Xenons in UK: not very popular?

[bzqtang]

i got xenons and i love them but nowadays I see a lot of chavs driving around with their fog lights on.

Until the cops pull them over.

i know but it s like every third car is turning them on with their normal lights and most of the drivers are pakis (no offense). Though the most embarrassing is the fog lights are of a white/xenon like color and their normal light is a yellowish halogen light. That doesn't look good it's a FAIL. I'm not sure if you guys have seen it but it's just looks wrong and embarrassing. !!!!!

[AlanD]

Xenons are overpriced.

If I was to buy a new car I'd rather spend 1k on a holiday than xenons.

[am1w]

Xenons are a cars necklace, alloys are the designer shoes and rear LEDs are the anklets!
How gloriously camp!

What are the exhausts     

I could'nt possible comment!

[mac7]

I know it is illegal not to have washers with xenons, but why? What function do they provide its not as if the washers come on automatically to clear the headlamps. It seems strange that the law insists you have an option with them but that option doesn't have to be used.

Dirt on the headlamp lens supposedly scatters the light. As it is of greater intensity from xenons the idea is that cleaning them regularly will reduce this - hence the headlamp washers. In practise I think a wet headlamp lens will scatter more light than a dry dirty one, and of course your headlamps only get a squirt if you happen to use your windscreen washers when the lights are on... but it probably does help a bit when the roads are salty in winter.

[DDRFan]

Xenons are overpriced.

If I was to buy a new car I'd rather spend 1k on a holiday than xenons.

very well put. £1100 seems such a crazy amount of money to spend on just lights. i would rather consider speccing DSG or ACC instead as i think it would be useful in day to day use.
if you can afford it, then great, kudos to you. for the rest of us poor souls, the normal lights will do fine.

[gossa]

I don't have Xenons because I wanted my car in a week and there were four built and ready to roll, none of which had xenons. If one of them did I would have paid the £1100 but i'm not that bothered that I haven't got them.

[am1w]

I don't have Xenons because I wanted my car in a week and there were four built and ready to roll, none of which had xenons. If one of them did I would have paid the £1100 but i'm not that bothered that I haven't got them.

Is it not possible to organise a GB for this as we did for the rear LEDs?
I would love to have those dancing Xenons.

[Saint Steve]

To be legal in the UK, xenons require an auto leveling sensor and headlight washers.
If you have the Winter Pack you'll already be covered with the headlight washers.

I don't think it'd be a cheap retrofit for a set of genuine VW xenons?

Wrong....

Go check the a MOT inspectorate about headlamp washers. That is not a fail if the car doesnt have them.

Its purely aim and light pattern must be correct.

I had this checked as im fitting R32 Xenon lamps to mine this weekend by 2 different MOT testers and different Garages.

Washer fluid will not shift stuborn dirt or dead flys from your headlight lenses.Thus unless your constantly getting out and wiping the headlights clean, then does that then make them illegal and possible prosecution??.

Headlamp Wiper blades/wiper arms would have to be fitted if what a few of you have said about lenses with dirt effect light and pattern!!.

[mac7]

Wrong....

Go check the a MOT inspectorate about headlamp washers. That is not a fail if the car doesnt have them.

Its purely aim and light pattern must be correct.

I had this checked as im fitting R32 Xenon lamps to mine this weekend by 2 different MOT testers and different Garages.

As you say, the MOT only tests beam pattern and aim. MOT's do not check for most of the other requirements of the road vehicles construction and use regulations or the EC/ECE regulations - including those concerning gas discharge lamps and the requirement for headlamp washers and level adjustment.

Your car will pass the MOT but will still be technically illegal, enforceable under section 42 (I think) of the Road Traffic Act. In practise no one will care, but if there is such a thing as a sharp-minded traffic cop (or more likely a pedantic one) he could bust you for it.

[Saint Steve]

^^^ if its not an MOT failure, then the Police CANNOT place a prosecution.

Your last statement cannot be a correct.

If the Police say its illegal, and all MOT stations say its totally legal.

Thats almost like being pulled for having a Magic tree air fresher hanging from your rear view mirror, an MOT Failure but the police wouldnt pull you over for it.
Also Since when, unless a copper knows if my car has washers just by looking at it???.

I wouldnt know unless i actually owned one lol.