Technical 500 DRL upgrade

[John202020]

Headlights are a different proposition and fitting bulbs of a type different to those for which the headlamp unit is designed is both testable and a specific fail.

So I've debated whether to add,
however here goes, I've "illegally" converted my appauling Mazda Halogen head lights to HID, I took photos of the beam pattern against the white garage door and placed masking tape on the garage door to show the cut off point which is very defined.
Have to say the difference is like night and day, the light pattern to the best of appearence is the same as is the cut off when comparing the pictures and tape on the door, it "should" be the same, the capsule and filament are in exactly the same position ?

The MOT tester couldn't tell they had been converted only when I asked him and let know after it passed, he said they pass because;
They could not be, "seen to have been converted" ( the ballast and external wiring is not visible)
The light pattern complies with the MOT spec
Headlamp washers are only required to work "where fitted"
There is a presumption that if the look different that "legal brighter bulbs" have been fitted as they are not allowed to remove covers etc.
The car has passed several MOT's since
The car, spec dependant originally came with either Halogen or HID as standard,

Note I do not suggest others follow my route as its not legal

JR remove post if need be?

 

[jrkitching]

I guess its all about the beam pattern with headlights.

That's only part of it, albeit an important part. Having bulbs of a type for which the headlamp unit was not designed is a specific major defect and hence a fail.

 

[jrkitching]

JR remove post if need be?

Not at all; we're mods, not traffic police, and it's feedback on what happens in the real world.

I won't condone anything illegal, but my view is that we're all grown up enough to decide for ourselves about whether we are going to comply with the strict letter of the regulations.

The MOT rules quite clearly say that headlamps must be inspected for unapproved HID conversions and failed if found. That said, as with all MOT inspection items, the tester is not allowed to dismantle anything and must give the benefit of any doubt if there is any uncertainty.

 

[typecastboy]

Trust me, traffic police wouldn’t give a stuff.

 

[Baglady1990]

Guys these 2016 halo drl would they fit in my 2011 gucci ? Anyone know if the wiring differs? I far prefer these to the regular ..

 

[Baglady1990]

 

[John202020]

There's a post "facelift bumper on 2009" which suggests they're(drl cluster) a different shape but not sure and I would bet you'll need to be creative with the wiring

 

[Baglady1990]

There's a post "facelift bumper on 2009" which suggests they're(drl cluster) a different shape but not sure and I would bet you'll need to be creative with the wiring

Oooh no [emoji23] I’m not great without instructions & then I’d need to read em 8 times [emoji23]

 

[Gina500]

Wiring is for sure different, since the Halo LED rings replace the side light (the 5W filament that´s currently in the twin 21/5W bulb). The design is a bit stupid anyway. Instead of using the LED ring as DRL and dim it for side light, they kept the additional (yellowish ) 21W bulb for the DRL.
Not sure about the high beam, I believe there´s versions with H7 and others with H1...