HIDs - are illegal !

I know HID conversions are popular mods to our cars.

However I have just read an article in May 2016 Car Mechanics that states categorically that they are illegal and the oft quoted get out of "headlight raising/lowering" and "washers" only applies to bulbs that have been certified as ECE98 E-compliant. No HID conversions have such a certification.

The article goes on to quote an insurance company that states such an addition (of HIDs) will invalidate the cover.

Food for thought ?

hmmm, Well mine and many others have passed an MOT with them on! so there is, in my mind no way an insurer could not payout if there was an issue as they passed an official Test!

Food for thought!

The article I read touches on the MOT. It states that the MOT test does not really cover "type approval" issues and conversions usually pass the MOT for that reason. However HID conversions would not pass an IVA test because they are illegal.

In essence you are unlikely to have problems but in the event of proper scrutiny , say by an insurance company after an accindent, if you have HIDs fitted you are illegal regardless of a valid MOT.

There was also some comment about the mag contacting eBay sellers pointing out this situation and getting them to add the tag "not legal for road use" to their ads.

I'll try to find an online link to the article.

I found THIS article online which covers the MOT and the law and which seems to reiterate the point about passing the MOT and still being illegal.

Other results from my Google search showed similar from the likes of AutoExpress etc

BTW - I'm just the messenger :-)

Since finding these, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-RW1277-Percent-Headlamp/dp/B005ZSUNL8, I've stopped mucking about with HIDs.

The Xenon Ultima's are fantastic; superb beam pattern and very powerful. Maybe not as white as HIDs but thats an easy trade off for a proper beam pattern and ballasts that don't die every 6 months.

Had them on 'Rosa' for over 8 years now, only on the dipped side, focused beam, same HID and Ballast, passed numerous MoT's. Also got them recorded on my insurance as a modification, along with the Flea chip, stainless steel exhaust, K&N panel filter.

Hey one4seven-

They look tasty- would you rate them over the Osram nightbreakers..?

Sorry- to go a bit off topic...

I fitted Night Breakers to my wife's Focus and was quite impressed, but not having had them on my car I can't do a direct comparison with the Xenon Ultimas.

Good answer-

Fair enough...

Thanks for that...

I have just read another article (Classic Car Weekly) that reiterates the illegality of hids and led replacement bulbs without corresponding type approved housings. This article mentions that one company selling hids has been shut down !

There seems to be an increasing movement to enforce this law. I wonder how long before cars such as ours are subject to roadside checks ?

Meanwhile I have tried Nightbreakers and to me the hids are better to my eyes.

HID should be better as the light ouptut is about twice as high. However, these Ebay kits are not approved for use in Europe (also not the States either I believe) in an area where approvals are essential. Not being tested, they are an unknown quantity from the point of view of safety. The line has to be drawn somewhere ...