Head lights and MOT

[Waitey]

Having looked at some of the MOT rules, and there are lots, Changing the head light lamps for LED is an MOT fail.  As none of the LED type lamps are CE marked, so would also fail an IVA, but hey ho, if you got away with it, then great I'm not going to chance it. 
I will stick with the dim P700 with Halogen lamps as I don't do much night time driving.

This isn't entirely true. For an MOT the lights need no markings. Only to work as per the MOT guidelines.

The MOT rules are quite clear.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-1-4

Also REF Led lamps.

''Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.

This does not refer to complete replacement headlamp units which may be constructed with HID or LED light sources.

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for 'Light source and lamp not compatible' but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test.''

So putting LED bumps in an existing Halogen unit will be a fail but a full new LED unit (designed to be LED from the outset) which meets the light output and beam pattern regs is fine.


E and CE (etc etc etc) markings actually come into place here:

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 - Which is a horrid document.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796

Here it states any lamp on a new production vehicle (or one which is IVA'd) must have a 'standard mark' or 'approved mark' on the lens.

These can take many forms, more recently 'E' 'CE' 'EC' 'A'

[aaronjb]

There's an article in last months' Complete Kit Car on LED headlights and the legalities, if it helps! (Plus a Malvern write-up amongst other things)

[Mike Hamblin]

Having looked at some of the MOT rules, and there are lots, Changing the head light lamps for LED is an MOT fail.  As none of the LED type lamps are CE marked, so would also fail an IVA, but hey ho, if you got away with it, then great I'm not going to chance it. 
I will stick with the dim P700 with Halogen lamps as I don't do much night time driving.

[Waitey]

Having just had my first MOT, The tester was worried about my head lights and beam pattern,
I have the standard P700 head lights with the tripod bar.
He did comment that is was a strange beam pattern and I might want to look at something better long term.

He was very help full and we removed a head light to check the bulb, he was happy to see it was an approved
type or make, Ring lamps 12v 60/55W  E1 2JI ring lamps, he was happy with that, slight adjustment and all good.

I have to say these headlights are rubbish at night, So the big question is, Do I change the complete unit, or just change the lamp.  I have seen a couple of post about using LED type lamps

Option 1
£59 a pair  https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/products/latest-led-headlights-h4-philips-z-es-hi-lo-beam-conversion-9-32v  would I get away with them on my next MOT or have to remove and  put the old ones back in for the MOT.

Option 2
Replace the headlights with a pair of sealed beam type
£234 a pair https://www.banginheadlights.com/products/traditional-7-inch-led-headlight?variant=42493072867523

But will these pass an MOT ?

Or are there other options ?

Thanks
Mike H

Option 1 shouldn't pass an MOT.

Option 2 is fine for an MOT.

Or just swap them.

[RobP]

Hi Mike,

I changed my Bulbs to the classic car led bulbs about a year and a half ago.

I have had two MOTs since and the tester has never mentioned any issues with them or the beam pattern, P700 tripod bars. These are the same head lamps I had at the IVA, and again no issues.

The led bulbs are a lot brighter than the normal halogen ones. however, I have not actually been out in the night in the car to test them in the dark. But there is definitely a noticeable difference in the beam brightness.

Hope this helps.

All the best

Rob

[Mike Hamblin]

Having just had my first MOT, The tester was worried about my head lights and beam pattern,
I have the standard P700 head lights with the tripod bar.
He did comment that is was a strange beam pattern and I might want to look at something better long term.

He was very help full and we removed a head light to check the bulb, he was happy to see it was an approved
type or make, Ring lamps 12v 60/55W  E1 2JI ring lamps, he was happy with that, slight adjustment and all good.

I have to say these headlights are rubbish at night, So the big question is, Do I change the complete unit, or just change the lamp.  I have seen a couple of post about using LED type lamps

Option 1
£59 a pair  https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/products/latest-led-headlights-h4-philips-z-es-hi-lo-beam-conversion-9-32v  would I get away with them on my next MOT or have to remove and  put the old ones back in for the MOT.

Option 2
Replace the headlights with a pair of sealed beam type
£234 a pair https://www.banginheadlights.com/products/traditional-7-inch-led-headlight?variant=42493072867523

But will these pass an MOT ?

Or are there other options ?

Thanks
Mike H