headlights

[dumbo]

hi all long story have done headlights from old round ones to maestro ones and change bulbs to hid ones look good and very bright but will not pass mot... cause no wash lights so is there any way???? a bit like the headlight relay mod.... why cant i still use the ballast and plug in osram bulbs cheers simon

[California Dreamin]

Can't you just take all that crap out and fit 'Nightbreakers' with relays so they get full power?

Martin

[pionte]

I would have thought that the lack of headlight washers would be the least of the MOT testers concerns, The way I read and understand it the headlight washers only need to work if fitted from new... No T3 ever had HID lamps fitted from new so wont be required.

What it will probably fail on is beam pattern , Ive read lots of posts on people who fit them, love how bright they are but soon realise that the beam pattern is all wrong and infact cant see bugger all ....

As Martin ( cal Dream ) suggests , there are far better ways to improve the effectiveness of the standard headlights.

Have a read in the WIKI ( link on top of page )

[AdrianC]

I would have thought that the lack of headlight washers would be the least of the MOT testers concerns, The way I read and understand it the headlight washers only need to work if fitted from new... No T3 ever had HID lamps fitted from new so wont be required.

ANYTHING fitted with HIDs must have light cleaning & self-levelling fitted. It's a legal requirement that's now reflected in the MOT. Sure, the van didn't originally have them, but nor did it originally have HIDs (else it would've had, IYSWIM). The one exception seems to be that a handful of cars did have very early HIDs from new, but no washing - and that's OK.

Scandi-market vans would have had lamp washing, but the self-levelling would be a more difficult retrofit.

why cant i still use the ballast and plug in osram bulbs

Me No Understand. By "osram bulbs" do you mean normal halogens, just reputed to be a bit brighter/better?

The ballasts are required to fire up the HID "bulbs". Think of 'em as part of that "bulb". If you use Osram (or any other brand) of "better" incandescents, then the ballasts aren't needed, nor do they add anything.

[what2do]

Hi Simon, it's possibly you that I 'pestered' on Brickyard about the maestro lights. Is it you? I've recently fitted mine but am puzzled about a couple of things, perhaps you can help as I'm in Cambridge and would like to see another set-up in the flesh if possible. Cheers, Mitch.

[California Dreamin]

This is the pattern from a standard R/H/D headlamp setup. Note* flat line with a kick to the left.
This is achieved by precise bulb mounting (the elements have to be located within a couple of millimetres to enable correct reflection (of the reflector) so the lens can then shape that light to the prescribed pattern below:




Shifting the illuminated element within the lamp by just 10mm COMPLETELY changes the pattern of light produced (Full Beam), so you see just how critical the 'placement' of the illuminated element is within the lamp unit.

Martin

[dumbo]

hi all cheers for all your help.. osram night breakers are better than standard bulbs.. but not a nice crisp white as before thanks any way simon

[California Dreamin]

hi all cheers for all your help.. osram night breakers are better than standard bulbs.. but not a nice crisp white as before thanks any way simon

Have you actually used Night Breakers?
Halogens already give reasonable colour temperature, Night Breakers go one step further by using a colour correcting 'blue' filter to achieve near 'white light' ...so I'm a little confused by your comment.

Martin