Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Morgan Headlight Upgrade

Didn't see this thread so started a new one . Anyway in the UK from 11/01/2021 at MOT, halogen headlamps upgraded with LED bulbs have become an MOT fail. If the tester notices and reads the manual of course. This is a change to the MOT regs - HID upgrades into existing headlamps have been a fail for some years - however LED upgrades weren't a problem until the latest change on 11th Jan. This refers to upgraded bulbs into existing headlamp units - not the new fangled complete headlamps like on the current PlusFours or the sealed LED headlamps units that Wolf performance sell - these are fully MOT legal.

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I wonder what their logic is?

Lack of the demanding optics customised to the LED source and particularly to control dipped beam characteristics I would guess John and as already regulated for HID light sources. As suggested before, no great surprise.

Shame that, I've had my Quadoptics tweaked on a proper MOT beam tester after fitting good quality LED bulbs & the Tester chap was happy with the alignment (we even had to aim them slightly up one one car)

OP here, I think I may have dodged a bullet!
To be fair, Cain gave me spot-on advice and as I read the posts here I was intrigued to see that people were still discussing bulb changing.
It seems that with the recent changes to MOT rules, your only options are to keep your halogen headlights or fit sealed unit LEDs. Have I got that correct?
Whilst researching this subject I discovered that headlight optics are specifically designed for the characteristic of the intended bulbs only. Every different bulb type has specific characteristics and wrong optics for the bulb is the cause of glare and unfocussed light pooling. This can obviously be a danger to others, so it is no surprise the rules have changed accordingly.
Of course we've all got away with stuff at the MOT centre, but it is always a risk and this has been getting publicity recently, so testers may be more aware - I don't know.

Spot on Barry, helps explain why the rules have changed recently - if a tester is aware or not comes down to if they read the testing manual and special notices. Some don't of course bother to keep updated. Despite a yearly training module and on-line test that has to be passed, the ongoing training of MOT testers isn't as good as it once was - cost cutting at play I'm afraid by VOSA now DVSA. But i digress. I'd want the car "right" myself and not leave it up to luck on the day that i got a clued up, or otherwise, tester.

Having said that LED is a great light source when done properly.

I too have found Cain's advice on all things Morgan to be spot on.

That must’ve made your eyes water!

There are going to be some cheap LED bulbs around.!!!!

I'm ok, thanks for asking, we only used the bottom screw adjuster