Law on custom lights?

[ratboyab]

As some of you may know, I had an accident in my car yesterday and now need a new bonnet, bumper, grill, etc... For years I've wanted to completely build my own car and my original plan was to use all the mechanical stuff from a Legnum, well eventually I just ended up buying a Legnum so now rather than replacing the damaged items I'm thinking of doing my own bonnet, bumper, etc... I was just wondering what the laws are on making your lights?

[Nitew4tcher]

as long as the lights comply with current regs.....beam spread etc etc.................i cant see it being a problem

[Kryton]

Depends if fitting HID's or not. If you are, they must have projector reflecters fitted with correct beam pattern, be auto leveling & have headlamp washers as far as I am aware. If you are just fitting normal bulbs, then I think just the beam pattern as said above

[Pugme]

are you talking front or rears?

these are my rear lights on my other car

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h187/P11gme/Photo0574-1.jpg and have nevereed had any problems

[ratboyab]

So you don't actually need to have them checked by VOSA or anything like that, they just have to comply with the rules?

[pitslayer]

You would probably have to take it for an mot or at least get the beams checked, but realistically as long as they are E marked, and put out the correct amount of light in the correct direction and heigh then I shouldn't see why you would have an issue with them

[Kryton]

Yep, as long as they pass the next MOT they should be fine. The only time there is issues is if the lights are ron the car when it comes to registering it in the country. As yours already is, you should be fine. Probably best ask an mot tester for 100% accurate info, but thats what i have been lead to believe

[ratboyab]

Cool, I assume by them being e-marked you are just referring to the bulbs pitslayer?

[Pugme]

officially mine are not emarked, but c'mon its gotta be a pretty petty mot guy to be looking for e marks! lol

mine are made up of just simple flat head 180 degree led's the only thing not legal about mine is the lack of reflectors, which can obviously be stuck on when needed ;)

[Pugme]

headlights are a bit more of a hassle because they do need to be aligned properly etc

[pitslayer]

I refer to the lenses on the lights, any electrical equipment fitted to a vehicle after such and such a date must be E marked (1996 IIRC) for them to be legal, agreed you would have to find a petty MOT tester to do you for it, but a VOSA stop check may see it differently, then again my Defender failed its MOT for not having side repeaters, which weren't fitted on the car when it was rebuilt many years ago, I think he did it because he couldn't find anything, and he was extremely p*ssed off when I turned up a day later with one Ford Escort indicator scotch locked on and stuck in the window hinge, and a random indicator I found cable tied to the snorkel, but you still find that arse of an mot tester every now and then.



ETA: The E marking of products is a horribly complicated document, but just generally think, that after 96? Any lights/extra lights fitted to a vehicle must be E marked to comply with EU legislation, as far as i am concerned a light is a light at the end of the day.

But you will need to get the beams checked when you fit them, and when you fit them you need to think how permanent they are going to be if you need to pull them out and replace/repair/modify to get the car through and mot.