Xenons...

Naraic

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Thanks Star. Anyway the OP is still a plonker with regards to his attitude the policeman.
 

Rappey69

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January this year is when the xenons became part of the mot test.
I think adverts that say "Certificate: CE approved, ISO9001:2004, UKAS Quality Approved" is what confuses or misleads some..
Items for sale within the EU have to be ce approved just to be sold, but in no way implies that they are legal to be used in say a car...
I believe there is also some law that makes it illegal for a retailer to sell a part for a vehicle that would make its use on a road illegal, hence all the small print at the bottom saying "for off road use only"

the mot requirement in january was something like "non oem lighting" to be an instant fail..
Far to many people driving around with xenons in halogen reflectors so the new mot rules would be intended to eliminate these people..

Next they need to work on the ever growing army of muppets who insist on driving around with their front fog lights on !
 

jberks

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I do hope this is just the start of a clamp down. I'm getting really sick having to look away as these fake xenon lights come glaring towards me. I understand the desire to up-rate your headlights. As a youf I used to run 100w halogens in place on the standard 55w ones on my escort and had 100w spots alongside for main beam but whilst technically illegal they were at least focussed correctly and didn't glare anyone out. From what I can see on these fakes, the beam is scattered to such an extent they can't be much more effective than the standard bulb.
 

whitenemesis

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MoT Tester's manual section 1.7 3rd para under Information

"Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system."
 

television

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MoT Tester's manual section 1.7 3rd para under Information

"Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system."

That is right, not that sure of the original question, you cannot just fit Xenon's without having them coupled up to the suspension electronically or with axle sensors.
 

Retired

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Not unless the lamps are joined up to the suspension or axles

Previous car LR D3 with Xenons fitted as standard. No adjustment at all on the lights as far as I could see and only attached to the bodywork. Car had self leveling air suspension.
 

whitenemesis

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If the car has self-levelling suspension then xenons don't require any auto-adjustment. The reason is the car attitude is constant.

Do your xenons have adjusting motors Malc? As your 230 has active suspension
 

television

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Previous car LR D3 with Xenons fitted as standard. No adjustment at all on the lights as far as I could see and only attached to the bodywork. Car had self leveling air suspension.

The car would have had axle sensors, 1 front and 1 rear, it cannot have been any other way
 

Retired

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The car would have had axle sensors, 1 front and 1 rear, it cannot have been any other way


Are you saying those axle sensors were attached to the lights in some way and adjusted the lights them selves?
 

television

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Yes, all MB xenon lamps have electric levelling motors fitted on most models there is a sensor on each axle, in the case of a 215,220 or 230 they are wired into the suspension self levelling system.

We get may post where an arm drops off the sensors and when a coupling breaks inside the headlamp and the lamp just points to the ground.
 

Retired

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Yes, all MB xenon lamps have electric levelling motors fitted on most models there is a sensor on each axle, in the case of a 215,220 or 230 they are wired into the suspension self levelling system.

We get may post where an arm drops off the sensors and when a coupling breaks inside the headlamp and the lamp just points to the ground.

I was talking about a land Rover D3.

The following was mentioned earlier:

MoT Tester's manual section 1.7 3rd para under Information

"Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system."

The would appear to say that either headlamp leveling or a car with self leveling suspension is required. The D3 has self leveling suspension therefore didn't need the headlamp themselves to have any leveling capability.
 

television

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I have no idea about a D3,,, all MB's have one or the other system that I have said.

If you retro fit Xenons to a MB you must have a levelling device for the lamps.

Normal lamps on any MB have the vacuum levelling control in the dash, when Xenons are fitted this is removed.
 

Naraic

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My car, an estate, has self leveling suspension, and self leveling lights. I do think that one or the other would suffice...but it has both.
 

Retired

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I have no idea about a D3,,, all MB's have one or the other system that I have said.

If you retro fit Xenons to a MB you must have a levelling device for the lamps.

Normal lamps on any MB have the vacuum levelling control in the dash, when Xenons are fitted this is removed.

I was confused by your post

'
Originally Posted by Retired
Previous car LR D3 with Xenons fitted as standard. No adjustment at all on the lights as far as I could see and only attached to the bodywork. Car had self leveling air suspension.

Your response:
The car would have had axle sensors, 1 front and 1 rear, it cannot have been any other way
'

which I took to mean that there was some connection between axle sensors and the headlamps.

I introduced the D3 example in support of the answer given by , I think, Whitenemesis who said that from a legal perspective self leveling suspension is sufficient.
 

Retired

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My car, an estate, has self leveling suspension, and self leveling lights. I do think that one or the other would suffice...but it has both.

How do you know the lights are self leveling?

My GL has air suspension and I was wondering if the lights are leveling or not.

From other replies in this thread I assume they are, but how do you tell?
 

television

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My car, an estate, has self leveling suspension, and self leveling lights. I do think that one or the other would suffice...but it has both.

Not so,, take a read of the regs,,,non xenon cars have a manual adjuster, you are not allowed that with Xenons
 

Naraic

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How do you know the lights are self leveling?

My GL has air suspension and I was wondering if the lights are leveling or not.

From other replies in this thread I assume they are, but how do you tell?

I know because when they failed I had to fix the connecting rod on the rear axle.
 

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