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Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 2:48 pm
by Torrr
Hey guys,
So I want to add xenons to my car, I contacted Volkswagen and they said it would cost £2k at first, then now they are saying they would not even retrofit it.
What I want to know is, I know HID kits are illegal. However, what if I purchase these: Xenon headlight housings, RHD, Ballasts, Bulbs, Wiring Harness. Would I be able to have fully working xenons in my car? That's the first question. Second question, is would I still need auto levelling and headlight washers to make it legal? What if I just positioned the headlight a bit lower so as to not dazzle? As it'll be the genuine xenon housing etc, i'm assuming it won't be as scattered like it would in HIDs? That's second question. Final question, if I do buy the xenons/wiring harness/ballasts/bulbs, before MOT, is it possible to change everything back to the standard halogens through the MOT, without too much hassle?
Do I need anything else to get fully working xenons? Or is Xenon headlight housings, RHD, Ballasts, Bulbs, Wiring Harness enough?
Any help is appreciated!
Re: Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 12:53 pm
by bianco
Look at xenon retrofit in Roccopedia. You also need to recode using vagcom.
You can go back to before xenon, if you keep a copy of the code from before changing parameters.
I would just go to MOT, and then revert only if they complain.
I have washers but no leveling, and just went through the Danish MOT with no remarks.
The important thing is to not blind people, and noone has ever flashed me.
Re: Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 1:03 pm
by whiteDevil_170
All I know is that in the uk it's a instant mot failure if you have xenons but you don't have headlight washers and auto levelling.
Re: Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:44 pm
by b0rk
whiteDevil_170 wrote:All I know is that in the uk it's a instant mot failure if you have xenons but you don't have headlight washers and auto levelling.
Actually it's not. If you have factory fitted Xenon's then the headlight washing and self leveling system must be present and working. Aftermarket lights are a grey area with the test only requiring self levelling and headlight washing to be working "if fitted".
"Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps MAY be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system. Where such systems are fitted, they must work ....."
HID kits should generally fail on beam pattern which is also a test requirement.
Retrofitted factory lights would theoretically be legal but a tester may expect to self washing a levelling systems.
Re: Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:52 pm
by whiteDevil_170
All factory cars would come with washer and levelling anyway. The way I understood it and how it's put across on the web is that if you install xenons and don't have levelling system or washer it's instant mot fail
Re: Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:00 pm
by trix
b0rk wrote:Actually it's not. If you have factory fitted Xenon's then the headlight washing and self leveling system must be present and working. Aftermarket lights are a grey area with the test only requiring self levelling and headlight washing to be working "if fitted".
actually i'd beg to differ b0rk
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/d ... dlamps.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; specifically the wording
It seems reasonable to require HID in the aftermarket to meet the same safety standards as those for new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
ie they should have self levelling and washers fitted
(good interpretation
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/to ... s-the-law/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )
Re: Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:21 pm
by bitmadmax
"...The same level of safety
should apply..."
I think the important word here is
should. Usually anything mandatory and it's worded as
must
Interpret that how you wish
Re: Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:15 am
by Torrr
I'm going to get them anyway lol, screw the system! I get blinded by xenons anyway with all the new Audi Q7s and other cars that have them factory fitted.
Thanks guys!
Re: Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 10:41 pm
by b0rk
trix wrote:
actually i'd beg to differ b0rk
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/d ... dlamps.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; specifically the wording
It seems reasonable to require HID in the aftermarket to meet the same safety standards as those for new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
ie they should have self levelling and washers fitted
The briefing note is different to the wording in the MOT testers handbook which is the definitive standard to be applied by approved test stations. That note was written prior to the current MOT handbook and introduction of the revised test last year...
linky and
linky MOT testers must only follow and apply the handbook do anything else and test isn't valid.
This inspection applies to all obligatory headlamps fitted.
Headlamps are not required to be fitted to vehicles used only during the hours of daylight, which are fitted with neither front nor rear position lamps, etc. (See 1.1.A).
Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.
Where such systems are fitted, they must work; however, it is accepted that it may not be possible to readily determine the functioning of self levelling systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt must be given. Headlamp washers may work in conjunction with the windscreen washers (when the dipped beam headlamps are switched on) or by a separate switch.
Re: Genuine Xenons, No Auto-Leveling Etc. Help Please!
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:32 pm
by Adamski_mk1
All I can say about it,is if its possible to do, do it. I've got them on mine and there brilliant