Oranoco

I've been looking into the kits for my A4 but it has been mentioned to me that as of next year any such kits will become an automatic fail . Anybody know about this?

Matt Baxter

iTrader: (37)

Most of the cars we have had in with after market kits failed due to not giving any sort of pattern
As for automatic fail next year not seen anything about it, cant see it my self either

Graceland

Automatic fail on headlights which are not of the approved type IIRC - If you have projector headlights then they will be fine, but if you don't and have normal style reflector headlights then this is where the issue rises as the light from the HID bulb cannot be reflected into a beam properly and is thrown everywhere with no specific pattern


I was also under the impression that they are already illegal for road use if the headlight is not of the approved type?

It's Czech Mate

Have to be self levelling to pass iirc

Oranoco

I know at present as long as the beam pattern is ok it's a pass. I am also aware that technically to be legal the car should have headlamp self levelling and washers. I retrofitted the lamps from a face lift A4 so do have the projector type units.

Don't want to fit something that's going to be useless next year.

cjwood555

the self-levelling and washer thing is in Construction and Use Regulations... I can't say I had any problems with my frs rep which had hids on main and dim/dip beam but neither of the above....

Chris

Chip

iTrader: (3)

We're slowly seeing more and more laws specifically targetting the unsafe modification of cars.

Our hobby in terms of modifying road cars is going to be slowly squeezed out of existance, and sadly I cant help but agree with the authorities in terms of there being such legitimate reasons for wanting it to be that way, there are some really shocking examples out there.

The seeds were laid with the SVA for post 97 vehicles, and with other legislation since then, and I would suspect that most people in illegal vehicles dont even realise they are.

For example, fit a 20XE engine and box to a corsa and a set of front and rear coilovers and most people would think that was fine (including the MOT testers) but in reality your car is no longer anywhere near its type approved spec and should be subjected to an individual vehicle assesment to determine if its allowed on the road or not.

alistairolsen

Its an odd one.

1) HIDS are by definition illegal under UK law

2) some cars have HID units fitted with EU type approval (which supersedes UK law) so they are fine. I guess this makes any american car not sold in Europe, with HIDs fitted, illegal in the Uk.

3)Retro fitting OEM HIDS from say an Audi S4 to an A4 isnt legal either, unless they were an option (and therefore type approved) on your particular model.

4) NO aftermarket conversions are officially legal afaik.

The MOT is a different matter, passing an MOT has NO bearing on whether your car is actually legal!

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

The MoT changes comments are all over the 'net - and all appear to come from the same source - a very amateurish looking VOSA magazine called "Matters of Testing" (October 2010). Looking at the actual article it would appear that it's suggested that this is what will happen, but it's not like there's an official VOSA document with this info on (that I can find at least). Their press office can't even be bothered to reply to a media request.

The HID 'rule' comes along with one where they're allegedly going to clamp down on "illegal chipping". Which is fine, as no chips that I know of are actually illegal!

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

They will currently pass an MOT if there is a beam present (unlikely that there is a proper beam), but if you are pulled over by a VOSA roadside check then yes you can be done for them, as you have modified a halogen headlamp unit, which isn't allowed.

focusv8

As Quick as a flash;

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repositor...Oct%202010.pdf

There's no specific reference to banning HID, just enforcing type approval.

It all originates from here; ours friends in the EU.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...47:0072:EN:PDF

There's no specific reference to Illegal ECUs failing, just a reference to modifications and harming the environment.

.

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

I've just spoken to a press officer from VOSA who will be releasing a statement this week to clarify the situation!

dojj

iTrader: (3)

I fitted hid's to the mondeo and passed thr mot with them and I've fitted factory xenon and hope to pass with them as well got the washers but not the self levelli g as this needs to be reset by abford garage on their computer if the battery dies or it won't work, I have however got the little knob to twiddle to move them up and down so all is good

I hope

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Did you pass an MOT after the new rules come in for 2011 and hence adding some real value to this thread, or are you just posting for the sake of some typing practice?

Oranoco

Chip, you crack me up with some of your posts.