Hey Guys,
Just a question out of curiosity. Does anyone know if the
Mk2.5 was ever offered with Xenon or HID headlamps?
I know the aftermarket units are now illegal as they don’t
include washing/auto-levelling functions, but I was curious if you can buy a complete
Xenon headlamp unit from a scrap dealer and retro-fit to my normal Mk2.5.
Thanks,
Chris
I’ve seen a kit on a MK2 but not on a Mk2.5. The car came from Japan…
I’d also actually check what the law says about the self leveling too…
Here’s the stuff from this website 
The following is the legal rationale:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under
these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned
and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of
the law.
However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because
they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse
to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE
Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a
laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the
vehicle).
For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type
approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel
that saying “HID is banned in the after market” would not be
reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would
be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same
safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should
apply.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE
Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection
will take place).
Comply with RVLR as far as “use” is concerned.
In practice this means:
The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall
be type approved to ECE 98 and be “e-marked” to demonstrate this. That
can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must
test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp
cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in
the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have “self-levelling
suspension” and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on
with the main beam.
The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.
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.
Thanks for this info!
I guess I can’t retro-fit a whole OEM Xenon unit (if they are even available) to my Mk2.5 because it still wouldn’t have self-cleaning.
I assume the self-levelling is built into the lamp.
Anyone else ever researched OEM Xenon lights on the Mk2.5 and fitted them?
Chris
The new January 2012 MOT regs mean HID’s without leveling will fail.
edit to say… wording actually says HID lamps MAY be fitted with leveling and cleaning devices and if fitted they must work…
With all the stuff that’s in the 2012 MOT, it’s going to be fun! 
If you read the january 2012 MOT inspection manual:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MOT%20Inspection%20Manual.pdf
You’ll see that self levelling is only tested if fitted. The wording is…
“Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted, switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted.”
ie check they work if they are fitted, not that they MUST be fitted.
Bear in mind that the 2006 change to Construction and Use regarding the illegality of aftermarket HIDs doesn’t actually get checked as part of the MOT. It’s a funny one, but that’s how it is. Just like if you permanently fitted orange flashing lights on your car, which isn’t involved in motorway maintenance, vehicle recovery or other permitted uses, it would be in breach of construction and use, but wouldn’t fail the MOT.
The testing HIDs requiring Self levelling was discussed when the changes were first mentioned, but it was never pushed through.
From this thread http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/38051.aspx 
Did you read the PDF I linked to which is the actual January 2012 MOT inspection manual, and includes the amendments?
Section 1.7 refers to headlights and there’s no clause specifically for aftermarket HIDs
You are refering to one of the original proposals. It didn’t make it through as an amendment.
Also, it’s worth noting that the amendments that have been added are the ones that were required by the original EU directive which prompted the change. It was the UK Government that made these extra draconian proposals affecting these after-market modifications which were, fortunately, dropped.
Just re read the link and the operative word is “may”. So does this modify theses words?
No it doesn’t, but the MOT doesn’t test compliance with type approval nor construction and use. It tests compliance with the MOT.
Similarly, a car fitted with a winch on the front, e.g. a Landrover Freelander (I say car, as the Defender can be classed as a commercial vehicle) would be illegal for LandRover to sell as it would fail on construction and use and type approval. However, it will pass the MOT, which is why winches are installed as aftermarket components.
It’s daft that in this case the construction and use as well as type approval are not mirrored by the MOT but that’s how it is.
So technically, yes, aftermarket HID bulbls are illegal, but the only way to have them officially fail a vehicle is to submit the vehicle for an SVA test rather than a regular MOT.
I have Xeron headlamps as standard on my 2006 Impreza.
There is a sensor on the offside front and offside rear suspension. They both feed an ECU which in turn controls motors on both headlamp assemblies.
Recently the front sensor failed and the headlamp washer on the offside which come out the bumper about three inches when operating, fell off on the Motorway.
Cost, new front sensor £260, headlamp washer assembly £50 and the little body coloured cover for the headlamp washer aessembly which is 50 mm x 50mm was £45.
The bumper had to be removed to fit the new headlamp washer. The rear screen wiper is also a Subaru special and that was £15 rather than say £5 for a normal aftermarket one.
The headlamps sensor failed just within the extended 5 year warranty but I did not report it on time so an expensive mistake. The Xeron is the dipped bulb that is on both on dip and main beam. The main beam bulb is a normal halogen bulb
Eddie