Vehicle
lighting - MOT test changes
The
minimum requirements for MOT testing (Periodic Technical Inspection
in Europe) have long been enshrined in European law, which requires
that every EU Member State has an equivalent of our own MOT
test for vehicles of a testable age. The new Testing Directive
introduces a number of mandatory testable items, mainly as a
result of the increased number of electrical safety systems
fitted to modern vehicles, but also to further harmonise the
test across the EU.
These VOSA MOT lighting changes were highlighted
by Nigel Melbert in his V8BB posting on a "headlighting
upgrade" thread. More
More information on HID lighting and equipment
There are serious doubts expressed about using "plug and
play" HID kits in a headlamp unit designed for conventional
bulbs, because of the very different charactoristics of a discharge
tube and a filament bulb. This can give an undesirable beam
pattern with hotspots and produce glare for oncoming vehicles.
See a useful website that provide a useful information resource
on HID lighting and equipment.
More
Updated 090112
Posted: 080112
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To
keep the MOT test up to date with modern technology,
new checks have been added in respect of High Intensity
Discharge (HID) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps. |
These
new MOT test requirements have taken effect from
1st January 2012. See
the VOSA information sheet
HID lamps are much brighter
Compared with halogen headlamps, HID lamps are more
efficient, have a longer service life and are much
brighter; in fact up to three times brighter. The
benefit of this extra brightness is that it enables
drivers using HID lights to see approximately 30%
further up the road than for a halogen system. The
downside of this extra brightness is the potential
to cause excessive dazzle to oncoming traffic. To
combat this, HID headlamps often have advanced electronics
that control the shape of the headlamp beam to avoid
dazzle when the car climbs or descends hills and
likewise when the vehicle is accelerating or braking.
Dazzle can also be caused if the lamps are dirty
or aimed too high due to, for example, carrying
rear seat passengers and/or heavy items in the boot.
Vehicles with HID headlamps are therefore required
to have a headlamp washing system and be
self levelling
The
headlamp washing system does not have to have a
wiper. The headlamp has to be self levelling, which
may be achieved either by the use of either headlamp
or suspension levelling systems. The presence and
operation of these headlamp cleaning and levelling
devices has been added to the test. Therefore, if
a mandatory headlamp levelling or cleaning device
is missing, inoperative or otherwise obviously defective,
the vehicle will fail.
Headlamp washing and self levelling requirements
also apply to after-market HID lighting kits
This raises the question of whether these checks
apply to vehicles fitted with after-market HID lighting
kits. These kits convert conventional halogen headlamps
to HID Xenon and they are widely sold and fitted
to vehicles used on the road including classic MGs.
The Department for Transport considers that after-market
systems should be required to meet the same safety
standards as that applied in respect of these lamps
at vehicle Type Approval. Therefore, in order to
pass the MOT test, vehicles fitted with after-market
HID systems would also need to be fitted with headlamp
cleaning and self-levelling systems. Some high specification
estate cars are fitted with a self-levelling suspension
system and this would be considered as adequate
for the purpose.
It is also worthy of note that a few high performance
vehicles fitted with HID headlamps that have barely
any luggage space and stiff suspension do not require
a self-levelling system.
LED headlamp systems
Headlamp washing and levelling systems are mandatory
for all vehicles fitted with LED headlamp systems,
although these are not yet widely used and only
tend to be optional fitment on some executive marques.
However, as LED systems improve and because they
can be arranged in almost any design configuration,
they are sure to become more common. |
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