LED H7 headlight bulbs upgrade - impressed (so far)

[gus-lopez]

Did you read my entire post?
You don’t need self levelling suspension, or headlamp washers but if you do, they must work.

Some older cars came from the factory with HID xenon headlights in reflector headlamps, with no self levelling or washer system hence the loophole.
(Honda Civic and Renault Megane to name a couple)

But that loophole only applies to a vehicle that was originally fitted with HID xenon & no levellers/washers ,not one you have modified afterwards.
here they are red hot on it. No leds unless fitted originally. Want a retrofit then need a project to legalise them.
Overall main headlights a maximum of 75 candlepower , approx; 1000lumens.
I got failed last itv here on led reversing lights. The testers here know that only original fit led have 'E' mark & compliance & anything else is illegal.

 

[Lenny HB]

But that loophole only applies to a vehicle that was originally fitted with HID xenon & no levellers/washers ,not one you have modified afterwards.
here they are red hot on it. No leds unless fitted originally. Want a retrofit then need a project to legalise them.
Overall main headlights a maximum of 75 candlepower , approx; 1000lumens.
I got failed last itv here on led reversing lights. The testers here know that only original fit led have 'E' mark & compliance & anything else is illegal.

Our testers are a bit lapse under road traffic regs bulbs have to be "E" marked there is no "e" mark standard for LED bulbs so they are illegal but no requirement to check bulbs for "E" marks on an MOT.

 

[Lenny HB]

That sounds ace! I reckon they would probably work better than mine as you have an “enforced” cutoff mechanism

Looking at the design of the bulb makes me think it won't work but buying from Amazon no problem returning them, tempted to give it a go. We do very little night driving in the Motorhome and I'm naughty & turn on my fog lights they are really bright so not a major problem.

 

[DrewE127]

Looking at the design of the bulb makes me think it won't work but buying from Amazon no problem returning them, tempted to give it a go. We do very little night driving in the Motorhome and I'm naughty & turn on my fog lights they are really bright so not a major problem.

Ah you’re one of those people
At least it’s for more light output, not to look “cool” lol

 

[EuroTrotters]

They don’t fit certain vehicles. I tried them in my 2014 Sprinter. But the holders are not compatible .

I would imagine, if they was a fatal accident, investigations could reveal that your headlamp bulbs are not road legal.

But then again, I guess those trucks that come head on to you with 10’s of lights on and Blue Scania or Red Manchester United illuminated signs behind the driver Are either ?.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Boris7]

I would argue that headlight bulbs are a consumable part that doesn’t have to be of a specific manufacturer or type.

And you’d fail, just has others have before you, this is not a new issue, back in the day boy racers would do all sorts to get more light (just to be like rally cars) You used to be able to buy the new “halogen” upgrades and later led bulbs etc.

If the bulbs are CE stamped your right, if not your not.

You have an accident and your insurers get wind of your none CE bulbs and their going to slap you with Construction and Use regulations quicker than you can say sod.

And if any MOT tester sees anything dodgy about the lights he should check and you’ll get a fail.

 

[DrewE127]

A few cars ago someone pulled out on me on a country lane. It was carnage and we both ended up in hospital.

The Peugeot 207 I had at the time was insured as bog standard but I had an upgraded stereo, rally headlight bulbs (not road legal) and a pair of Ring LED running lights on the front which were destroyed as part of the accident.

The car was repaired and returned to me without replacement running lights or rally bulbs. We ended up in court because the other driver wouldn’t take the blame, but even the judge thought he was an idiot and I won.

That Peugeot 207 had a valid MOT at the time as well. I was only trying out the rally bulbs, they were awful as they were so yellow. I was a bit worried but soon realised that a lot of repairers just don’t care, they just want to finish the job and get paid

 

[DrewE127]

And you’d fail, just has others have before you, this is not a new issue, back in the day boy racers would do all sorts to get more light (just to be like rally cars) You used to be able to buy the new “halogen” upgrades and later led bulbs etc.

If the bulbs are CE stamped your right, if not your not.

You have an accident and your insurers get wind of your none CE bulbs and their going to slap you with Construction and Use regulations quicker than you can say sod.

And if any MOT tester sees anything dodgy about the lights he should check and you’ll get a fail.

Here is the link if you want the whole article

Click here

 

[Pausim]

I was a witness at a Coroners Court after a fatal accident. I can assure you the Police investigation of the vehicles involved was forensic. I suspect they were trying very hard to find someone to blame.

 

[DrewE127]

I was a witness at a Coroners Court after a fatal accident. I can assure you the Police investigation of the vehicles involved was forensic. I suspect they were trying very hard to find someone to blame.

For f*cks sake this is getting ridiculous now.

