HID headlamps a safety hazard?

Dippypud

Lum wrote: »

I was referring more to the pointlessness of most modern sidelights as they are so small you can hardly see them anyway.

More years ago than I care to remember, my first vehicle was an A30 van and that had glowormsfor sidelights sitting on top of the front wings.:rotfl::cool: this, with the trafficators, could cause havoc driving in town.

What would those BMW and Merc drivers do? :rotfl:

vaio

alo6 wrote: »

.......Gowbo has to install auto leveling and washer jets by law, he doesnt. thats what blinds folk.

Is this law?

If it is then the best (maybe even only) way to enforce it would be to include it as part of the MOT test.

Lum

Opinion is divided on that one as the requirement for levelers and washers was only introduced in the late 90s (or possibly early 2000s) and many of the cars with the after market Chinese crap pre-date this.

There is a DSA "fact sheet" that is often cited, even though it consists entirely of opinion and even states as such in the opening paragraph. I'm not aware of the legality of these kits being tested in court, though am happy to be corrected on this.

Gloomendoom

I have heard that specific HID lighting checks will be included in the MoT in future. The rumour is that no self levelling and/or washers will result in a fail. Whether this will be applied retrospectively or not is still unclear.

alo6

vaio wrote: »

Is this law?

If it is then the best (maybe even only) way to enforce it would be to include it as part of the MOT test.

the closest thing i have found on the net is this from the DFT....

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.

its a weird one as it does not seem to be enforced but sooner or later it will and they will all get caught within a year.

I would have done it (legally). its easy enough to get the OEM HIDs and OEM Auto-levelers, its just the washer kits. You have to go to stealership and pay an arm and a leg.

Gloomendoom

I'm not convinced that the self levelling suspension would always be sufficient on its own. My car has self levelling suspension (it's not an estate) and the manufacturers have fitted separate levellers to the headlights too.