Hi,
Been looking at HID kits. Has anybody fitted HID’s to a mk1?
I am a bit concerned about the pop-up’s and where the ballasts would be positioned.
Paul.
Hi Paul
This came up pretty regularly on the old forum, here was my last reply
<font color="#ff0000"><span class="postbody">A point to note
Just a word of warning, and of course you will make up your own mind and do your own thing.
I investigated the general topic of HID lamps for a forum member and the word from the department of Transport was thus:
The notes from the DoT say quite clearly that self levelling lights and headlamp washers are required, I doubt if any of the MX'5s were talking about will fit those.
The conclusion is thus:-
In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.
You will do whatever you want, but the fitting of HID lights as an upgrade is illegal
Cheers for the reply Geoff.
Never thought about the legality of it. Still interested in fitting HID’s, will just have to stop drinking and driving! (JOKE!!!).
I presume I would need a kit with hi/lo beam. SOme of the kits on ebay only seem to have a low beam mode and presume the car has seperate hi beam lamps.
I’d re-consider - MoT might get tricky…
I think I will investigate this one with an MOT centre and post again…
Just rang local test centre.
They told me as long as hi/lo works and beam alignment is correct there is no problem. The guy said the biggest lighting issue at the mo is coloured side lights.
My MOT not due until June. Should get HID’s before then.
Edge of your seat stuff i’m sure!!..
Will certainly pass the MOT so long as they are adjusted properly. The problem comes when a traffic policeman asks you to demonstrate the cleaning and self leveling mechanisms. This is one of the reasons that the road traffic act makes them illegal as a retro fit
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps
As with the stick on number plates, plenty of people will say ‘I’ve had them since the dawn of time, and I’ve never had any problems’ or, ‘my friend is a traffic officer and he has told me that they are fine’, but the bottom line is, if you listen to the government agencies who are responsible for the legislation, they are not.
After market Xenon lights, along with people who drive with their front fog lights on are by far my biggest hates on the road at the moment, and the police up here don’t bother to do anything about it - they’d much rather sit on a flyover in their camera van (That’s a whole other can of worms though, and I’m locking the can opener away for now).