Hi Matthew. Improving the headlights can certainly cause some headaches, part of the reason I stuck with the round headlight version of the 2+2 all those years ago! Working out what will pass an MOT is part of the problem, complying with Constructions and Use regulations is a different matter. >From what I've managed to work out previously for my 2+2 and currently for my Vauxhall Cascada (really bad standard headlights, my Q was better), converting to a HID system requires a full HID headlight unit, not just a bulb. It also needs a self-levelling system and headlamp washers. As our current Constructions and Use regs define light output by wattage and not lumens, replacing bulbs in any legally required lights with an LED equivalent is illegal because the wattage is wrong. An MOT will not pick this up provided the headlamp beam pattern is correct because they can't dismantle anything. Again, if you can fit a complete headlight unit from a Type Approved car that has LED headlights, it will be legal because it complies with the regs in Europe. Just to make things interesting, companies can legally sell headlights and bulbs (and other car stuff) that are illegal for use on the road. They should mention it somewhere but even the phrase 'Ensure that this product complies with local regulations' can be hard to find. It's possible that some of my info may be out of date, we've got to catch up with LED technology at some point. For a bit of an improvement and to stay legal, I put Philips X-tremeVision Pro150 bulbs in my Cascada. These are a direct replacement and it went from' these light are bad' to 'these lights will do' (not 'these lights are good'). In my opinion you can fit what you like but please, please, don't use a HID system without self-levelling. As they bounce along the road the light colour appears to change and, a few years ago, I very nearly pulled out in front of someone with this set up because it looked like an indicator flashing in a headlight unit.
Regards Dave English On Saturday, 22 July 2023 at 20:36:04 UTC+1 Mick L wrote: > As far as I'm aware they allow hid etc if they have washers and self > levelling? Correct my if I am wrong? > ------------------------------ > *From:* quantu...@googlegroups.com <quantu...@googlegroups.com> on behalf > of Darren Siepka <dar...@siepka.me.uk> > *Sent:* 22 July 2023 18:38 > *To:* quantu...@googlegroups.com <quantu...@googlegroups.com> > *Subject:* Re: [Quantum Owners] Headlamp upgrades > > Yes my 2+2 head lights ( and flaps) have gone ! > I have created a mount with the new 90mm Hella unit and a small indicator( > also modular Hella but about 40mm dia) . > The 90mm unit is a bi-xenon , it has a single bulb with a flap to create > the dip cutoff pattern needed for mot. > Two additional items are also needed for xenon ( not sure about led), that > is headlamp washers and self levelling. > Hella sell universal kits to go with the 90mm products , but the washers > are easily and more cheaply done with a universal windscreen wash kit. > > Levelling is a little more tricky, the Hella kit uses ultrasonics , I am > using OEM lever arm sensors(BMW mini). I am making up a small driver module > that will read the inputs and adjust the std OEM headlight motors . I will > publish the build details including firmware as open source as I do all my > work on GitHub. > My friendly MOT man is going to let me use the beam aligner out of hours > to set it up and confirm all is well before the actual MOT test. But I need > to finish getting the car back on road before I can do that. > > Darren > > On Sat, 22 Jul 2023, 17:51 mgaskin via Quantum Owners Group, < > quantu...@googlegroups.com> wrote: > > Hi all, > > > > I’ve been doing some reading on the rules about headlights as for a long > time I’ve wanted to improve my 2+2’s headlights, which seem particularly > underwhelming after using my modern car. > > There’s a lot of conflicting guidance online, which seems to stem from > some changes to the MOT rules. So I started there, with the relevant part > seeming to be section 4.1.4: > https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/ > > > > If I’ve understood it correctly, replacing your halogen bulbs with HID or > LED equivalents is forbidden for any car used after 1st April 1986, and > will lead to an automatic failure (‘light source and lamp not > compatible’). But the part that’s of interest to me, the amended rule, > seems to state that there is NOT an automatic failure if you have replaced > the **entire** headlamp unit with an LED or HID alternative. I’m > presuming that they would need to be CE/UK CA marked, or given an E number > but, again, that aspect seems to generate conflicting answers – and > imported Japan-only or USA-only models seem to be able to pass MOTs just > fine without those markings from what I’ve read. > > > > There seem to be loads of possible replacement headlight units out there > so I was wondering firstly if I’ve understood all of this correctly (anyone > know a tame MOT tester?) and secondly if any of you have replaced your Q’s > entire original halogen units with an LED or HID alternative. I’d be > fascinated to hear what you picked and how it played out. > > > > Hope you’re all having a great weekend. > > > > Matthew > > Q2-275 > > -- > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Quantum Owners Group" group. > To post to this group, send email to quantu...@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > quantumowner...@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/quantumowners?hl=en > > IMPORTANT NOTE: All information presented herewith is provided on an "As > Is" basis, without warranty or the implication thereof. Neither the Quantum > Owners Club nor the individuals associated with the Quantum Owners Club or > in the preparation of the above information shall have any liability to any > person or entity with respect to liability, loss, or damage caused or > alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained > within this or related message(s). > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Quantum Owners Group" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to quantumowner...@googlegroups.com. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/quantumowners/009001d9bcbc%24ccf14de0%2466d3e9a0%24%40yahoo.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/quantumowners/009001d9bcbc%24ccf14de0%2466d3e9a0%24%40yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Quantum Owners Group" group. > To post to this group, send email to quantu...@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > quantumowner...@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/quantumowners?hl=en > > IMPORTANT NOTE: All information presented herewith is provided on an "As > Is" basis, without warranty or the implication thereof. Neither the Quantum > Owners Club nor the individuals associated with the Quantum Owners Club or > in the preparation of the above information shall have any liability to any > person or entity with respect to liability, loss, or damage caused or > alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained > within this or related message(s). > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Quantum Owners Group" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to quantumowner...@googlegroups.com. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/quantumowners/CABxHo%2By2g3f7migPLsXpz5k1UUrVhepk2mGHHYdQ3N%2B2eZHMHA%40mail.gmail.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/quantumowners/CABxHo%2By2g3f7migPLsXpz5k1UUrVhepk2mGHHYdQ3N%2B2eZHMHA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Quantum Owners Group" group. 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