W176 Headlight conversion to LED

[Dave Richardson]

Guys, I've just upgraded both the main beam & dipped headlights on my W176 A Class, the choice of suppliers on E Bay is immense however, I went with a company named Lightec who were simply amazing, they were helpful honest & the products recommended were top class.
If anyone on this forum is considering an upgrade I would honestly suggest that you visit these guys.
Dipped beam bulbs purchased were G12 H7 CanBus Error Free 55w White LED Kit 6000k Accurate Beam Pattern UK Stock | eBay
Main beams purchased were 2x LIGHTEC SUPER CANBUS VW GOLF MK6 MK7 H15 CANBUS LED DRL HIGH BEAM WHITE BULBS | eBay
[email protected]
Both of these bulbs are simply the best & the light upgrade is amazing.
I would recommend Lightec as being an honest & helpful company

David

 

[ALFAitalia]

Not legal in the UK and a straight MOT fail.....probably blinding other road users too by using them in headlight not designed to focus anything other than halogen or zenons...but other than that...great job!

 

[HappytalkAgain]

Not legal in the UK and a straight MOT fail.....probably blinding other road users too by using them in headlight not designed to focus anything other than halogen or zenons...but other than that...great job!

Apparently MOT compliant & doesn’t blind oncoming traffic.

 

[markjay]

I don't know the answer for fact, all I can say is that your supplier and Google are at odds on this issue:

are led conversion legal in uk - Google Search

 

[Dave Richardson]

Not legal in the UK and a straight MOT fail.....probably blinding other road users too by using them in headlight not designed to focus anything other than halogen or zenons...but other than that...great job!

Actually these MOT compliant & do not blind oncoming traffic

 

[whitenemesis]

From the MoT tester manual, no "grey area" anymore.

"Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.

This does not refer to complete replacement headlamp units which may be constructed with HID or LED light sources.

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test."

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles - 4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Guidance - GOV.UK

Headlamp, position lamps, daytime running lamps, stop lamps, indicators, hazard warning lamps, fog lamps, reversing lamps, lighting ‘tell-tales’, trailer electrical socket, electrical wiring and battery rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

Every website I've read the seller always has a disclaimer in the T&Cs about checking the legality in you country, or simply states " for off-road use only"

 

[m80]

Not that I'm considering a conversion,
but my experience is that the cheaper Chinese LED's tend to give up or flash early in their life.

It would be interesting to see if they still work correctly in a month or so.
Btw I don't have any moral stand point as I feel the absolute cr*p and certified LED's on 'some' newish vehicles are an absolute pain as they approach, and impact my safety negatively, and any other poor sod I might not see when blinded.
The legislators have royally fooked up by allowing the certification of most of these.

 

[HappytalkAgain]

From the MoT tester manual, no "grey area" anymore.

"Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.

This does not refer to complete replacement headlamp units which may be constructed with HID or LED light sources.

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test."

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles - 4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Guidance - GOV.UK

Headlamp, position lamps, daytime running lamps, stop lamps, indicators, hazard warning lamps, fog lamps, reversing lamps, lighting ‘tell-tales’, trailer electrical socket, electrical wiring and battery rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

Every website I've read the seller always has a disclaimer in the T&Cs about checking the legality in you country, or simply states " for off-road use only"

I wonder if it’s more the headlights Peter? I fitted all LED bulbs in my rear units of my last Vito + front indicators and it passed MOT at main dealer in Carlisle.

 

[Dave Richardson]

I wonder if it’s more the headlights Peter? I fitted all LED bulbs in my rear units of my last Vito + front indicators and it passed MOT at main dealer in Carlisle.

Likewise, the bulbs in my rear lights are all LED & no problems with the recent MOT for my A Class & the CL203 has had LEDs in the rear cluster for years

 

[DSM10000]

Actually these MOT compliant & do not blind oncoming traffic

Based on?

The MOT regulations seem to be very clear on this.

 

[DSM10000]

Likewise, the bulbs in my rear lights are all LED & no problems with the recent MOT for my A Class & the CL203 has had LEDs in the rear cluster for years

Many vehicle rear lights had LED bulbs fitted as standard and are therefore compliant but the MOT regulations are specific to headlights.

Your MOT tester may not notice or care but that isn't the same as the conversion being legal.

