Square Headlamps Needed

[Llamapup]

Hello All

I tried to tax my car yesterday and realised that I only had one day left on my MOT. Not very smart I know....

Anyway I took my Westy for its MOT and surprisingly it only came back with one fault. Apparently the square headlamps are designed for continental use. They bend the beam in the direction thereby "dazzleling" oncoming traffic.

The place doing my MOT did some ringing round and can't find any square headlamps with the correct lense for driving in the UK. I asked if I could just stick those plastic lens things over the headlamps and they told me they should only be used for driving on the continent for short periods and were not appropriate to use all the time on UK roads.

So could anyone suggest where I could find some headlamps. Its the outer ones I need.

This is fairly urgent as my van will need to sit at the garage until I can find the part as the tax will expire at the end of May.

Thanks

Llamapup

[AngeloEvs]

RHD are hard to come by and usually second hand at that. Not sure of the legal side of the argument for MOT's concerning beam deflectors but I thought there was a grace period and you didn't mention whether this is a recent import or a van you recently acquired or modded with square headlamps. You could convert back to round headlights for the MOT as these are cheap and then stick the square ones back on with deflectors till a set of RHD come up for sale. See what others say as I have heard so many different opinions about the use of deflectors that I ain't sure what to believe anymore.

[andisnewsyncro]

LHD headlight are not (or atleast weren't) a failure point (December 2008) the worst they can (could) give is an advisory to fit beam benders.

Stick some tape over the relevant part of the lens to mask the beam, or you could go the "posh route" & buy some proper headlamp masks, both of which I understand to be "acceptable" on the MOT. If the beam pattern is "acceptable", which it will be with beam benders on, it has to pass, or so I was told by my MOT station. "Legality" is another matter (good old UK law), but it should pass it's MOT

Take it back and discuss it, it should save you close to £200 if the ebay prices are anything to go by.
Andi

[dsa]

HI i think just kampers sell the lights but there is no law against beam benders or time limit for use both my my lhd vans passed mot with black tape on lights without an advisory

[Red Westie]

I was an MOT tester....beam benders are perfectly acceptable! FULL STOP!
What he has said is just advice and NOT a legal requirement. Use some quality transparent light benders from Brick Werks for a PERMANENT fix!
SEE: proper jobbers for L/H/D lights
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php?p ... t&Itemid=6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin

[andisnewsyncro]

That's how I understood it Martin; So the best plan is to book a re-test then challenge it if they fail it I guess.

On a positive note, they've not hit you for your rear fog light, so I assume that it's already been seen to to get the current MOT, can you not take it back to the palce that issued previous certificate as it must have passed there with the current lights? They're obviously a bit more on the ball.

Good luck

Andi

[AngeloEvs]

I had an import and the b^&*&*rd failed it, wouldn't accept beam benders, Cost me £200 to convert to RHD (Hymer not T25) went back and a different guy did the re-test and said beam benders would have been fine........ for a year! I was well peed off especially as other peeps later said they were an advisory.......think Martins cleared that one up for good!

[Red Westie]

Well this is talked about every other month....the last time I seem to remember someone posting the appropriate section of the MOT testers current manual, I recall that as long as the light bender did not adversely effect the light output and it had removed the L/H/D kick to the right it is perfectly acceptable. What you have to appreciate though is, whilst an MOT tester has stricked guidelines and testing criteria they are still in posession of 'their opinion' and that is why we have discrepensies and variations in the outcomes of MOT tests.
If it were me I would purchase the quality L/H/D light benders like those from BrickWerks and look on the net for the current MOT testers manual and print out the appropriate page for his perusal.
As for the foglight: Has to have one on the O/S/R...also has to have a warning light either in the switch or seperate but needs to be clear of what is being indicated (fog light symbal or label) depends on how strict they are being. The normal bodge is to solder a feed wire directly onto a 21watt bulb or if you want to do this to a higher quality...modify the holder and make a spring loaded terminal underneath the bulb. I'm not sure I'd want to risk the tester missing this check, not for a re-test.
Martin

[Llamapup]

Thanks for all your comments guys. I'm feeling a bit better about things now that I am well armed with the facts.

I may not have time to get Brickwerks to deliver the beam benders before I get them to re-test the van. Do Halfords sell beam benders that are any good?

The garage has not spotted the lack of a rear fog light and have ensured me there is nothing further needed to pass, so if these beam benders pass muster than I think I'll let this garage complete the MOT.

Otherwise I think I'll pay them for their time and take my van to a different garage.

Thanks

Llamapup

[Simon Baxter]

Order now, I will get it friday morning and you will have them sat morning.

[noss vanagon]

Had no problem with beam benders on our last MOT, RHD lights too expensive

[Llamapup]

Pannic over....my garage rang VOSA up who confirmed what you lot told me. My van has passed its MOT with the addition of some black tape stuck to my headlamps.

Thanks to all of you for your prompt and helpful comments.

Regards

Llamapup

[Red Westie]

There you go then....saved you £150.00 lol......I would still go for the permanent see through benders as a long term solution, tape will cut down the light intensity and besides...it looks naf.
And Conrats....thats another year you don't have to worry about..
Martin