I was going to have a look in GB Construction & Use requirements... But your reference will do.

I still think Frobius is correct in that different rules are there for aftermarket fitment, and think this was also discussed many a time on Audi-sport. I also have never heard of anyone to get an MOT failure because Xenons are fitted, because basically the MOT covers things that are fitted and working. They can't check the washers as they aren't fitted and the autoleveling system they can never check.

The colour of the xenons could potentially get you in trouble with the police, so you need to get more white than blue temperature versions, and ideally the lenses should be replaced because the light refraction through halogen lenses for xenon light is completely wrong....but it still works well.

I've had my aftermarket xenons on my Audi A3 for the last 3 years or so, and never had issues with the Dutch police (who normally are very anal about these sorts of things) and can safely say they were one of my best modifications....not just because they were free!  Once you've tasted GREY you'll never go back!

Gambba wrote:

not just because they were free!

hmm liberated them by torchlight did you? Mrs G the scouser would be proud! I think the lights remain illegal even is they do pass an MOT. For example an eagle eyed insurance assessor could use them as an excuse to not payout on any claim you want to make. At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Wouldn't dream of it CG.

I have a working relationship with a company that manufacture automotive lighting, LED bulbs, LED torches etc. so I am always happy to test things for them....even if they don't need it!

I still don't think they were/are illegal in the UK, and think the likelihood of Mr. Insurance being able to reject a claim based on the lights, unless they were the factor that created the incident, is very very slim. If you changed the whole units and didn’t tell your insurance and then the car was stolen and recovered, then maybe they could use the line that the lights made the vehicle more desirable and thus it was stolen.....but even that would be a hard push. Once you've tasted GREY you'll never go back!

I'm correct in terms of the legal rationale, however, banned is "unreasonable" apparently Not illegal (ok I accept that, but you are if you do not comply with RVLR use requirements

Wordy bit from DfT
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps

Fact sheet: Aftermarket HID headlamps
December 2006
In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.

The following is the legal rationale:

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.

However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).

For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.

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.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.

Apologies for the colour fest, I became carried away with the formatting buttons...

to it!

just do it anyway.. I will if I can get confirmation it works. 09MY FL2 Td4 XS, Style Pack, Privacy Glass, Martinique Blue.. oh so very blue..

New bulbs arrived, they do seem a lot brighter, can you tell which side has the new bulb? Very easy to fit as the whole headlight assembly lifts away from the car (sorry about the terrible camera phone pic)

 At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

both look the same to me

Might have been worth taking a before and after from inside the car with it totally dark out side to see if they illuminate the terrain any differently without moving the car Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Just as a 'finisher' to my original post...

I replaced both the dipped and main beams bulbs with Phillips Xtreme +80% H7 Xenons and the side lights with Phillips Blue Vision W5W.

Now have lovely clear crisp white lights which are a massive improvement on the standard halogens both in terms of performance and looks. OK. so they're not as good as HIDs or factory fit adaptive Xenons but at a total cost of less than £50 and about 30 minutes of my time - I'd recommend to all that it was money and time well spent.

Eagle