UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

perarduapropatria wrote:

iichel wrote:Are the rules in the UK also in such a way that you have to have the automatic headlight height system?

Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.

Where such systems are fitted, they must work; however, it is accepted that it may not be possible to readily determine the functioning of self levelling systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt must be given.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_170.htm

Looks like I need a slice of humble pie

Not quite, that's just the MOT side.

There are also the Insurance and Legal aspects to consider.

By modifying your car, it needs to comply with construction and use regulations in force at the time the car was built. You cannot possibly comply if the car does not have self levelling and washers.

Don't confuse advice to MOT stations with the law around construction and use.

So what, some may think, if it passes the MOT what's the problem? Probably none, unless your involved in a serious injury or death accident, and the police take your car away to be inspected.

If they find the modifications, and they will, do you know where you stand with regard to insurance? Do you know what would happen if your lights were mentioned in court as being a contributor to the accident?

Personally, it's just not worth the risk in my opinion. I know others don't share my view, and that's fine, but advice to MOT testers is not the same as advice to the rest of us.

Some pretty strong opinions on here just over a set of headlights.

:yawn:

perarduapropatria wrote:Some pretty strong opinions on here just over a set of headlights.

:yawn:

It's not just opinion, unfortunately.

You think that suddenly and overnight it's ok to retrofit HIDs without self levelling and washers, based on an MOT websites reprint of the guides to MOT testers?

If you have the legal amount of tread on your tyres on MOT test day, but 6 months later you crash and one of your tyres are found to be below the limit, is it your fault or the MOT tester?

It's up to you to ensure your vehicle complies with the laws applicable at all times, and I can't be any more straightforward than that I'm afraid.

I'm sorry you find the subject boring, but it might save you a lot of pain somewhere down the line....

Tooks wrote:
I'm sorry you find the subject boring, but it might save you a lot of pain somewhere down the line....

Calm down, dear....

perarduapropatria wrote:

Tooks wrote:
I'm sorry you find the subject boring, but it might save you a lot of pain somewhere down the line....

Calm down, dear....

I'm very calm thanks.

I just think it's important that you have all the facts before following arguable advice on a forum.

Personally, I'm old enough and realistic enough to know people will do what they want, heck I see enough retrofit HIDs on the roads every day, the same as you do I'm sure.

But, I'm just putting the flip side of the argument in no more or less a passionate way than the people who say that the MOT test guidelines say they're ok, or at least grey enough to get by.

I'm just saying that MOT tester guidelines are just that.

Anyway, welcome from another Leicestershire owner, I'm 'darn sarf' quite a bit, one of my brothers lives down near Lutterworth.

Tooks wrote:

perarduapropatria wrote:

Tooks wrote:
I'm sorry you find the subject boring, but it might save you a lot of pain somewhere down the line....

Calm down, dear....

I'm very calm thanks.

I just think it's important that you have all the facts before following arguable advice on a forum.

Personally, I'm old enough and realistic enough to know people will do what they want, heck I see enough retrofit HIDs on the roads every day, the same as you do I'm sure.

But, I'm just putting the flip side of the argument in no more or less a passionate way than the people who say that the MOT test guidelines say they're ok, or at least grey enough to get by.

I'm just saying that MOT tester guidelines are just that.

Anyway, welcome from another Leicestershire owner, I'm 'darn sarf' quite a bit, one of my brothers lives down near Lutterworth.

I live near Lutterworth too.

You might see a white 5 door polo GTI out and about then!

You mentioned winter tyres and wheels earlier, this is what I did before last winter. Brand new with tyres they were pretty reasonable. I took them off a couple of weeks back, and after 7000 miles they look hardly worn.

http://www.uk-polos.net/view ... it=+Winter

Tooks wrote:You might see a white 5 door polo GTI out and about then!

You mentioned winter tyres and wheels earlier, this is what I did before last winter. Brand new with tyres they were pretty reasonable. I took them off a couple of weeks back, and after 7000 miles they look hardly worn.

http://www.uk-polos.net/view ... it=+Winter

I've got Nokians on the Jaguar and they're excellent winter tyres. Normally I have Dunlop SP Sport Maxx, but they don't do the size in winters (285/30/20)

Pirelli Sottozero's are on the Audi and I'll never buy they again - they're real bone-shakers, possibly because they also take low profile tyres. (255/35/19)

I'll pick up some second-hand alloys and get back onto TyreLeader! That site has saved me about £2k this year in tyre cost.

I've never used tyre leader, so good to here somebody who has.

I need a set of summers for mine really, so I'll check them out.

Ps if I come across as pedantic re technical stuff, it's because I work in helicopter aviation, and it's kind of cultural! I didn't mean to sound 'high horse like', if that's how I came across.

Just noticed - is that your Jag i can see in the distance

alexperkins wrote:Just noticed - is that your Jag i can see in the distance

Yes; It also had the Gtechniq treatment. It takes a few days, but it's definitely worth the effort.



When I got that car it looked like someone had been washing it with scotchbrite.

Very nice. It looks great!

Have a bit of a soft spot for those

alexperkins wrote:Very nice. It looks great!

Have a bit of a soft spot for those

It gets me from A to B

It was only £4k. It's had new tensioners, a full cat-back exhaust and needed a new throttle body - which is a real problem with these cars.

Goes like greased weasel sh1t.....

Not a bad price at all

I've heard about the issues they experience. Pretty bad really given how much they were new

Yeah and the rest... haha

perarduapropatria wrote:

alexperkins wrote:Very nice. It looks great!

Have a bit of a soft spot for those

It gets me from A to B

It was only £4k. It's had new tensioners, a full cat-back exhaust and needed a new throttle body - which is a real problem with these cars.

Goes like greased weasel sh1t.....

Very nice!

I'm presuming it likes a drink?!