Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Latest MOT change - headlamps

Andy,

does this mean that LED 7" units, as used by MMC on the new CX cars and available as aftermarket units will be OK?

Interestingly my C Class estate with Mercedes intelligent LED lights failed its first MOT because the beam settings were too low. I later discovered the previous owner had had them adjusted down because he felt they dazzled on coming traffic.
I had never felt the "low" lights were anything but excellent: I'll see what happens now they are "compliant": adjusting the beam takes about 5 minutes..

Not wanting to appear a Barrack Room Lawyer .... but the OPs reproduced rule refers specificaly to changing a halogen light to a LED light .... the Lucas P700 Tripod repos on ebay can be bought new with either the halogen or LED bulbs .... if you bought the LED version you wouldn't be converting the lamp unit .... it would have been an LED light unit from new .... might be wise to keep the reciept in case of a query at MOT time though.

K

Well I have ordered some nightbreaker H4 bulbs & the LEDs are going into storage for now.

Can't you keep them in John until next MOT?

I could Richard. Reality is I don't do much night driving & with time dragging I might as well change them plus I have some angel eye bowls I might fit. With luck the law will change if not I can turn them into inspection lights as I have several headlight bowls in stock.

How would an MOT tester know these available from bettercarlighting were legal under the new regs? An E marking on the reflector if there at all couldn't apply to a lamp with a choice of two light sources by way of replaceable bulb surely. I doubt a tester would be swayed by a piece of paper either if that was the only evidence of approval, he would just see an LED bulb in a halogen headlamp.
The seller mentions they "have been granted all the relevant approvals" apparently without knowledge of the new regs

I would query any LED headlamp reflector assembly that doesn't have precision projector optics and cut-off on dipped beam.

The new regs state no LED bulbs fitted to a halogen unit, basically no conversion of a halogen unit to LED.
A full swop of unit from halogen to a complete LED unit is ok.
At MOT what proof of compliance would a tester be looking for? Markings visible on the glass to show a full LED unit would seem to be needed. Separate paperwork (receipt) would open the door for false claims of compliance and an element of doubt.
Is there anything in the regs to show what markings are needed?
The claims made about compliance don’t show which version of regs they meet in the bettercarlighting wording.
Who has either MMC OE LED headlights or the Wolff units? Is there any markings to show full LED type?

Slight variation in the question.

Can you still use LED sidelights with Halogen main bulbs? MOT wise I mean.

Or are all LEDs banned in the headlamp cowl?

I would think not. Standard side lights are not halogen. I had for many years the 1/2 moon LEDs as side lights on my headlights on my S1 Roadster with no issue.

The LED H4 replacement bulbs I have can be rotated to give a clear cut off depending upon the bowl design. This seems to me the wrong approach. Simpler would be to test if the lights are set up correctly and do not blind people. We all have experienced newer cars with factory fit LEDs that blind you. BMWs seem to me the worst.

Peter - Yes LED 7' units - like on the plusfour would be fine aftermarket fitted. Many Landrover defenders are fitted with such. Indeed Cain @ Wolf performance sells upgraded LED headlamp units for classic Morgans.

MOT doesn't rule out LED sidelights - the only consideration is the colour of sidelights and that they work.

front position lamps ( sidelights) , the following colour of light is acceptable:

white light
predominantly white light with a blue tinge
yellow light - if combined in a yellow headlamp