HID laws?

[Robert]

As not to take over Swipers blog I've made a new thread for this..

After hearing a lot about needing 'projector' headlight units in order to use HID bulbs i did a quick google search and found this:

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.

So if I'm reading right, you DO need projector headlight units in order to use HID bulbs legally?

 

[Pete]

No you need a headlight unit that is designed for HID, doesn't need to be projector as far as I'm aware. I think projector is just the easiest way of fitting a self levelling mechanism.

 

[Robert]

So fitting HIDs in my lights would be illegal?

 

[NeX]

as far as i know they are perfectly legal. HID h4 kits (the one you will need for the micra) is shaped so the light output is in the same pattern as a normal bulb. headlights are not that precise they just need to make sure that both lights are the same brightness and don't blind other drivers.

i have HID lights in my super s driving lamps. they work amazingly and because they are driving lamps they don't need a pattern because they are only on when there are no other drivers about

 

[Robert]

SO i could get HID's, and just get the lights set properly afterwards and it'l be ok?

 

[pjg1979]

Fitting a HID conversion kit to a Micra would be illegal, you can get away with it but if you did get them fitted, make sure you get a local garage to level out the beam correctly. What most people do is fit them and don't make any changes therefore blind oncoming drivers. Lots of people do fit these HID conversions to their vehicles and get away with it.

 

[Pete]

No fitting them to your micra would be illegal unless your headlights or car were auto-levelling and you had headlamp washers.

If I fitted them to my vectra it'd be illegal unless I replaced the headlights for self levelling ones but perversely you could fit them to a Citroen DS if you put some water jets to wash the headlights, because the car itself is self levelling.

But to be perfectly honest, very few people would pick up the fact you've got an illegal HID installation. Although there's always an outside chance you get pulled by a traffic bobby in a bad mood.

 

[mike]

with the amazing quality of a early k11 reflector i don't think anyone will notice you have a HID kit. I seen one fitted to a L reg Range rover and the light pattern just looks whiter and up to a standard of cars from a few years ago

Edit: Please note this isn't my endorsement of the fitment of a HID kit, to do so is at your own risk

 

[Robert]

So it's not legal, but i might get away with it?
Would it be much hassle to swap them over again come MOT time?

 

[p11sr20]

So it's not legal, but i might get away with it?
Would it be much hassle to swap them over again come MOT time?

after helping swiper to fit them to both his k11 and my p11 i would say you are looking at 10 mins max to swap your bulbs back on the k11, mine would be a little longer