Illegal HID conversion

[punto_matt]

HIDs direct are on Ebay dave.

 

[dave]

HIDs direct are on Ebay dave.

did he buy off them?

 

[ChrisUK]

HIDs direct are on Ebay dave.

:yeahthat:

 

[Captain Mike]

did he buy off them?

It doesn't matter.

According to you all the HID's off ebay are ****

 

[dave]

It doesn't matter.

According to you all the HID's off ebay are ****

most are the clue is in the ballast, if they are like this

with the screw on top cover they be naff, lots have this same box and have fake lables on too, they still the naff ones though

 

[kayl0rz]

mine look nothing like that

mine are black, small, thin ballests, with while writing printed onto them.

 

[Mr Wild]

when did you become the moderator? got a problem with someones post then report it

Similarly when you have a problem with my posts shouldn't you do the same thing. How about we stay on the topic of HIDs? This does my head in.

 

[beau]

Similarly when you have a problem with my posts shouldn't you do the same thing. How about we stay on the topic of HIDs? This does my head in.

why would a moderator report the post

 

[punto_matt]

Sh*t HID topics like this do my head in.

 

[Andy Monty]

Sounds to me that the law on HIDs was brought in by someone who didn't understand the technology or has a grudge against it.

Or HID Didn't exist when the law was drawn up technology has come on in leaps and bounds in the last 10 or so years and the Government pen pushers havent been able to keep up either that or they have been too busy swindling their expenses......



Im fairly sure that in the UK, HID lights are technically illegal regardless of them been after market or OEM...... But EU Type approval trumps this little islands out dated rules and regs...


same goes for LED tail lights..

 

[johnw]

But EU Type approval trumps this little islands out dated rules and regs...

Not always.

These are the rules for HID lights in the UK

Aftermarket HID (Xenon) headlamps
Fact sheet: Aftermarket HID headlamps
December 2006

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: [email protected]

If anybody fits HID lights which do not comply with the bits in bold then they are on the wrong side of the law. They are at risk of charges under the Road traffic Act and under the Construction and Use Regulations.

They also need to consider insurance. If they tell their insurers they have illegal lights the insurance will be refused. If they don't tell the insurers and are found out they risk a no insurance charge.

We see quite a few of these in court. What usually happens is that they were stopped ( sometimes for something other than the lights, the last one I saw was stopped for not wearing a seatbelt) and the officer notices the lights when checking the car. The police phone the insurers who void cover because they didn't know about the HID.

Result is car seized and difficult to get back as you won't be allowed in to the car pound to change the lights and you won't get insurance unless the lights are changed. Off to court - 6 points and a fine for the insurance, a fine for the lights and costs on top.

 

[punto_matt]

So what about in an X3 i have where the lights are self leveling and have headlamp washing systems?

 

[Jamie]

guess what

THIS THREAD IS BORING

 

[punto_matt]

 

[willieboy]

i have illegal HID's without fullbeam......

shoot me.

 

[Kier]

Seems to be everyone who is breaking the law, hates these kinds of theads, as they know they are in the wrong.

 

[Jamie]

Seems to be everyone who is breaking the law, hates these kinds of theads, as they know they are in the wrong.

guess what

THIS THREAD IS BORING

 

[Mr Wild]

Seems to me that there's a lot of conjecture on the legalities of after market HID whereas theres been plenty of supportive evidence pointing to the illegality of after market HID.

 

[Jamie]

Seems to me that there's a lot of conjecture on the legalities of after market HID whereas theres been plenty of supportive evidence pointing to the illegality of after market HID.

oh jesus not you

i give up.

 

[johnw]

So what about in an X3 i have where the lights are self leveling and have headlamp washing systems?

my previous post lists all that is required to be legal, you have the washers and self levelling. Are all the headlamp parts type approved and e marked as required? If they are, then your car seems to comply with the rules. If ALL the parts of the headlamp are not marked then it doesn't.