Philips vision+ don't pass MOT's !

Hello,

I posted a message a while back about replacement headlamp bulbs .... I eventually changed to the philips vision+ but my car has just been in for it's MOT and they said my bulbs are no good because they aren't showing a pattern ? I explained what they were and they said I needed to change them back to standard ones for it to pass the MOT then it was up to me.

When I bought these I was told that the weren't of a higher wattage and were completely legal.

Has anyone else had any problems ??

Cheers,

Craig

[jaytee]

As far as I am aware any 'pattern' would be created by a combination of the lens, reflector and the position of the filament of the lamp in relation to the first two. Assuming that you have fitted the same lamp type, which would be hard not to do, then the beam pattern should be the same, though perhaps brighter or of a different colour.
I would get right onto Philips Lighting (0208 689 2166)to see what they have to say!

Watch this space!!

Jim

[liuleichan]

>As far as I am aware any 'pattern' would be created by a
>combination of the lens, reflector and the position of the
>filament of the lamp in relation to the first two.

WRT your last factor, here, consider how H4 bulbs work in dipped and main beam usage - slightly irrelevant to this discussion, given that we're discussing H7s, but a salient point, nonetheless.

>Assuming
>that you have fitted the same lamp type, which would be hard
>not to do, then the beam pattern should be the same, though
>perhaps brighter or of a different colour.
>I would get right onto Philips Lighting (0208 689 2166)to see
>what they have to say!
>
>Watch this space!!

As you've implied, the wording for this failure, would normally imply some sort of headlight lense alignment issue (ignoring the rogue aspect of H4s being thrown into the discussion).

However, presumably all the MOT tester can go off, is the regulations they have for checking the headlight alignment, and beam pattern.

I wouldn't have thought it impossible that rogue bulbs could cause failure - just unlikely.

Lei Chan

Hello All,

Having just spoken to the garage again (currently replacing track rod for MOT as well) they've said it's not actually down to the bulbs but the fact that the bulbs aren't sitting in the holders properly, and that it looks like someone has damaged the springs.

The short story version is that if the garage can't get the bulbs fixed in place I'm going to be looking at a couple of new headlights ! Apparently you can't just get fresh springs ?? so they reckon, and looking at europarts we are talking serious dosh at £150 each.

Advice greatly appreciated !

Cheers,

Craig

[liuleichan]

>Hello,
>
>I posted a message a while back about replacement headlamp
>bulbs .... I eventually changed to the philips vision+ but my
>car has just been in for it's MOT and they said my bulbs are
>no good because they aren't showing a pattern ? I explained
>what they were and they said I needed to change them back to
>standard ones for it to pass the MOT then it was up to me.

Not that it really helps, but I've always advocated that stock H7s are well-performing, and should be good enough as stock (considering the bang-for-buck aspect, and the possible effects on longevity for aftermarket "improved" bulbs).

>When I bought these I was told that the weren't of a higher
>wattage and were completely legal.

I must confess to being slightly suprised that those bulbs, in particular, caused a failure. Did the examiner specifically mention the beam pattern, and specifically the bulbs being the issue?

>Has anyone else had any problems ??

Not personally - but I've always just gone with stock H7s - they're expensive enough as is.

I wouldn't have thought what you've installed would normally be a problem - specifically the bulbs you've got - but I guess the real test is whether the examiners will pass them.

As I've said, though, stock H7s are well-performing, a fine bulb in their own right. You won't go far wrong with them, and will probably have the best service life, and shouldn't cause any issues with tests.

Lei Chan

Hello All,

Bulbs are now sorted. They just weren't sitting right in the holders because the springs had been well and truly knackered over it's life. So it's now giving the required pattern and past it's mot.

As for the philips bulbs themselves .... I actually paid just over £10 for the pair from my local autopart shop and it would cos slightly more for the std bulbs !

Cheers,

Craig