There was a thread on here a few weeks ago about fitting aftermarket Xenons to a motorbike. I am not wanting to start any debate but because we were all trying to interpret the DfT regulations I thought I would ask them direct. So after many weeks they finally replied.
Basically without auto headlamp height adjustment and washers then this is not legal. And motorbikes included as there is no agreed approval including for the manufacturer (BMW) taking advantage. Anyway here is the reply.... and as I say I do not want to open the debate again because this is kind of definitive from someone at the Department of Transport.
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Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which would cause a vehicle to fail to comply with the construction and use standards. A headlamp which has been approved to European Regulations for use with a HID light source is fine, provided the installation criteria are met. 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 cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). These items are not checked at the MoT. However, failure to comply may lead to enforcement action by the police and may invalidate your insurance. Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
Fitting HID light sources adapted for fitment to headlamps originally designed for use with filament light sources is not permitted and it is not possible to obtain EC type approval for such "modified" HID light sources. Even if the vehicle does pass the MoT exam this only proves that the light produces a beam pattern which is clear enough for aiming. It does not show whether the light distribution within that pattern is sufficient to prevent glare and puts light on the correct part of the road surface.
The same requirements apply regarding fitting an HID light source to a motorcycle. Only a headlamp approved for use with HID light sources may be fitted. Unlike with passenger vehicles, there are no European Regulations on the installation of approved HID headlamps to motorcycles. This is partly because no agreement has been reached on how to implement automatic headlamp levelling and washers on motorcycles. Potentially this could allow an HID headlamp to be fitted to a motorcycle without automatic leveling or washers and we are aware of one manufacturer who has taken advantage of this and fitted an approved HID headlamp to a motorcycle. The user must still ensure, however, that the use of these lamps does not cause glare to other road users, which may be difficult to achieve if the lamps are not kept clean and if there is significant movement of the suspension during use.
Yours sincerely,
DfT - Transport Technology and Standards
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Interesting Post. I'm phoning my dealer tomorrow ! BMW do fit a std HID to one of its latest bikes, the suspension issue that they mention won't be a problem on BMW with its sophisticated Anti dive front end...
Thanks for taking the trouble to post the above- Its people like you that make this site tick.
PU
Just adding the link to the original thread. This post remains as a stand-alone though.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=53353&...f
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Twas me that started the thread after fitting an HID conversion to my main beam on my Triump Sprint. The factory fit is poor.
The change would appear to be illegal and thanks for doing the inquiry.
All I will say is that it allows me to actually see the road ahead and is safer for me. If something is approaching I switch the light off, leaving the legal dips on.
A legal undipped headlight is dangerous to oncoming traffic so I see no difference.
So on this particular issue I will let common sense prevail - its staying! We will deal with the MOT when it arrives.
Where I can see an issue is with dipped beams where there is no beam cut off thereby causing glare.
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Fullchat
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So it looks like there are only 2 cars on the market where it is legal to retro-fit HIDS, provided you change the lens unit at the same time (to one capable of taking HID bulbs) and the car has headlamp washers or you have washers fitted - namely a Citroen C5 or a C6 - the only cars in the market with self-leveling suspension.
Standard Xenons are far better than Halogens, and are supposed to last, but are very expensive if they fail or need replacement following damage.
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There are numerous estate cars with self levelling rear suspension and there have been for many years.
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"(which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension)"
Doesn't have to be the car suspension - some cars have autolevelling lights that are not associated with a hydro pneumatic suspension system. Some large estate cars for example?
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Yes, but do the DfT rules mean self-levelling for the whole car or just the rear (as in some large estates)?
I wasn't aware of auto-levelling halogen lights on some cars. Manual levelling, yes, but auto-levelling?
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If you load up an estate the the rear goes down, if an auto air or hydraulic system pumps it up that is self levelling, up to a point, I don't think the front needs to be involved. I don't know what the DofT rules say or mean!
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I think they mean self-levelling as in estates like you give as examples. Few cars (apart from some Citroens) have true self-levelling suspension.
As for Xenons though, liked the ones on the Mazda6 I test drove the other week that I'm going for them on my next car (Mazda6 Sport). On order now. Not bi-Xenon but they did make quite a difference on the Woodhead pass when I went for a late night drive.
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I understood the self-levelling was of the headlamps themselves by electric motors not the whole car.
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Factory fit HID will have auto levelling in the lights. But if your car has self levelling suspension and headlight washers, then you can retro-fit an approved HID unit to a car that originally had halogen lights.
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Not legally you can't. Any light unit which has a HID bulb is e-marked. Your halogen light unit is not designed for HID use.
A HID bulb discharges light in a different pattern for which the halogen light unit is not setup to handle.
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I meant I think the entire light unit would have to be replaced, optics and all - you cannot use the halogen unit with HID light source. This would then no doubt come with a levelling system but would need connecting to something. You also need headlight washers. Or can a complete Xenon headlight unit be fitted??
In practice, it's not worth the hastle! They are optional on a lot of cars. Especially as Xenons are only about £600 or less as an option on new cars.
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It's definatitely a bit of a grey area as Xenon, HID, Gas Discharge headlamps are not mentioned in the RVLR 1989 so therefore, according to the strict letter of the law, are not legal.
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). These light units are e-marked.
For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles.
As you rightly say rtj, the complete lighting unit must be replaced, not just the bulb.
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A HID bulb discharges light in a different pattern for which the halogen light unit is not setup to handle.
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Near the bottom of this link is an example of the oncoming drivers view.
www.vx220.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=55704
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It's quite legal to retrofit HiD lights to any vehicle assuming you use OEM parts. Of course you would be making life quite difficult for yourself if it didn't already have headlamp washers.
Taking a MKV Golf as an example it's simply a matter of fitting the OEM xenon units and the self-levelling sensors/loom for the lights and a simple recode to tell the car it now has xenon lighting. According to people I know on the Golf forums this can be achieved at the same price as the factory option.
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Certainly EU requirements mean that ,if fitted to a new car, they must be self-levelling.However,the only UK in-use legislation is C&U and MoT.-neither of which mention self-levelling.EU requirements are applied differently in different countries-prime example-daytime running lights-not mentioned in the actual EU regs.
Scandinavia-required by local legislation-so must be fitted.
Germany-not mentioned in local legislation-so must NOT be fitted.
UK-not mentioned in local legislation-so can be fitted.
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