So my LED bulbs are going to cause a death, I won’t be insured, I won’t have a valid MOT and I’ll end up in prison. It never mentioned any of this in the Amazon description. Should I return them?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tonyidle]

And you’d fail, just has others have before you, this is not a new issue, back in the day boy racers would do all sorts to get more light (just to be like rally cars) You used to be able to buy the new “halogen” upgrades and later led bulbs etc.

If the bulbs are CE stamped your right, if not your not.

You have an accident and your insurers get wind of your none CE bulbs and their going to slap you with Construction and Use regulations quicker than you can say sod.

And if any MOT tester sees anything dodgy about the lights he should check and you’ll get a fail.

I have never read of any prosecution that hinged on whether a CE or non-CE part was in use. I have never heard of an MoT failure due to use of non-CE marked parts. The Police, the MoT regulations, and insurers take a far more pragmatic approach: would the part or accessory in question contribute to an accident or third party injury; is it safe? MoT headlamp tests comprise dip pattern measurement and a check on whether main beam works. They are not interested in markings of any description or in the type of light emitter in use.

MOT Test of Lights and Headlamps | What is checked | Headlights | Reflectors - MOT Test Information

Headlamps for aim and operation Sidelights (known as position lamps) for location, operation and condition Side marker lamps and end outline marker lamps (as appropriate) for presence, location, operation and condition. Stop lamps for presence, operation and condition.

www.motester.co.uk

 

[DrewE127]

Can LED Bulbs Still Pass An MOT?​

Regulations regarding lighting and MOT’s is a completely differentkettle of fish.

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations states a bulb needs to be E marked, approved or have the correct wattage in order to be road legal. However this is not a requirement that is checked by an MOT testing station. This is probably due to it being an almost impossible (or at least insanely lengthy) task. If they have to check approval marks on bulbs, they would have to do this for every component on the car! That’s just not going to happen.

Instead the MOT stations adhere to the MOT Testing Guides.

What do the MOT Guides say about LED bulbs​

“Check HID and LED headlamps for mandatory levelling and cleaning devices” and the assessor needs to check the lighting for “Operation“, “Security” and “Condition” which essentially means that they need to make sure that they work and are fitted correctly.

That’s it. Nothing else is mentioned regarding the use of LED headlight bulbs.

Now you would be forgiven for thinking that aftermarket LED bulbs would therefore fail an MOT as you would not have a self-levelling or headlight cleaning system installed. However Section 4.1.5 of the MOT inspection manual states that not all vehicles are fitted with a levelling device so if your vehicle doesn’t have one, it would not be tested.

With no other mention of after-market LEDs in the MOT guidelines, all that is left is for them to check is that the beam patternis correct and the colour of the light is predominantly white, white with a blue tint or yellow. Any good quality after-market LED bulbs will meet this criteria.

As long as the beam pattern and the colour of the light is correct – then there is no reason an LED upgrade bulb will fail an MOT.

 

[DrewE127]

Feel free to change the thread title to “Will LED bulbs pass an mot? And how long until Drew’s LED bulbs cause WWIII?”

 

[tonyidle]

"The CE marking is required for many products. It:

• shows that the manufacturer has checked that these products meet EU safety, health or environmental requirements
• is an indicator of a product’s compliance with EU legislation
• allows the free movement of products within the European market

By placing the CE marking on a product a manufacturer is declaring, on his sole responsibility, conformity with all of the legal requirements to achieve CE marking. The manufacturer is thus ensuring validity for that product to be sold throughout the EEA. This also applies to products made in third countries which are sold in the EEA and Turkey."

Taken from:

CE marking

How a product complies with EU safety, health and environmental requirements, and how to place a CE marking on your product.

www.gov.uk

 

[tacr2man]

You can even pass HGV MOT with LHD headlamps if used extensively in EU as long as the beam pattern meets MOT requirements . Even masked with electrical tape is OK .

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DrewE127]

"The CE marking is required for many products. It:

• shows that the manufacturer has checked that these products meet EU safety, health or environmental requirements
• is an indicator of a product’s compliance with EU legislation
• allows the free movement of products within the European market

By placing the CE marking on a product a manufacturer is declaring, on his sole responsibility, conformity with all of the legal requirements to achieve CE marking. The manufacturer is thus ensuring validity for that product to be sold throughout the EEA. This also applies to products made in third countries which are sold in the EEA and Turkey."

Taken from:

CE marking

How a product complies with EU safety, health and environmental requirements, and how to place a CE marking on your product.

www.gov.uk

Thanks Tony for the CE information but it’s useless here because nobody checks.

How many MOT testers do you reckon have read that

 

[DrewE127]

Can I respectfully ask people to stop going on about legality here, maybe create a new thread for that if it’s a burning issue.

I just wanted to share my experience here on Motorhome “Fun”

 

[DrewE127]

If anyone is interested I am going to post a link here in the next few days to a YouTube video. Lots of dark lanes round here to test the bulbs

 

[kevenh]

Can LED Bulbs Still Pass An MOT?​

Regulations regarding lighting and MOT’s is a completely differentkettle of fish.

