MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: Call the midlife! on January 12, 2021, 12:30

Title: Converted headlights
Post by: Call the midlife! on January 12, 2021, 12:30
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment?fbclid=IwAR29Ukzri4sueqOaqvab7OAjaEZiklAyM3Bz2pYh-PuLwDv3TdQroIdb-Cs#section-4-1-4
For anyone who has converted or thinking of converting their headlights have a read of the updated MOT ruling.
I read it that you can still use a standard fit led as a direct replacement for an H7 etc or a sidelight pip but anyone who's converted theirs to led rings etc might be in trouble.
Title: Re: Converted headlights
Post by: cptspaulding on January 12, 2021, 14:00
"Existing halogen headlamp units should 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."

To me that reads LED lamps are a no-no on the 2.
Title: Re: Converted headlights
Post by: 1979scotte on January 12, 2021, 14:03
My place would never fail me on that sort of thing.
Doubt they would even notice.
Title: Re: Converted headlights
Post by: Call the midlife! on January 12, 2021, 14:42
Quote from: cptspaulding on January 12, 2021, 14:00"Existing halogen headlamp units should 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."

To me that reads LED lamps are a no-no on the 2.
The wording is, as usual, a bit ambiguous.

It's leaving the word "converted" open to interpretation.
If a led fits directly into an existing halogen fitting is it necessarily a conversion of the unit?
If, however, you have to cut and shut the original housing to make room for heat sinks/adapter tails etc then you're definitely converting the original unit.
It's going to catch a lot of people out and cause some headaches for testers I'm sure.
Title: Re: Converted headlights
Post by: MRSwede on January 12, 2021, 17:44
Converting H7 with HID mostly gives a very strange headlight light pattern, due to the length of the HID bulb
Title: Re: Converted headlights
Post by: Petrus on January 12, 2021, 18:23
Quote from: MRSwede on January 12, 2021, 17:44Converting H7 with HID mostly gives a very strange headlight light pattern, due to the length of the HID bulb

Thus the test station would immediately spot it when they put the pattern box in front of the lamp.
They don´t are about the lux, wattage or whatt. It is the potential blinding of oncoming.
I have 90 Watt in there and though múch brigther than OEM and technically illegal, they are wáy less bright than the latest beams so it passes unnoticed.

Title: Re: Converted headlights
Post by: Dev on January 12, 2021, 22:15
Also glare spots above the cut off. This will also blind oncoming traffic.
 I have H4 LED headlamps that are copies of the Philips where the cree LEDs mimic a filament.
 The result was a very tight cut off like the bulbs that replace it. Much brighter than halogens and no fans just a heat sink.
 I recommend the Philips for rear replacement bulbs because they are built right. A lot of the cheap Chinese stuff can cause issues with the electrical system because they do not have enough load on the bulbs.