I am looking at getting a HID kit for my 2001 polo 6n2. I know they are illegal (so if your comment is to tell me they are illegal... dont! )

I want to know what people have done in order to change them at MOT time without taking it out

We find most of our customers don't bother, they just send it into the MOT with the HIDs installed.

If however you wanted to change them, its just the case of changing a bulb.

Nathan

I wouldn't say they are illegal, however it is a grey area.

I wouldn't bother taking them out for an MOT, as long as the lights are correctly aligned.

Some testers wont like them, but they don't bother most testers. BUT if you happen to have a tester that doesn't like them then you just have to take out the HID bulbs and disconnect the ballast then fit the old bulbs in, you can even leave all the wiring and ballasts etc in the engine bay.

Hth

Edited 18 June, 201214 yr by dixy

Mine went though MOT with a 55w 6k kit in reflectors, Only got a advistory for sidelights sidelights where bouncing the light off my blue tinted main beam bulbs and showing slightly bluey

I took them out and put standard bulbs in recently

Although i had a £25 paypal voucher so brought a H7R kit , going to get it aligned and see how the light pattern is. If its slightly scattered it'l be coming out and projectors will be brought (Still waiting for the kit to get here)

I find the reflector type bulbs much better. I bought the set and one bulb blew and the company sent out a new one, but not a reflector bulb and it just makes a mess, there's light everywhere!

The reflector bulbs are better, atleast.

So your saying reflector bulbs are best?

X2 h7r bulbs are better then the normal h7 bulbs in the polo lights. As they give a sharper cutoff, although you can get a similar result if you play around with the bulb when it's fitted in the light. You can get the cutoff almost perfect... The only problem is keeping the bulb in that position.

I wouldn't say they are illegal, however it is a grey area.

I wouldn't bother taking them out for an MOT, as long as the lights are correctly aligned.

Some testers wont like them, but they don't bother most testers. BUT if you happen to have a tester that doesn't like them then you just have to take out the HID bulbs and disconnect the ballast then fit the old bulbs in, you can even leave all the wiring and ballasts etc in the engine bay.

Hth

, you wouldn't say they are? But... They are, there's a legal document somewhere pertaining to the use of HID bulbs, stating that to have them on a vehicle they it must have projector lenses, self levelling headlights and headlamp washers. Pretty sure it also states they have to be a standard feature.

Easiest advice would just to take the bulb out and put in a standard halogen 55w bulb in each side... Also, if you decide to get HID, please get some DE-lense headlights aswell, it takes much of the glare that those HID's generate. It also makes it more safe, as people driving towards you won't be blinded, and the police won't notice it (if they are aligned correctly).

I wouldn't say they are illegal, however it is a grey area.

I wouldn't bother taking them out for an MOT, as long as the lights are correctly aligned.

Some testers wont like them, but they don't bother most testers. BUT if you happen to have a tester that doesn't like them then you just have to take out the HID bulbs and disconnect the ballast then fit the old bulbs in, you can even leave all the wiring and ballasts etc in the engine bay.

Hth

, you wouldn't say they are? But... They are, there's a legal document somewhere pertaining to the use of HID bulbs, stating that to have them on a vehicle they it must have projector lenses, self levelling headlights and headlamp washers. Pretty sure it also states they have to be a standard feature.

No Legal documents, theres an MOT advisory about what the system should consist of (Headlamp Washers & Self-Leveling), but most MOT testers say that some lenses/kits give a better cut-off with HID's than Halogens, BUT not all lenses/reflectors are compatible even with retrofit kits.

H4 Hi/Lo in my mk2F polo gives sharp cut off and no glare but the exact same bulb in a Mk2 Saxo wont even give a beam pattern and the light scatters everywhere.

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/dft-...d-headlamps.pdf

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

I'm a mechanic for Peugeot and we had a 307 in on Friday for a MOT and our tester passed it with an advise saying they are due to be illegal so they are not yet illegal... If people still bitch saying they are I will get the certificate Monday and take a picture and post it up.

Also my car has HID's in and is going for MOT next week with them in and I guarantee they will also pass... Pics to prove if neccisary.

If your still worried just pop bulb out and unplug

Just because something passes an MOT doesn't mean it's legal, just means the MOT tester deemed it safe. I just gave you a factual government document, and you're still convinced its not illegal because a car passed an MOT ?

I was wondering when that nicely flawed document would raise itself from the bottom of the bin it belongs in.

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.

Untrue in certain cases, especially as the theory has not under gone any testing prior to the "government" writing this up, but as I said in an earlier post some lamps work with them properly and some do not, its just a case that the mk2 saxo, ford fiesta and Honda civic boys must learn to deal with there dim yellowy lights and not fit HID's into there unsuitable lamphousings dazzling everyone else.

The document contradicts itself by saying that "In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits" but then states "However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable."

No comment!

MOT's are controlled by VOSA

VOSA is controlled/overlooked by the government

By law you must have a MOT to be road legal

So if the government say its illegal then how come they can still pass an MOT??????

Because its not been made law yet that's why the advise says "soon to be illegal"

Edit: apologies to OP for clogging up your thread

Edited 23 June, 201214 yr by matt01

By law you must have a MOT to be road legal

Not if Your Rolling Round In A Pre 1960

Doubt That Will Come Into Action Anyway

By law you must have a MOT to be road legal

Not if Your Rolling Round In A Pre 1960

Doubt That Will Come Into Action Anyway

Only cool cats have pre 60's... I'm just not cool enough

Edited 23 June, 201214 yr by matt01

Yes, so what you can take away from this thread is that... YES they are not technically legal BUT they haven't undergone any type of testing of an aftermarket retrofit kit into "non apporoved housings" and until they do and provide guidelines to manufacturers to design housing and levelling systems etc that will allow a safe and legal retrofit, then they cannot say that's it's illegal.