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations states a bulb needs to be E marked, approved or have the correct wattage in order to be road legal. However this is not a requirement that is checked by an MOT testing station. This is probably due to it being an almost impossible (or at least insanely lengthy) task. If they have to check approval marks on bulbs, they would have to do this for every component on the car! That’s just not going to happen.

Instead the MOT stations adhere to the MOT Testing Guides.

What do the MOT Guides say about LED bulbs​

“Check HID and LED headlamps for mandatory levelling and cleaning devices” and the assessor needs to check the lighting for “Operation“, “Security” and “Condition” which essentially means that they need to make sure that they work and are fitted correctly.

That’s it. Nothing else is mentioned regarding the use of LED headlight bulbs.

Now you would be forgiven for thinking that aftermarket LED bulbs would therefore fail an MOT as you would not have a self-levelling or headlight cleaning system installed. However Section 4.1.5 of the MOT inspection manual states that not all vehicles are fitted with a levelling device so if your vehicle doesn’t have one, it would not be tested.

With no other mention of after-market LEDs in the MOT guidelines, all that is left is for them to check is that the beam patternis correct and the colour of the light is predominantly white, white with a blue tint or yellow. Any good quality after-market LED bulbs will meet this criteria.

As long as the beam pattern and the colour of the light is correct – then there is no reason an LED upgrade bulb will fail an MOT.

Did you write that or was it found on the tinternert?
Gov UK also suggest MOT likely to be a pass. Source here

 

[DrewE127]

Did you write that or was it found on the tinternert?
Gov UK also suggest MOT likely to be a pass. Source here

Lol it’s talking about the same guidance but was written by someone at Autobulbsdirect

Full article here

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Construction & use regs and MOT regs contridict themselfs they have not got their act together so no chance for the individual.
e. g. To register a LHD vehicle the lights must be either RHD or flat dipping beam benders not allowed but for an MOT beam benders are acceptable. Same with speeds must be mph but kph acceptable for MOT. I put my kph one back in my van just passed its first Mot.

 

[tonyidle]

Thanks Tony for the CE information but it’s useless here because nobody checks.

How many MOT testers do you reckon have read that

My point exactly. I put that up to indicate that it is a Common Market tool rather than anything specific to motor vehicles.

 

[Just smiffy]

For f*cks sake this is getting ridiculous now.

So my LED bulbs are going to cause a death, I won’t be insured, I won’t have a valid MOT and I’ll end up in prison. It never mentioned any of this in the Amazon description. Should I return them?

You’ll get the same people moaning about speed and of course they never ever break the law by going above 30.....

 

[Vipar]

I’m more concerned no aggravated at the amount of people driving with only one headlight. I can usually see 1 in 10 with only one headlight working when long ago due to Covid I used to drive 5 miles every Friday night to my club meeting.

 

[Swifter]

But then again, I guess those trucks that come head on to you with 10’s of lights on and Blue Scania or Red Manchester United illuminated signs behind the driver Are either ?.

What are those signs actually for ? I understand the football ones but why do some lorry drivers advertise Scania with a huge neon sign ? Do they get the signs for free and what’s the purpose of having them on while driving ? I’ve never understood it .

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[34127]

Seems like ignoring a motoring law because you don't agree with it.

 

[EuroTrotters]

What are those signs actually for ? I understand the football ones but why do some lorry drivers advertise Scania with a huge neon sign ? Do they get the signs for free and what’s the purpose of having them on while driving ? I’ve never understood it .

O different from VeeDub fans who stick those huge VW logos on the transporters I guess.

 

[RustyRuss]

Drew I totally empathise with you on this. I am going to try out the H4 versions in my Fiesta mk7. All the people bleating on about CE marking just didn’t get the point of your original post. You said right off the bat that they weren’t E marked and that you didn’t want this thread to develop into a legality issue rather than something interesting about beefing up your headlights. So how good are they? Lighting can be very subjective, do you feel you can see further down a given road? Sounds like you have experience with changing headlight bulbs, do you think they are as good as, or better than the “Rally spec” 100/95w types you and I used to fit in our humdrum euro boxes? When are the videos or photos going to be posted? Don’t let the bleaters get you down!!


Cheers!

Russ

 

[2x2camper]

You’ll get the same people moaning about speed and of course they never ever break the law by going above 30.....

There is a big difference between deliberately doing something and unintentionally doing something.

 

[34127]

It seems a bit of an odd posting, promoting something that the OP agrees is illegal and then says he doesn't want to go down that route of debating that point.
Also the OP states '(Frankly I think that halogen headlights should be banned as they are so dim, rubbish and dangerous.)'. - I would be interested to know if you are more qualified than the specialists who deal with motoring law and legislation.
Does it not occur that there may be reasons why they have not yet been approved for road use.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}