 

[whitenemesis]

I wonder if it’s more the headlights Peter? I fitted all LED bulbs in my rear units of my last Vito + front indicators and it passed MOT at main dealer in Carlisle.

Yes, only applies to the headlamps. Positional and rear have no such restrictions on the light source, just operation, position etc..

 

[markjay]

I wonder if it’s more the headlights Peter? I fitted all LED bulbs in my rear units of my last Vito + front indicators and it passed MOT at main dealer in Carlisle.

The MOT tester can only fail what they spot.

If they don't know that the LEDs aren't original, then as along as the light pattern isn't incorrect, they won't fail the car.

But, obviously, not failing a car because a mod hasn't been spotted doesn't make the mod legal. *

In any event, it's the website that uses 'grey' language: 'MOT compliant' isn't a legal term. Does it mean that the conversion won't be spotted at MOT time? Going by this logic, I suppose that you call DPF gutting and AdBlue delete etc 'MOT compliant' as well.

* This is a recurring theme - people coming on here and claiming that a mod they did is 'legal' because 'the car passed its MOT'..

 

[HappytalkAgain]

The MOT tester can only fail what they spot.

If they don't know that the LEDs aren't original, then as along as the light pattern isn't incorrect, they won't fail the car.

But, obviously, not failing a car because a mod hasn't been spotted doesn't make the mod legal. *

In any event, it's the website that uses 'grey' language: 'MOT compliant' isn't a legal term. Does it mean that the conversion won't be spotted at MOT time? Going by this logic, I suppose that you call DPF gutting and AdBlue delete etc 'MOT compliant' as well.

* This is a recurring theme - people coming on here and claiming that a mod they did is 'legal' because 'the car passed its MOT'..

I’ll consider myself told! (off)

 

[markjay]

I’ll consider myself told! (off)

I don't have an issue with people doing whatever they want to their cars. However, I am a hopeless pedant and a wannabe lawyer, and I like it when things are put as accurate as possible

 

[HappytalkAgain]

I don't have an issue with people doing whatever they want to their cars. However, I am a hopeless pedant and a wannabe layer, and I like it when things are put as accurate as possible

Hehe. I’m very much the same with building related subjects. Everything just so. Much to the annoyance of anyone I’m working with.

 

[SpikyMikey]

The MOT tester can only fail what they spot.

If they don't know that the LEDs aren't original, then as along as the light pattern isn't incorrect, they won't fail the car.

But, obviously, not failing a car because a mod hasn't been spotted doesn't make the mod legal. *

In any event, it's the website that uses 'grey' language: 'MOT compliant' isn't a legal term. Does it mean that the conversion won't be spotted at MOT time? Going by this logic, I suppose that you call DPF gutting and AdBlue delete etc 'MOT compliant' as well.

* This is a recurring theme - people coming on here and claiming that a mod they did is 'legal' because 'the car passed its MOT'..

AFAIK. with bulbs or lighting on cars in general, the 'road legal-ness' depends on the all important E mark.
No E mark, not road legal.

 

[Germgh0st]

I was under the impression that cars can no longer have headlights that they weren't type approved with. If there was a spec of the same model that had LEDs then they can be changed to that particular type, but no other type.

 

[Fastcar155]

Guys, I've just upgraded both the main beam & dipped headlights on my W176 A Class, the choice of suppliers on E Bay is immense however, I went with a company named Lightec who were simply amazing, they were helpful honest & the products recommended were top class.
If anyone on this forum is considering an upgrade I would honestly suggest that you visit these guys.
Dipped beam bulbs purchased were G12 H7 CanBus Error Free 55w White LED Kit 6000k Accurate Beam Pattern UK Stock | eBay
Main beams purchased were 2x LIGHTEC SUPER CANBUS VW GOLF MK6 MK7 H15 CANBUS LED DRL HIGH BEAM WHITE BULBS | eBay
[email protected]
Both of these bulbs are simply the best & the light upgrade is amazing.
I would recommend Lightec as being an honest & helpful company

David

Hi , have you informed your insurance company ?

 

[Flyinspanner]

Not Mot compliant - even if some bloke in a marketing dept in Beijing says it is

….. and perfectly designed for a Golf Mk6 ….. which doesn’t have the same headlamp as a W176….. so the beam pattern will be sub optimal (at best).