38 replies to this topic

[Mini 360]

i am getting some iridium crystal headlights and putting HID kit in they will look amazing i cant wait, but i just sold my HID kit to my mate for his MK1 Golf GTI and fit them they looked amazing and instantly wanted them back

So you're planning to fail your MOT this year then? :)

[BGB]

Article in this months Mini World about how HID kits could be an MOT failure.

I dont have it here but will check when i get home to be 100% sure

[MGBailey007]

no i wont fail my MOT my mate does the tests and he said as long as its the right pattern on the road which they are and the lights are set at the right angle which they will be because i have a machine to check them at work he said he is not bothered

[Guess-Works.com]

So when VOSA pull you over, your mate does not mind loosing his MOT license and hefty fine then ?

[Mini 360]

no i wont fail my MOT my mate does the tests and he said as long as its the right pattern on the road which they are and the lights are set at the right angle which they will be because i have a machine to check them at work he said he is not bothered

It is illegal to it any HID bulb kit to a car that did not have them fitted as standard from the factory. You get caught, as Guessworks says, your mate will lose his MOT license and you will lose your MOT until you get new lights.

[mini_in_progress]

..... you gotta prove they took there test with them lights in..... and i belive that if they have the hight adjusters in them then there legal

[BGB]

..... you gotta prove they took there test with them lights in..... and i belive that if they have the hight adjusters in them then there legal

ok i have had a dig about and found out that you can still fit HID kits and they have to be installed to the same level as a factory install.
IE you should be buying the whole lamp not just the bulbs and they could fail you if the kit was badly installed.

Teh MOT doent actually say anything about beign illegal http://mottesters.co...tion Manual.pdf

[tom1234177]

Edited by tom1234177, 24 February 2012 - 02:53 PM.

[Mini 360]

^prime example of bad beam pattern which will dazzle oncoming drivers^

[tom1234177]

Yeah, got to admit photo was taken when they weren't aligned and on High-beam

[Guess-Works.com]

..... you gotta prove they took there test with them lights in..... and i belive that if they have the hight adjusters in them then there legal

ok i have had a dig about and found out that you can still fit HID kits and they have to be installed to the same level as a factory install.
IE you should be buying the whole lamp not just the bulbs and they could fail you if the kit was badly installed.

Teh MOT doent actually say anything about beign illegal http://mottesters.co...on%20Manual.pdf

Correct, HID conversions in themselves are not illegal...

As you notice from my post in 2010, I quantified the statement stating that a conversion on a mini would be because of the requirement to have a SELF LEVELLING ( not manual ) mechanism and also automatic lens cleaning functions, neither of which are available for the mini 7" headlamps.

You could custom fit a cleaning spray which is easily done, but to get round the issue of the self levelling you would need to make a self levelling suspension for the mini, either air bags or hydraulics...

And if you read the MOT Inspection manual you will see that 1.7 subsection 2 specifically states...

Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted, switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted

reason for rejection...

A headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective

[MGBailey007]

if i get pulled i put them in after the MOT

[benjy_18]

Just a quick edit to guessworks statement, you wouldn't need self levelling suspension, you need a mechanism that self levels the headlamps when any load is put into the rear of the car. Modern cars use a potentiometer of some kind. Providing you use a HID kit which has the levelling motor in the kit or you can retro fit one I don't think it would be too hard to rig up a rear potentiometer. I'm currently looking into doing this myself with projector style HID lenses

[Bungle]

don't the lights also need washers and wipers

[Burnard]

There is another option, its brighter than HID, and also has less regulations, and not illegal.

The new lamp units fitted to the defender.....


Although, they are £1000.