HID lights and NCT, and if road legal?

vtiniall

Hi All,

Just want to pick your brains on this one. Knowing that in the UK the MOT have made some huge changes to the Testing.

For here in Ireland, Are the HID Install for cars, here are they going to fail the NCT ?. I have hear if you have the front lens washers on the bumper, the are allowed according to kwikfit.

Im in the process buying HID lights for my Mondeo ST but I wont if they are going to be illegal and will fail the NCT.

Cheers

Niall

biko

Afaik there is no intention for NCT to stop aftermarket HIDs as long as they are fitted correctly.

Currently it's like this
http://www.rsa.ie/PageFiles/4838/HID%2008.05.2017.pdf
http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/NCT/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20JULY%202014.pdf

fancy pigeon

vtiniall wrote: »

Hi All,

Just want to pick your brains on this one. Knowing that in the UK the MOT have made some huge changes to the Testing.

For here in Ireland, Are the HID Install for cars, here are they going to fail the NCT ?. I have hear if you have the front lens washers on the bumper, the are allowed according to kwikfit.

Im in the process buying HID lights for my Mondeo ST but I wont if they are going to be illegal and will fail the NCT.

Cheers

Niall

They will fail the NCT if an aftermarket kit is fitted

Cordell

"HID bulb fitted in a non-HID headlamp" is listed as such as a reason for failure. So if you plan to replace the regular bulbs with HID ones, as most do, you will fail NCT.

vtiniall

What is the difference with the HID and non HID headlamp ?. Is the HID lamp the magnified lens in the headlight ?.

mullingar

The difference is controlling the shape of the beam accurately and to limit light scatter.

Its this light scatter that blinds other drivers who selfishly drives with HIDs is standard headlights

vtiniall

Cheers for the update. Is there a preferred bulb that is bright enough to give good distance lighting.

colm_mcm

Osram night breakers or Philips Extereme Vision would be the most popular.

boardsuser1

On the HID subject, does anyone know would i need a kit or just Bulbs in a 2006-2015 version Ford Galaxy?
Looking to get them but can't seem to find something road legal.

Farmer Bob

biko wrote: »

Afaik there is no intention for NCT to stop aftermarket HIDs as long as they are fitted correctly.

Currently it's like this
http://www.rsa.ie/PageFiles/4838/HID%2008.05.2017.pdf
http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/NCT/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20JULY%202014.pdf

That is to say, a HID lighting setup needs to have a levelling mechanism and a cleaning mechanism in order to pass the NCT. Your typical aftermarket HID bulbs and ballasts off eBay obviously won’t have these.

vtiniall

What are the bulb fitting for a 2005 Mondeo ST TDCI, h7 ?.

Wibbs

Farmer Bob wrote: »

That is to say, a HID lighting setup needs to have a levelling mechanism and a cleaning mechanism in order to pass the NCT.

Yes FB, but not quite. Depends if the car had both those features originally fitted with original HIDs. Quite a few older cars didn't. Mine for example has originally fitted HID's from the factory, but has neither levelling nor washers and it passes without question. Though IIRC there were a few test cases of car models like this and owners, including one Boardsie, got that exemption included(I believe there may be a list of such models in existence).

Farmer Bob

@Wibbs: Never heard of that happening, but the point about eBay HIDs stands. Maybe your headlamp assemblies were type approved before ECE 98 was revised for HID and LED lights???

Wibbs

Farmer Bob wrote: »

@Wibbs: Never heard of that happening, but the point about eBay HIDs stands. Maybe your headlamp assemblies were type approved before ECE 98 was revised for HID and LED lights???

Oh I agree re eBay HID's made from the finest Chinesium. You could be onto something with the ECE regs. Mine's from 98, but made in and built for the Japanese market. I know of others from that market similarly exempt from that rule and a couple of older EU cars too(IIRC some very early noughties Mercedes models with HID had washers, but didn't have levelling?).

Tropheus

Newer lower wattage HIDs don't seem to require washers. Not sure about levelling. The Alfa Romeo Giulia has 25w xenons standard and doesn't have washers. The optional 35w versions do. Have also seen some cars with LEDs without washers which must be to do with the wattage/lumen output.

Even if these lower wattage versions came in kits, it doesn't get around the need for a lamp unit that was manufactured for HID. Although not sure how the NCT can easily check that.

mullingar

My 98 gs300 had HIDs, washers, but no self leveling

Del2005

Tropheus wrote: »

Even if these lower wattage versions came in kits, it doesn't get around the need for a lamp unit that was manufactured for HID. Although not sure how the NCT can easily check that.

There's a code on the lenses which tell what they are designed for, so easy for the NCT to check.

mikeecho

So what wattage/lumens do LEDs have to be before washers are required ?

mullingar

Led is a different ball game.

At the moment the nct go by these codes etched on the headlight glass.

HC, HR, or HCR refers to halogen bulbs in one/both
DC, DR or DCR refers to xenon/hid in one/both

barneygumble99

mullingar wrote: »

Led is a different ball game.

At the moment the nct go by these codes etched on the headlight glass.

HC, HR, or HCR refers to halogen bulbs in one/both
DC, DR or DCR refers to xenon/hid in one/both

I’ve put my Honda S2000 through every year with factory fitted hid’s, no washers or levelling system. Think if the the car comes from the manufacturer, regardless of how old, with hid’s fitted in a hid compliant headlamp, it’ll pass even if it doesn’t have washers or a levelling system.

Farmer Bob

mullingar wrote: »

My 98 gs300 had HIDs, washers, but no self leveling

barneygumble99 wrote: »

I’ve put my Honda S2000 through every year with factory fitted hid’s, no washers or levelling system. Think if the the car comes from the manufacturer, regardless of how old, with hid’s fitted in a hid compliant headlamp, it’ll pass even if it doesn’t have washers or a levelling system.

See my earlier post:

Farmer Bob wrote: »

...Maybe your headlamp assemblies were type approved before ECE 98 was revised for HID and LED lights???

Japanese manufacturers were doing their own thing before the ECE requirements changed?