Legality of LED bulbs in old halogen style headlamps

Laney760 · Mar 23rd, 2021, 15:10

I am confused. I thought it was legal for me to have LEDs in my old halogen units in my 1997 940 especially as my MOT fitter himself fitted my LEDS and passes my vehicle with them in every year. I thought there were certain criteria I fulfilled including self levelling suspension?

Under the new changes to the MOT law it looks as if they have never been legal?

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...mp-conversions

Or am I confusing the parts I have fitted into the halogen units are not just bulbs, they are some sort of converters?

Ripmax · Mar 23rd, 2021, 16:17

You can't fit a HID(xenon) or LED bulb into a reflector housing that was designed for halogen as far as I know. The beam pattern wouldn't be correct.

Your MOT guy is probably only passing them because he fit them.

TonyS9 · Mar 23rd, 2021, 16:21

Not 100% sure but have a vague recollection that if you have self levelling suspension it might have been ok. I think thats for fitting brighter bulbs. You have to have self leveling suspension or adjustable lights from the inside. 940s come with self leveling suspension, although most people get rid of it because its too expensive to replace when the shocks wear out.

Generally though I think its illegal to fit bulbs not approved to meet the standard (E standard) the headlight unit was designed for.

Laney760 · Mar 23rd, 2021, 19:26

Oh dear, yes the law has recently changed. I cannot see very well at night with halogen bulbs, the LEDs in my car turned my car lighting around, don't know what I will do now, perhaps I need to get another car.

The MOT test was amended when the UK left the European Union on 1 January 2021.

What the law used to say

Previously, the MOT tester would check that the car fitted with LED bulbs had a self-levelling or headlight cleaning system. If these systems weren’t working, the car would fail. If the car didn’t have these systems, it would pass. There was no other mention of aftermarket bulbs so as long as the beam was the right pattern and the correct colour, the car wouldn’t fail on its headlights.erhaps time for another car.

https://www.askthecarexpert.com/repl...ith-led-bulbs/

Laney760 · Mar 23rd, 2021, 19:31

Cars pre 1 April 1986 may not automatically fail. All post 1986 will fail.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...mp-conversions

Laird Scooby · Mar 23rd, 2021, 20:10

The law is a real pain on this, especially as it's just changed again. If you bought the bulbs i suggested, they would have given the correct beam pattern and been designed as replacement bulbs as direct replacements for the H4 bulbs - there's a subtle difference as many LED bulbs are simply a light source. Sadly the govt and/or VoSA hasn't caught on to the fact there are LED bulbs designed as direct replacements which won't give beam problems.

This has given me a problem as well but i have decided that the simple way round it is to fit H4 bulbs for the test then swap back to the LED bulbs after.

I have the same problem as you, with H4 bulbs in i can barely see the road as the standard headlights are pretty poor. Considering it's a safety aspect, what the govt should really do is go simply on whether it gives the right beam pattern or not (mine struggle to give the correct beam pattern with H4s as well!

) rather than what the actual light source is. This would immediately get rid of the wrong kind of LED bulbs.

I would suggest you have a "discrete word" with your tester and see what can be done, even if it's the same idea as mine.

Laney760 · Mar 23rd, 2021, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

The law is a real pain on this, especially as it's just changed again. If you bought the bulbs i suggested, they would have given the correct beam pattern and been designed as replacement bulbs as direct replacements for the H4 bulbs - there's a subtle difference as many LED bulbs are simply a light source. Sadly the govt and/or VoSA hasn't caught on to the fact there are LED bulbs designed as direct replacements which won't give beam problems.

This has given me a problem as well but i have decided that the simple way round it is to fit H4 bulbs for the test then swap back to the LED bulbs after.

I have the same problem as you, with H4 bulbs in i can barely see the road as the standard headlights are pretty poor. Considering it's a safety aspect, what the govt should really do is go simply on whether it gives the right beam pattern or not (mine struggle to give the correct beam pattern with H4s as well!

) rather than what the actual light source is. This would immediately get rid of the wrong kind of LED bulbs.

I would suggest you have a "discrete word" with your tester and see what can be done, even if it's the same idea as mine.

I'm pretty sure I did get the bulbs you suggested? The problem I have is that mine are on all the time in the day, as in day running lights, which makes them stand out to plod and the general concensus on this forum is that this is normal and my MOT tester said it's fine but a forum member said theres a button in the footwell somewhere which turns off the day running function of the lights.

Dave, these are my ones, I'm sure it was you recommended them?: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H4-LED-He...-/274615000705

360beast · Mar 23rd, 2021, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laney760

I'm pretty sure I did get the bulbs you suggested? The problem I have is that mine are on all the time in the day, as in day running lights, which makes them stand out to plod and the general concensus on this forum is that this is normal and my MOT tester said it's fine but a forum member said theres a button in the footwell somewhere which turns off the day running function of the lights.

Dave, these are my ones, I'm sure it was you recommended them?: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H4-LED-He...-/274615000705

I've broke five 940s and a 760 for parts... there is no button for turning off the DRL function.

I don't think the police will have any interest in pulling you over for having LED sidelights on during the day considering how much they have to deal with and have bigger fish to fry

Laney760 · Mar 23rd, 2021, 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by 360beast

I've broke five 940s and a 760 for parts... there is no button for turning off the DRL function.