Best thing to say is that it's down to you the owner to judge for yourself if it's right to fit them. If the cutoff is clear an the hotspot is central and where it should be and that they are aligned then you know for yourself that they are okay, regardless of what any tester sys

And remember that they are powerful lights and when not used correctly can dazzle other road users and as such should be used sensibly, ie switch them off when your packed up (FFS!) and when in a well lit city etc.

Also if you dont have a clue about auto wiring or electrics get someone who does to lend a hand.

As your are no longer dealing with the standard vehicle 12v, the initial spark to light the burner is 23kV which then runs the bulb at 90V when miss wired (supposed to be fool proof but) can & will cause serious damage, injury and probably death.

Got the H7R bulbs in the reflectors today , after a good run , 2 police cars , 1 unmarked car didnt get pulled.

Road sign's dont blind me any more , they still light up but only a teeny bit. The cut off is really good. The light is not scattering as bad as standard h7 bulbs.

The car also used to light up the inside of the car infront when i had the old hids fitted , stopped when i put standard bulbs in and again , with these bulbs you see the cut off on the car infront without it going though thier window.

I really would recomend.

Very impressed, Next up is to fit headlight washers (Even though thier not projectors) just want them

Edited 27 June, 201214 yr by mpsheen

Got the H7R bulbs in the reflectors today , after a good run , 2 police cars , 1 unmarked car didnt get pulled.

Road sign's dont blind me any more , they still light up but only a teeny bit. The cut off is really good. The light is not scattering as bad as standard h7 bulbs.

The car also used to light up the inside of the car infront when i had the old hids fitted , stopped when i put standard bulbs in and again , with these bulbs you see the cut off on the car infront without it going though thier window.

I really would recomend.

Very impressed, Next up is to fit headlight washers (Even though thier not projectors) just want them

Where'd you get them from mate?

You will need another bumper with the cutout and the flaps, and then the nozzle? Arms and the piping plus another pump. Some extra wiring may also be needed.

Got the H7R bulbs in the reflectors today , after a good run , 2 police cars , 1 unmarked car didnt get pulled.

Road sign's dont blind me any more , they still light up but only a teeny bit. The cut off is really good. The light is not scattering as bad as standard h7 bulbs.

The car also used to light up the inside of the car infront when i had the old hids fitted , stopped when i put standard bulbs in and again , with these bulbs you see the cut off on the car infront without it going though thier window.

I really would recomend.

Very impressed, Next up is to fit headlight washers (Even though thier not projectors) just want them

Where'd you get them from mate?

Got them from here

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180706143563?ssP...984.m1423.l2649

Woke up to a facebook message this morning , someone saw me lastnight with them in and commented on them. Makes you realise how bad standard bulbs are in reflectors , although the only diffrence i can see is a sticker kinda thing on the bulb? - maybe thats all it needs.

I normally grab it from china because of the price , Sometimes the quality isnt amazing. 2 previous kits came from china and lasted a while (there still going) and was impressed by them.

If it fails I will be without lights for about 20 mins as I carry spare bulbs on me with a few other items to drop the bumper and lights, done it a while back when going on holiday when a standard bulb blue (typically a Halfrauds one too) although I didn’t buy it, Again this comes into consideration , some people that are not confident of fitting bulbs / and hids will go and spend extra for piece of mind. I have full faith in my china kit even though the quality is a bit dull , the others have been great and again , I have spares and am confident in changing them over so I can do it all my self (apart from headlight alignment I normally nip down to a garage I normally go to)

Most stuff comes from china anyway, I know the cheaper kits naturally will lack the quality.

I have 2 spare kits here so its always easy to swap , I buy a lot of electronics from ebay , They normally ask for proof and send out another item be it chargers , lights , and other electronics quibble free , where as in asda for a shity tempory keyboard that had a missing key I had to make 3 trips down there , the item was not even 24 hours old and I had picture proof of the receipt.

If its something that can easily go wrong then I will opt to get it in store and pay the extra price for the piece of mind of walking in and taking it back however , there’s not much to go wrong with hid kits and the parts are so cheap anyway. And same again with side lights , theres a company that advertise on the 2 local car groups for SMD / LED and HID bulbs , they are asking £10 for a pair of sidelights that are the same as you can get in china for £1.50 a pair

But then on the flip side , Some people like to buy from the UK knowing that they can return it easy and if they need the support they can get it. I normaly weigh out the positive and the negatives. Just brought a big LED tv , paid slightly more with that getting it store rather then online.

I think it all boils down to what people want and what their preferences are.

I don’t get much hassle with stuff from china , but then again someone else might?

edut: Just seen the bit at the bottom.

The final price i paid was £26.95

Which again , Dont think we pay VAT / Import tax which again lowers the price

& missed the buy cheap buy twice part.

Again, I personaly think it could be a good idea for you guys to sell the cheaper kits.

Might atract more people to you, I think people apeal to the price

Again, I like the price tag. Our rent is so expenive here / pay all our own bills and i have a baby and a girlfriend to support

So what little i take out every month for my self has to strech , Younger people i think are also drawn to the price and the ease of installing these kits, Although half i dont think will get thier headlights aligned as i find out too often at the local lesuire park when people drive past blinding everyone

Apart from the older generation in thier expensive mercs and beamers , they dont mind paying over the ods for somthing genuine / quality controlled

Edited 28 June, 201214 yr by mpsheen