Definitive answer on HID

[charlotte001]

After a few lengthy telephone conversations I have found the Definitive answer on HID conversions from the Department Of Transport:



It is not permissible to modify an existing non-HID headlamp to HID.

However it is permissible to replace the entire headlamp unit with one which has European type approval as an HID headlamp.

Any brand new type approved vehicle with HID lights is required to have, in addition, automatic headlamp levelling and headlamp wash. It is therefore expected that any vehicle fitted with HID headlamps as replacements will also be similarly fitted with automatic levelling and washing.

Yours sincerely

Frances Evans
Transport Technology & Standards 3
Department for Transport
LONDON SW1P 4DR



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Reply Forward

[Robbijay]

That's correct, even though they make 'anti' dazzle' bulbs for the hids now so it makes no difference.

[foggyjames]

Good news for me: Rs have nivomat rear shocks (which counts as the self-levelling), and some late P1 C70s had HIDs from the factory. You can retro-fit units from pretty much any car if you're feeling creative.

What it does mean (quite rightly) is that you shouldn't just bang HID lamps into standard housings. Occasionally works well (they seem to do ok in 850 housings, but not P1 70s, for example), but it's far too random.

cheers

James

[Paul Wildsmith]

inteersting - I fitted some (just the bulbs) into the wife's 2003 C70 has the standard headlamps are rubbish. Bit of a fiddle ... not completley happy with the resulting pattern, and use the headlamp leveller dwon a notch. Took them out for the last 2 years MOT's, but didn't both this time, and had no problem. Obviosuly from the information above they are technically illegal.

[adamsky01]

trouble is if we folow the nambey pampie ways of this goverment and f888 eu we would all stay at home and be to scared to leave i have them on my car my car dosent have wasers dosent have self leveling and i have had no problems with them at all mot no isue police no isue so whats the big deal if u like something and want it on ur car do it to hell with every one else its ur car at the end

[foggyjames]

Originally Posted by adamsky01

if u like something and want it on ur car do it to hell with every one else its ur car at the end

I'd be interested to see if you agree with that if a driver following you at night has their headlights on main beam. I mean they can see better, right? To hell with everyone else!

When we tried HID lamps in standard C/S/V70 housings, the glare was pretty obnoxious. I'd not want to inflict that on fellow motorists. "Do unto others" doesn't end with "before they do it unto you"

cheers

James

[adamsky01]

Originally Posted by foggyjames

I'd be interested to see if you agree with that if a driver following you at night has their headlights on main beam. I mean they can see better, right? To hell with everyone else!

When we tried HID lamps in standard C/S/V70 housings, the glare was pretty obnoxious. I'd not want to inflict that on fellow motorists. "Do unto others" doesn't end with "before they do it unto you"

cheers

James

lol m8 i live in rural wales i care abought not runing a bleeding sheep over and damaging my paint work not woreid abought some idot coming the other way lol with out hid i cant see that far ahead with them i can see up to half a mile down the road u do the math
mine has the two h7 and i have hid in the high beam and low beam shortly im changing the high beam from 35w hid to the new 55w hid now if i wanted to be a jerk i could do it to both but i aint
and a word to the wise i have only been flashed 5 times in memory on each time i believe there was a speed van down the road hum

[foggyjames]

I guess the 'flash test' is a good place to start...or have someone else drive your car, and have them follow you...see if it annoys the crap out of you.

cheers

James

[andy_d]

Thanks for taking the time effort and trouble to get us a definate answer.

[migrator]

I thought on first reading that at last here was a definitive answer to the problem. 'These are the rules and the rest are wrong.' Personal preference and the 'I'll do as I want' approach were now out of the window.

However on re-reading the letter, the last sentence indicates that there is only an 'expectation' that the washers and levellers will also be fitted, it does not state that they are required to be fitted.

Ah well, back to the melting pot (and more blinding aggravation on the roads).