LED Headlight bulbs and MOT

[ChildoftheJago]

Looks like drop in LED headlight bulbs instead of halogen ones are now considered an MOT failure...

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

Inspection processes and rules for motorcycle, scooter, moped and motorcycle combination (class 1 and 2 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

 

[sr71caspar]

I'll find out when I take my bikes later this year.
My MOT man usually applies common sense.

 

[Jaws]

Looks like drop in LED headlight bulbs instead of halogen ones are now considered an MOT failure...

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

Inspection processes and rules for motorcycle, scooter, moped and motorcycle combination (class 1 and 2 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

Depends on the brain power of the bloke doing the MOT
HIDs ( aftermarket ones ) have NEVER been legal as far as MOTs go ( on bikes ) yyet never had one fail yet.. even my little 125 scoot has just passed its first MOT with HID fitted

 

[ChildoftheJago]

TBH the people I use will pass HID/LED if the beam pattern is good enough, but I guess it's now written in law....

 

[slim63]

Factory fitted led = legal
factory fitted hid =legal
Conversions on either =illegal
Remove the stock lamp & fit a complete led one as on on a streetfighter etc = legal if its properly marked

basically nothing has changed its just been written differently and as above mot testers are paid to use common sense so go in with a decent attitude & none of it is a problem as long as it gives of a decent spread of light as per the rules

 

[ogr1]

​

4.1. Headlamps​

4.1.1. Presence, condition and operation​

A ‘light source’ means any bulb, LED or other means of emitting light.

Did I miss summat in the description?

 

[ChildoftheJago]

For cars it was that LED replacement bulbs weren't illegal, they could pass if beam was good enough. This now explicitly includes LEDS for cars and bikes. Basically if it was designed for halogen, you can't replace with an LED or HID bulb.
Complete retrofit units that were designed for HID or LED are ok.

 

[Jaws]

For cars it was that LED replacement bulbs weren't illegal, they could pass if beam was good enough. This now explicitly includes LEDS for cars and bikes. Basically if it was designed for halogen, you can't replace with an LED or HID bulb.
Complete retrofit units that were designed for HID or LED are ok.
View attachment 52147

Nowt changed then...
It is the issue that oem bike lamps are not self levelling
The oddity is that most oem ones fitted with HID or LED are not self levelling either !

 

[ChildoftheJago]

I thought they had to have headight washing on cars too, obviously not on bikes though.

 

[Jaws]

I thought they had to have headight washing on cars too, obviously not on bikes though.

The wording is 'if a washer is fitted it must be working'

 

[ogr1]

View attachment 52147

Looks like it's a fail at the next mot then.

 

[Duck n Dive]

I thought they had to have headight washing on cars too, obviously not on bikes though.

It's a long time since I read up on it.

But as I recall that bit (self levelling and washer fitted) was part of the requirement for HID to get approved as part of the "whole vehicle type approval".
That was/is the only way HID can be legal.

 

[DLN1965]

That sucks !!
My Bird has LED and the project car has LED headlights !!
Looks like I may need a spare set of bulbs / lights to keep MOT happy !!

 

[ogr1]

Yarp... that's just sh@t, seeing as iv'e just done the hid upgrade on the Bird.
Next question..as a quick fix before the next MOT, is it possible to temporarily swap out the led's for bulbs?
Would they work? Asking for my imaginary friend....Lol.

 

[Duck n Dive]

Yarp... that's just sh@t, seeing as iv'e just done the hid upgrade on the Bird.
Next question..as a quick fix before the next MOT, is it possible to temporarily swap out the led's for bulbs?
Would they work? Asking for my imaginary friend....Lol.

There's plenty of anecdotal reports on here of HIDs getting through MOTs by way of friendly/pragmatic testers.

If already fitted I think I'd just take it for Mot and keep fingers crossed. Probably more likely to get lucky if you regularly use the same tester maybe.

 

[sr71caspar]

Yarp... that's just sh@t, seeing as iv'e just done the hid upgrade on the Bird.
Next question..as a quick fix before the next MOT, is it possible to temporarily swap out the led's for bulbs?
Would they work? Asking for my imaginary friend....Lol.

If you've just fitted HIDs, how could you swap out LED's?

 

[ogr1]

If you've just fitted HIDs, how could you swap out LED's?

My mistake el senior..
I can swap them out, cause i used the adapter to original socket.
It will still be a ball ache though.

 

[DEG5Y]

Both my bikes have just gone through their MOT's no problem with LED's fitted, at different MOT stations.

 

[slim63]

Most mot testers have their head screwed on straight, you have to be to deal with you lot

What it really means is many testers will turn a blind eye as long as you have a decent beam pattern but if its shite expect to be told so & get failed

Remember testers are bikers too & also have to have at least 5 years experience to get the ticket so most will feel the same as you about daft changes in the rules, dont get me wrong there are a few arseholes out there but 90% really wont give a toss if the light is good so dont worry about it until it happens !