they need to be auto now?hehe

[waad_uk]

I think its just another law similar to the uk trailer laws. No one can make any sense of whats right and whats wrong with regards to weights etc, and in short no one really goes out of their way to enforce it.

[Error404]

There is nothing new here. Retrofitting of HID kits has always been illegal when fitting to car without auto-levelling head lights.

thast exactly as i understood it.

I got through 2 MOTs with my S14 and no problems. As long as the beam adjustment is ok they won't bat an eyelid... unless they are proper jobsworths

[waad_uk]

My mates Accord Type R has HIDs and auto-levelling lights. Its a common problem on accords that it never works correctly and his are always illuminating the tops of the trees!

[dan_b]

I've never yet seen an MOT tester check what type of bulb you're using, be it HID, or 10,000W searchlights! As far as they're concerned all they're looking for is acceptable aim and if that's fine they don't look for anything else.

Just make sure your aim is well within the limits and I doubt anyone will have issues.