MOT tests from 2012 have new additions.

[QD MBE]

Vehicles with Xenons will be required to have Levelling devices and a washing system by Jan 2012.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/technical%20pen%20picture%203%20-%20lighting.pdf

I know they will also be looking at 'illegal' ECU mods, quite how they will do that is anyone's guess. 

[jhtrophy]

thought they had to anyway

[QD MBE]

I retro fitted xenons to my Ed and it passed MOT test without either.  It seems they have tightened up on retro fits, or adding HID kits.

[Saint Steve]

I see it applys to HID and not factory oem xenons.

Thankfully

the last paragraph is good reading.The examiners descretion..

remap tracing? How can that be policed?

[danishmkvgti]

Germany is also to look for ECU modifications, but how is anyones guess  

[QD MBE]

I see it applys to HID and not factory oem xenons.

Thankfully

How on earth can they trace a remap??

They list HID (High Intensity Discharge) as being filled with Xenon gas, so I guess it does apply to OEM xenons.  They also refer to HID kits later.

Dazzle can also be caused if the lamps are dirty or aimed too high due to, for example, carrying
rear seat passengers and/or heavy items in the boot.  Vehicles with HID headlamps are therefore
required to have a headlamp washing system (a wiper is not required) and be self levelling, which
may be achieved either by the use of either headlamp or suspension levelling systems.  
The presence and operation of these headlamp cleaning and levelling devices has been
added to the test.  Therefore, if a mandatory headlamp levelling or cleaning device is missing,
inoperative or otherwise obviously defective, the vehicle will fail.
This raises the question of whether these checks apply to vehicles fitted with after-market HID
lighting kits.  These kits convert conventional halogen headlamps to HID Xenon and they are
widely sold and fitted to vehicles used on the road.  The Department for Transport considers
that after-market systems should be required to meet the same safety standards as that applied
in respect of these lamps at vehicle Type Approval.  Therefore, in order to pass the MOT
test, vehicles fitted with after-market HID systems would also need to be fitted with headlamp
cleaning and self-levelling systems.  Some high specification estate cars are fitted with a selflevelling suspension system and this would be considered as adequate for the purpose.
It is also worthy of note that a few high performance vehicles fitted with HID headlamps that
have barely any luggage space and stiff suspension do not require a self-levelling system.

[PDT]

They will be clamping down on 'additions' such as HID kits and tuning boxes.  

Thank god

[Saint Steve]

It doesn't dave, ours are not HID, so it doesn't apply.

[Saint Steve]

They will be clamping down on 'additions' such as HID kits and tuning boxes.   

Thank god

That's how I read it aswell

[RedRobin]

.
There's been talk of VOSA's intentions to clamp down on aftermarket HID's for some time.

[RobH]

What constitutes an "illegal" ecu then?

If its a tuning box or piggy back type thing then there easy to spot..... i think but software remap would be pretty much impossible unless they know every cars original parametres.

Im glad about the stupid HID kits been made an mot fail because there a PITA!

[QD MBE]

Sadly, I think you may be wrong Steve.

they give the testers tips on how to recognise them.

HID headlamps can be easily recognised as they generally:
 u  take a few seconds to reach full intensity
 u  have a bluish tinge to the light
 u  have an igniter module/inverter behind the headlamp
 u  may also have ‘DCR’ marked on the headlamp lens.

HID is a term which covers lots of types.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_discharge_lamp

Some of which are

Mercury vapor lamps
Metal halide (MH) lamps
Ceramic MH lamps
Sodium vapor lamps
Xenon short-arc lamps
Ultra-High Performance (UHP)

[RobH]

People with oem xenons have nothing to worry about there self leveling and have headlight washers!

[RedRobin]

.
Is there any provision, or likely to be, for HID's fitted before the new MOT legislation kicks in? If so, I would expect it to have to be backed up with proper paperwork. But...

[Btw, mine are VW OEM Xenons with washers etc etc so I'm not personally worried]

[Saint Steve]

xenon and HID are two different things to what they are referring .

since when are oem xenon lamps referred to as HID?

at no point does it refer to xenon lamps/retro fits, it's purely aimed at people who have changed their halogen bulbs for HID's.

beam patterns are then incorrect, and hense why VOSA are acting on it.

Either way, a close mate whos a Mot tester has told me the same thing, so for me personally, won't effect my situ.