Golf V GTI OEM Xenon Installation Completed

[Greenouse]

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3552517

Is this one legal or illegal?

Pity TT aint here to yell and scream  .

Mike

As others have stated, providing it has the headlamp washers, and the headlamps are the proper OEM units specifically designed for the HID bulbs (which it seems they are) - then they are legal. 

Oh, and the auto leveling system is correctly calibrated. 

Welcome back Mr T_T 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Thats what I thought...

In SA we can have Xenons without the washers too. So illegal for the UK and legal for the rest of the world? Interesting.

Mike

Mike, I thought that South Africa, just like Australia and New Zealand actually used the European "Type Approval" systems, just like they use the same EuroNCAP crash test standards.?

[08micsta]

I dont actually know. But would that mean that technically our car is illegal?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

After market HIDs are not illegal as long as they pass the beam alignment test.

Sorry, but that is absolute bollox.

Washers are also not a legal requirement when fitted after it has left the factory. The washers are only required on cars that are built in factories (so standard xenons that come with the car)

Again, bollox.  Headlamp washers, and more importantly, automatic dynamic levelers are absolutely and categorically legally required.  It is both a UK and EU legal requirement.  Retro-fitting HIDs without the full OEM gubbins will invalidate the "Type Approval" for the car.  This will then invalidate your insurance (even if you do actually declare it as a mod), and will also lead to potential criminal prosecution for a breach under the "Construction and Use Regulations", and a breach of CUR is also a breach under the Road Traffic Act.

You cant fail an MOT for something you do not have to test, a good example is the spare tyre in some cars; if its bold just take it out before the test, if they cant check its bold they cant fail you!

A spare tyre is NOT a legal requirement - otherwise how come all these cars with "tyre mobility systems" (a bottle of slime and a mini compressor, instead of any kind of "spare wheel") can pass an MoT!

Correctly functioning headlamps which comply with the manufacturers Type Approval ARE a legal requirement, and a testable item.

I have aftermarket HIDs and it flew through the MOT last week. Its now passed in a Honda garage and my local garage.

Then you have just admitted to not only an illegal car, but also a dodgy MoT. 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

The main point is the self leveling. Badly adjusted normal lights are annoying, badly adjusted after market HID's are a danger to other drivers.

Exactly.  The real crux is that a HID capsule generates its light output from an electrical arc, rather than the old skool heating a wire filiament to white hot.  Just like welders can suffer from "arc eye", HIDs also produce the same potentially damaging effect.

This is why don't want them fitted in the aftermarket. There is nothing stopping them comin gout of adjustment and being a danger between MOT's. Also the lenses need to be correct for HID otherwise the beam pattern is wrong and worse case they melt.

No, not really.  It is nothing to do with the "static" beam setting (though this is still important).  It is actully soley down to the "dynamic" correction of the beam - responding inversely to the pitching movements of the car due to acceleration and braking, along with loads carried in the passenger compartment and boot (a brace of ten-ton tessys from a scary beer night) and a few bags of cement in the boot, and finally changing loads of the car, such as burning off a full tank of fuel to empty.

And there has been no evidence of HIDs melting correctly designed headlamps.

99% of the time you can fit them to anything and you'll be fine but I understand why they don't want them fitted to any old car.

I disagree.  I would stick my neck on the line and state that 99% of the time, retro-fitting HIDs are illegal.  It is the exceedingly minor proportion who go to the trouble and hassle of actually fitting not only genuine OEM HID-specific headlamps, but also the washers and leveling systems too.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

yes there should be a self leveling piece of kit on the rear axle, which all OEM Xenon have to have, as for washers, not the end of the world.

Actually, BOTH axles need the level sensors, and it is the headlamps themselves which are "self leveling".   

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Intersting.

Quick question. Why does the UK have it as a law that washers must be present? Do you know?

Mike

Washers are required because crap on the headlamp lenses can cause the actual beam pattern to disperse.

I'm not re-typing stuff again, but read through this thread - which was my "infamous" introduction to the forum! 

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=53715

[Horney]

99% of the time you can fit them to anything and you'll be fine but I understand why they don't want them fitted to any old car.

I disagree.  I would stick my neck on the line and state that 99% of the time, retro-fitting HIDs are illegal.  It is the exceedingly minor proportion who go to the trouble and hassle of actually fitting not only genuine OEM HID-specific headlamps, but also the washers and leveling systems too.

What I meant was 99% of the time you are unlikely to be rumbled. MOT testers don't currently pick up on it and the fuzz are so rarely seen actually out stopping people you are unlikely to get pulled either. A VOSA check point might be a nightmare but again if it's a recent car and not an 80's or 80's car I doubt they'd notice.

The fact they are illegal I agree with completely.

nick

[Teutonic_Tamer]

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3552517

Is this one legal or illegal?

Pity TT aint here to yell and scream  .

Mike

As others have stated, providing it has the headlamp washers, and the headlamps are the proper OEM units specifically designed for the HID bulbs (which it seems they are) - then they are legal. 

Oh, and the auto leveling system is correctly calibrated. 

Welcome back Mr T_T 

Ta. 

Still not "firing on all four cylinders" though, if you get my drift. 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I dont actually know. But would that mean that technically our car is illegal?

So are you saying that your GTI has factory-fitted HID Bi-Xenons, but does not have the headlamp washers?    The actual washers are "hidden" in the front bumper, and only "pop up" when the headlamps are on, and the windscreen washer is activated.

Post a pic of your front end if you ain't sure.