LED headlights for NCT

cav93

I drive a VW Passat, 161 (B8). When I bought the car it came with the standard yellow headlights, and to upgrade for led was to cost €1500 or there abouts. So to cheat this high cost I just simply bought LED bulbs for everything including fogs and heads/dips and sides, all for around €150. Have passed many a checkpoint not a bother but now with her first NCT due in a couple months and I'm thinking doing it earlier to get it out of the way, I need advice as whether or not all these will pass, in particular the dips. I have passed NCT with LEDs in my B6 Passat, but she had projectors where as this has reflectors, so I'm wondering if this will make any difference, if anyone has any solid knowledge on the topic, thanks. I really don't want the shame of failing on a 161 lol

Cordell

They can and they should fail her, so if you really want to avoid embarrassment put the normal bulbs back.

User1998

I’ve went through 2 NCT’s with LED’s in a Passat when they were meant to be Halogens and passed both times (I failed on alignment but thats besides the point). If you read the handbook it only refers to HIDS, nothing about LED. You will pass

colm_mcm

Things like headlamp washers are only a requirement if the light output is above a certain level.

kirving

User1998 wrote: »

I’ve went through 2 NCT’s with LED’s in a Passat when they were meant to be Halogens and passed both times (I failed on alignment but thats besides the point). If you read the handbook it only refers to HIDS, nothing about LED. You will pass

Isn't that exactly the point?!

The design of the reflector mirror assumes that the light emitter is at the focal point of the mirror, or within a tolerance.

The LED module for an aftermarket bulb is not necessarily in the same place as a filament would be, so after the light hits the reflector, it goes in the wrong direction. They will normally be advertised as "not for road use", but in the smallprint which I have big issue with.

A projector lens and beam cutoff have much more ability to control the beam that a standard reflector housing would have.

Cordell

You can get better headlights (less yellow, higher color temp) with high performance regular bulbs, while keeping them in spec and also still allowing the car computer to detect burnt bulbs (not like you really need this for headlamps).

User1998

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Isn't that exactly the point?!

The design of the reflector mirror assumes that the light emitter is at the focal point of the mirror, or within a tolerance.

The LED module for an aftermarket bulb is not necessarily in the same place as a filament would be, so after the light hits the reflector, it goes in the wrong direction. They will normally be advertised as "not for road use", but in the smallprint which I have big issue with.

A projector lens and beam cutoff have much more ability to control the beam that a standard reflector housing would have.

But halogens fail due to alignment all the time? Its the most common failure.. I just got the alignment done and passed. Had I got this done beforehand like the nct recommends I would have passed no issues

By mentioning the light ‘going the wrong direction’ and ‘not for road use’ your probably trying to suggest that they blind other road users which isn’t what the OP is concerned about in this post

Cordell

So, from NCT manual:

Method of Testing
[...]
4. Check that the light source and lamp are compatible with each other.

REASONS FOR FAILURE
(w). Light source and lamp not compatible (HID bulb fitted in a nonHID headlamp).

A strict tester should fail, the light source and lamp are not compatible with each other.

kirving

User1998 wrote: »

But halogens fail due to alignment all the time? Its the most common failure.. I just got the alignment done and passed. Had I got this done beforehand like the nct recommends I would have passed no issues

Halogens fail for the most part because they're incorrectly installed (not because the whole headlight unit has somehow moved) - it can be a very tricky job on some cars to get it right, and the standard design of bulbs is pretty old in comparison to most stuff these days which have better poka-yoke designs (ie: you physically cannot put it in incorrectly).

User1998 wrote: »

By mentioning the light ‘going the wrong direction’ and ‘not for road use’ your probably trying to suggest that they blind other road users which isn’t what the OP is concerned about in this post

Not suggesting it - some types do blind other road users, because the light does go in the wrong direction, which is what the NCT is concerned with, and in turn the OP.

Some are perfectly fine and the only reason that they're "not for road use" is that they're a niche product and the manufacturer hasn't justified spending money on getting them certified.

cav93

User1998 wrote: »

I’ve went through 2 NCT’s with LED’s in a Passat when they were meant to be Halogens and passed both times (I failed on alignment but thats besides the point). If you read the handbook it only refers to HIDS, nothing about LED. You will pass

Had your Passat reflectors or projector type headlights? 2 years ago I had an argument with the tester on my 2008 Passat (projectors) as he thought I had hids. I ended up bringing him out to the car again to show him it was simply an LED bulb, with no ballast etc. He was quite confused and didn't seem to know much about them but he did retest the light aim there and then and printed the pass cert 🙂

I'm getting the aim checked in the morning with the test later on so I think my choice of bulbs for test will be determined by if I can get a clear aim line on the test unit or if it's all over the shop obviously I'll change for Halogen.

cav93

Cordell wrote: »

So, from NCT manual:

Method of Testing
[...]
4. Check that the light source and lamp are compatible with each other.

REASONS FOR FAILURE
(w). Light source and lamp not compatible (HID bulb fitted in a nonHID headlamp).

A strict tester should fail, the light source and lamp are not compatible with each other.

I don't have HIDs they are LEDs.