I don't think the police will have any interest in pulling you over for having LED sidelights on during the day considering how much they have to deal with and have bigger fish to fry

Its the headlights that are on all the time, not the sidelights?

360beast · Mar 23rd, 2021, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laney760

Its the headlights that are on all the time, not the sidelights?

They aren't full headlights they are sidelights, when you put the headlights on the dipped beam comes on.

Mar 23rd, 2021, 15:10	#1
Laney760 VOC Member Last Online: Mar 18th, 2024 12:17 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Henley on Thames	Legality of LED bulbs in old halogen style headlamps I am confused. I thought it was legal for me to have LEDs in my old halogen units in my 1997 940 especially as my MOT fitter himself fitted my LEDS and passes my vehicle with them in every year. I thought there were certain criteria I fulfilled including self levelling suspension? Under the new changes to the MOT law it looks as if they have never been legal? https://www.gov.uk/government/public...mp-conversions Or am I confusing the parts I have fitted into the halogen units are not just bulbs, they are some sort of converters? __________________ [IMG]Volvo2 by Strider'swoman, on Flickr[/IMG] Current '96 945 2.3 lpt - Aurigas, tailgate spoiler, sports grille, lpg fuelled Previous '88 764 TD, '92 945 TD, '88 745, '81 244 DL

Mar 23rd, 2021, 16:17	#2
Ripmax Member Last Online: Aug 7th, 2023 16:27 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Leicestershire (with VIDA pm me)	You can't fit a HID(xenon) or LED bulb into a reflector housing that was designed for halogen as far as I know. The beam pattern wouldn't be correct. Your MOT guy is probably only passing them because he fit them. __________________ Current - 2004 Volvo V70R Titanium Grey - 67k 2008 S60 2.0t Sport Electric Silver - 156k 2000 V70 Classic 2.4M Signal Red - 240k 2001 Audi A6 C5 Sport Avant 1.9 TDi - 173k

Mar 23rd, 2021, 19:26	#4
Laney760 VOC Member Last Online: Mar 18th, 2024 12:17 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Henley on Thames	Oh dear, yes the law has recently changed. I cannot see very well at night with halogen bulbs, the LEDs in my car turned my car lighting around, don't know what I will do now, perhaps I need to get another car. The MOT test was amended when the UK left the European Union on 1 January 2021. What the law used to say Previously, the MOT tester would check that the car fitted with LED bulbs had a self-levelling or headlight cleaning system. If these systems weren’t working, the car would fail. If the car didn’t have these systems, it would pass. There was no other mention of aftermarket bulbs so as long as the beam was the right pattern and the correct colour, the car wouldn’t fail on its headlights.erhaps time for another car. https://www.askthecarexpert.com/repl...ith-led-bulbs/ __________________ [IMG]Volvo2 by Strider'swoman, on Flickr[/IMG] Current '96 945 2.3 lpt - Aurigas, tailgate spoiler, sports grille, lpg fuelled Previous '88 764 TD, '92 945 TD, '88 745, '81 244 DL

Mar 23rd, 2021, 19:31	#5
Laney760 VOC Member Last Online: Mar 18th, 2024 12:17 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Henley on Thames	Cars pre 1 April 1986 may not automatically fail. All post 1986 will fail. https://www.gov.uk/government/public...mp-conversions __________________ [IMG]Volvo2 by Strider'swoman, on Flickr[/IMG] Current '96 945 2.3 lpt - Aurigas, tailgate spoiler, sports grille, lpg fuelled Previous '88 764 TD, '92 945 TD, '88 745, '81 244 DL Last edited by Laney760; Mar 23rd, 2021 at 19:49.

Mar 23rd, 2021, 20:10	#6
Laird Scooby Premier Member Last Online: Today 20:24 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lakenheath	The law is a real pain on this, especially as it's just changed again. If you bought the bulbs i suggested, they would have given the correct beam pattern and been designed as replacement bulbs as direct replacements for the H4 bulbs - there's a subtle difference as many LED bulbs are simply a light source. Sadly the govt and/or VoSA hasn't caught on to the fact there are LED bulbs designed as direct replacements which won't give beam problems. This has given me a problem as well but i have decided that the simple way round it is to fit H4 bulbs for the test then swap back to the LED bulbs after. I have the same problem as you, with H4 bulbs in i can barely see the road as the standard headlights are pretty poor. Considering it's a safety aspect, what the govt should really do is go simply on whether it gives the right beam pattern or not (mine struggle to give the correct beam pattern with H4s as well! ) rather than what the actual light source is. This would immediately get rid of the wrong kind of LED bulbs. I would suggest you have a "discrete word" with your tester and see what can be done, even if it's the same idea as mine. __________________ Cheers Dave Next Door to Top-Gun with a Honda CR-V & S Type Jag Volvo gone but not forgotten........

Mar 23rd, 2021, 16:21	#3
TonyS9 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 9th, 2024 21:44 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Holywood	Not 100% sure but have a vague recollection that if you have self levelling suspension it might have been ok. I think thats for fitting brighter bulbs. You have to have self leveling suspension or adjustable lights from the inside. 940s come with self leveling suspension, although most people get rid of it because its too expensive to replace when the shocks wear out. Generally though I think its illegal to fit bulbs not approved to meet the standard (E standard) the headlight unit was designed for.

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