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Feb 29, 2012 20:23:41 GMT
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What are the legalities at MOT time if the headlight beam is pointing across to the right??? A fail surely.
Assuming there is very little (almost zero) chance of obtaining UK spec lights for a particular vehicle....are those stick on headlight beam converters an adequate and permanent solution???
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  64 Anglia van 82 Cossie Starlet 69 Twincam Escort. |
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beany
Part of things
Hmmmmm
Posts: 675
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Feb 29, 2012 20:27:17 GMT
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yeah they are. it can just be a flat beam to pass MOT so the stick on things are fine
although if it needs UK registering and its under 10yrs old it won't pass the SVA test I believe. Could be wrong though
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Last Edit: Feb 29, 2012 20:29:20 GMT by beany
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Feb 29, 2012 20:27:20 GMT
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What do the headlights look like? do they use H4 or equivalent bulbs?
A lot of the time, you can convert LHD lights to RHD ish lights by rotating the bulb mounts, so the beam cuts off the other way.
It's not usually perfect, but it's a better solution than the beam converters.
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Feb 29, 2012 21:24:25 GMT
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I've MOT'd cars with the converters on before, I believe the manual says they are supposed to be a temporary measure (i.e. the car should be converted to UK pattern lights eventually) but they pass.
I guess that relates to the SVA bit too, I could well believe it wont pass with stick on masks on the lights.
USA style flat beams will also pass an MOT, hence the solution cobblers suggested will work, by rotating the bulb round the head light pattern gets close to a flat pattern type.
Hope that helps,
Rob
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'55 Austin A30
'71 MGB GT
'72 Datsun 240 shed
'72 Mercedes 240D
'79 Firebird
'86 Austin Maestro Van
'91 Mercedes 250D
'91 BMW e34 535i Sport
'92 Mazda MX-5
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Feb 29, 2012 21:39:53 GMT
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Thanks chaps!
Already UK registered & over 10 yrs old, so SVA shouldn't be an issue..
I just assumed it was all about the pattern on the glass rather than the bulb angle. There's usually a clear-ish triangular pattern pointing in the direction of the beam I think.
Arent H4 bulbs held in position by clips etc?? Surely these would make rotation of the bulb difficult
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64 Anglia van 82 Cossie Starlet 69 Twincam Escort. |
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Feb 29, 2012 23:10:45 GMT
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I should add that I've never done the bulb rotation. The cars I deal with stay on the road in the UK for limited time, a couple of them have seen 2 mots but seldom more than that. The first time I went for an MOT with a car with masks on it got failed so I had a little discussion with the test, went on here: www.motuk.co.uk/manual_180.htmAnd printed out the bit that says this: Masks or converter kits may be fitted to right hand dip headlamps to temporarily alter the lamp for use in the UK by removing the beam ‘kick-up’ to the right
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A headlamp altered in this way is not a reason for rejection, if:
a.
the headlamp aim is not rejected for the reasons listed under diagram 1 (except that the top of the beam image will be a straight line)
b.
the light output is not unduly reduced - not usually a problem with commercially produced kits
c.
the mask or converter is securely attached.He made the same inquiries from his end came out with the same result, so the car passed the re-test ;D After that we never had a problem. Rob |
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'55 Austin A30
'71 MGB GT
'72 Datsun 240 shed
'72 Mercedes 240D
'79 Firebird
'86 Austin Maestro Van
'91 Mercedes 250D
'91 BMW e34 535i Sport
'92 Mazda MX-5
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Feb 29, 2012 23:16:22 GMT
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yank stuff dips directly down, not to the right, so this passes*
* this is in my experience of older stuff, more modern ones may differ.
Whats the car?
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Feb 29, 2012 23:32:31 GMT
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yank stuff dips directly down, not to the right, so this passes* * this is in my experience of older stuff, more modern ones may differ. Whats the car? No that's spot on Akku, last US spec car I took for an MOT was a 2000+ something Ford Focus SVT, not new, new but new enough.  It had flat pattern lights too. |
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'55 Austin A30
'71 MGB GT
'72 Datsun 240 shed
'72 Mercedes 240D
'79 Firebird
'86 Austin Maestro Van
'91 Mercedes 250D
'91 BMW e34 535i Sport
'92 Mazda MX-5
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yank stuff dips directly down, not to the right, so this passes* * this is in my experience of older stuff, more modern ones may differ. Whats the car? The headlights in question are B2 passat. They are obsolete over here. Sell me your headligts Akku!!  |
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64 Anglia van 82 Cossie Starlet 69 Twincam Escort. |
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berendd
Europe
why do I need 3 keys for one car?
Posts: 1,449
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Thanks for the linky.
Some very interesting bits on there, but sadly no headlights
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64 Anglia van 82 Cossie Starlet 69 Twincam Escort. |
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yank stuff dips directly down, not to the right, so this passes* * this is in my experience of older stuff, more modern ones may differ. Whats the car? From the fleet of vehicles we have, it appears the more modern stuff (2008+) the manufacturers adopted lights with a bit of a kick-up on the left. My truck has flat cutoff. Even my grandmother's 07 Camry with projector lights has flat cutoff (with a little hole in the plate inside to make them just bright enough to dazzle oncoming traffic light up street signs at a distance. My GTA with "Fed Spec" sealed beams have something looking like a beam pattern that is so miserable that I'm surprised if they would pass UK MoT. |
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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From the fleet of vehicles we have, it appears the more modern stuff (2008+) the manufacturers adopted lights with a bit of a kick-up on the left. They kick up to the left, and you drive on the right. So what's the idea behind that? checking other drivers facial expressions? Usually squinting at a guess? Is there maybe an alternative light that would fit? They're quite a simple shape. It's a shame the UK's the only real RHD market that older watercooled VW's sold in as far as I'm aware. |
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From the fleet of vehicles we have, it appears the more modern stuff (2008+) the manufacturers adopted lights with a bit of a kick-up on the left. They kick up to the left, and you drive on the right. So what's the idea behind that? checking other drivers facial expressions? Usually squinting at a guess? Is there maybe an alternative light that would fit? They're quite a simple shape. It's a shame the UK's the only real RHD market that older watercooled VW's sold in as far as I'm aware. Migraine talking. They kick up to the right. Mind you, that being said, I find the "dipped" version of US spec lights a lot brighter in the dark zone of the lights than their European counterparts. You may be at a bit of a loss, really. Other than trying to find an equivalent you nasty just end up with temporarily permanent deflectors... |
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If it uses H4 bulbs, just snip off the 3 locating tabs. You only need to rotate the bulb by about 10 degrees. Try it parked in front of a wall to see the pattern. Once you have it, t spring clip is enough to hold the bulb securely.
Results are usually ok, but not perfect - I do this with RHD headlights on the continent. Results are usually acceptable but not perfect due to the patterns on the lense diffusing the light.
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1986 Panda 4x4.
1990 Metro Sport.
1999 Ford Escort estate.
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