LED headlight conversion

I did some more research on the Internet, which I probably should have done before starting on this light improvement. A site (HID4U) offers all sorts of HID conversions and under FAQ admits that these might be MOT failures, and suggests that conversion is quick and easy o change back to OEM lighting before MOT. Legal or nor? Up to the user??
I also had a long e-mail from Classic Car LEDs from whom I bought the LEDs. They admit that no LED light is e-rated, what ever that means and therefore not strictly UK legal. Quite why the insurance company is nominated as the arbiter on this is not explained, nor is why I need to inform them of my 'modification, which has no effect on performance
Since I have converted all except headlights to LED, I am not going to change ack now, as I see a clear improvement in the vehicle lighting.

My original posting here was asking for help in fitting the lights, but a nobody has replied to this, I assume that nobody who has done this want s to own up to it. Which I can quite understand given the replies I have had
As for the suggestion that I am going to be dazzling other road users, it is my experience that virtually every SUV I meet at night has HID lights set to 'maximum dazzle" and I started on lighting improvements to have more chance of competing against these SUV. Maybe not the best way to go, butI do not see any chance of SUV's changing their lights
In due course, I will let the forum know how my insurance company reacts to being told that I have changed my lighting to LED.
 
I notified my insurance of my changes, ZF transmission, alloy wheels, and they accepted these. I expect a different reaction to your LED lights because of the lack of type approval. And we all know how any excuse invalidates your policy.
 
robin collis said:
. Quite why the insurance company is nominated as the arbiter on this is not explained, nor is why I need to inform them of my 'modification, which has no effect on performance
.
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Most insurance companies do not qualify their request that modifications be advised to them, be they performance related or not. It does mean that if you haven't notified a change, be it major or minor it could invalidate any claim. The trouble with this as I see it, one could purchase second-hand a vehicle with modifications that you are not aware , but that's another issue. I always state either the mods. or none that I know of.
 
robin collis said:
As for the suggestion that I am going to be dazzling other road users, it is my experience that virtually every SUV I meet at night has HID lights set to 'maximum dazzle" and I started on lighting improvements to have more chance of competing against these SUV. Maybe not the best way to go, butI do not see any chance of SUV's changing their lights.
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It is true that while new cars since at least 20 years ago were equipped with a dashboard switch that adjusts headlight level, almost nobody bothers to lower their aim when carrying rear seat passengers and / or have a loaded boot. This is more prominent on cars equipped with HID or LED headlights, hence the legal requirement for the aforementioned level adjustment switch.
When someone retrofits HID or LED headlights in a vehicle not equipped with a headlight level adjustment switch, even after having the best of intentions and adjusts everything correctly, he can't practically compensate for changes in the load conditions of the car.
As for the "knife for knife" tactic, i cannot really see how it would help anyone see better in dazzling conditions. I have learned that visibility at night is heavily speed related. When i cannot see very well at night, i am probably going too fast, so i adjust my speed accordingly. Dazzling someone that comes from the opposite direction, that he could possibly also dazzling me, doesn't lead anywhere.
Driving at night is indeed tiresome these days, but as it is a problem with a root on road user education, conscience and ethics, it is not something that can be solved easily. In the meantime, repression could perhaps give some results in the short term. I remember the traffic police over here stopping cars at night that were driving with their fog lights on when there was not such a requirement and issuing fines. But this is really rare.
 
Here are those Scania Highlines l mentioned, penetrating Thetford Forest at 2am. Main beam of course. You can switch the secondary main's from the top lights to mid-height units.

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I have informed my Insurance Broker, Footman James, of the changes I have made to the P6 lighting, and that I might be making further changes to the dip/main, as original sealed beam units are not a freely available as they were.
Result; they will note the changes made and I can carry on driving as before. If they agree, I will post their reply on this board.

Isn't there some Historic Vehicle Federation that could be looking into the whole business of changing to LEDs and getting a universal response? That is what is needed, rather than piece-meal answers and mis-information from 'on-line experts.'
 
The situation is absolutely clear. There are 101 such discussions online and the conclusion is exactly the same. There is no such thing as an approved LED retrofit. Whether you can fit them and have issues or not is not the same question, people evidently do this all the time.
 
Anyone can read the MOT testing manual on line on the subject of HID/ LED which is what i do when I am testing.
Makes it quite clear retro fitting either bulbs into halogen units is a reason for fail.
I've only failed 1 car with retro HIDs and these did not give any correct beam pattern.
Have yet to test LEDs.
 
The Rovering Member said:
Here are those Scania Highlines l mentioned, penetrating Thetford Forest at 2am. Main beam of course. You can switch the secondary main's from the top lights to mid-height units.
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That's a great reach :cool:, although I do think the standard sealed beams have always been superb on main beam, even on my 'dynamo' 2000. I would be interested to see what the dip is like.

I also note that when driving newer cars' their lights seem to be quite 'focused' in that there is a hard boundary beyond which there is no light at all. The older cars however have a beam that gradually tails off, so whilst the light isn't as great, it does project further.
 
I'm driving Merc's at the moment. The lights are a bit paltry compared to these but l'll get another photo of the Scanny-beams if & when l take another one of these out. :cool:
 
Just to avoid any confusion; I have not fitted HID or LED headlights, but only LRDs to front side lights rear stop/tail and reversing lights. The only differenence that I can see is that the front lights are 'clearer' and a more satisfying bright white light. As the led's are rated at the same wattage by the supliers, I assume that the light output is equivalent to filament lights. Despite admiring these lights close up, I have not been dazzled by them.
Headlamps on my P6 are a combination of QI dip/main bought at an autojumble and I think ex-Jaguar; these lights are used with the bulbs supplied and have been through 3 MOT's without comment. Mainbeam are the 'original, type approved,' sealed beam, and will stay until they fail when I will consider replacing with QI units. I believe that Nissan Cabstar lights are equivalent and are supplied with bulbs.
I found that 5 1/4 in sealed beam headlight are NLA at Halfords, but still listed by Rimmers and Wadhams, so how long will these be available?
A further mail from my insurers has no objection to replacing sealed beam with QI units

Since nobody on this forum has answered my original question as to how to get all the electronics bit inside the headlight rear cover, I might not even be able to fit the LED's I bought, so that will be an expensive mistake.
Most of my driving is done lone or with one pax, and beams have been set with the car empty, so I don't see the need for self-levelling suspension mods.
I do not want brighter headlights to fight back against other road users, I Just want to be able to see where I am going, and other road users to see me. I do not drive much at night now
 
5.25" lamps will be available in North America for many years to come. Main beam part numbers will typically have 5001 in them, while the low beam lamp will have 5006 in them.

Yours
Vern
 
robin collis said:
As the led's are rated at the same wattage by the supliers, I assume that the light output is equivalent to filament lights.
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One reason for fitting LED's is the reduced current consumption, i.e. less amps ( W = V x A) . Suppliers claim light output compared to a certain wattage incandescent bulb. Often the LED is whiter and brighter than a bulb. The light is also produced in a more concentrated form. This why you "lights" are better. Advanced technology.
I won't fit them purely because of the legal position. BUT I do have a high level brake light in the rear window.
 
I agree the light is far better and the current is a lot less what it needs is for some bright spark at a headlight manufacture start making these retro fit headlights with the correct headlight beam patterns and the correct e-markings but I guess they would not sell enough.
I have seen retro fits for the mini I wonder if any of the retro fits out there for any makes of classic car are any legal?
I have read that they are trying to clamp down on this stuff and the suppliers however trading standards are slow to act.
 
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