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Lighting laws

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defuzz:
so, like many 200TDi Discos, my headlights are a bit rubbish especially compared to modern cars.  I've got better bulbs and fitted new headlight units but on a dark misty night its still like trying to navigate by candle light.


First up I've fitted some fog lights to deal with the dark foggy lanes around here, they work fine and are currently just fitted to a switch.  What is the law regardign fog lights.  Obviously I'd be daft to have them when there are no visibility problems but do I have to have them fitted to the full headlamp circuit so they turn off when I dip my lights for oncoming traffic?

Driving lights, I'd like some of these too.  Can I have these on with the full headlamps and off when headlights dipped for oncoming traffic, or are they only for off road use?  As I understand 50w bulbs are OK for on road full headlight use but 100w for instance are illegal for on road?


Ideally I'd like so me additional lighting for every day use (or night) eg allowed to be on when my lights are dipped so that when I dip for oncoming traffic, my road ahead isn't plunged into near darkness.

Lucy1978:
I think, your front fogs should only be on when your lights are dipped.  Driving lights must be wired so that they can only be switched on with full beam.  As for improving the normal headlights, I really couldn't say.

strapping young lad:
you can do a couple of things to a 200..

the cheapest is
get more powerful bulbs from powerbulbs.com

if the lenses in the headlights are full of crud then buy new ones i got a pair for 60 quid i thinik

alternatively you can get facial upgrade to the 200 to have the 300 grille and headlights and indicators which are miles better, but i dont know whats involved in this (although i do recall being able to buy a kit)

Terranosaurus:
Can't remember the link to the actual law but the details are as follows.

Fog lights.

Like dipped hadlights these have to be angled down at 3% (their notation not mine).

They may be used on their own or with other lights but only when visibility is reduced to 100m in Fog or falling snow.


Driving/Spot Lights

No such thing in law these are auxillary main beam lights.

They must extinguish with main beam.



General

All vehicles after 1987 have to use E marked bulbs, there are very few bulbs of greater than 55w for single filament and 55/60 for twin that are E marked. PIAA do sell some but they are horrendously expensive. Haven't seen any E marked HID conversions yet either.

Pre1987 E marking is not required so you have your free pick of uprated bulbs or even HID upgrades.



--- Quote from: "defuzz" ---Ideally I'd like so me additional lighting for every day use (or night) eg allowed to be on when my lights are dipped so that when I dip for oncoming traffic, my road ahead isn't plunged into near darkness.
--- End quote ---


Sorry I'm afraid you're not allowed to unless its foggy or snowing.


Don't know what the wiring is like on a Disco, do they use relays? if not or even if rewiring the lights so you shorten the feed from the alternator to the lights by placing relays as close to the lights as possible helps prevent voltage drop. Also using good quality standard current draw but uprated output (ie high efficeincy) will help too, again PIAA's are fantastic but costly.

Rewiring so dip stays on with main beam will improve main beam but obviously not low beam and can shorten bulb life.

Get your lights set properly too, you can do this yourself on a dark night by trial and error or get a garage to do it with a beam alligner, problem is many garages just make them pass the MOT. You need your lights set as high as possible but still legal for best light.

And after all this make sure you alternator is up to the job.

Highlander1:
Vehicle lighting reg 21 sec 19 1971 misuse of non obligitory fog lights you can only use em if visibility is reduced to 100ft ie to light the roadside ahead.

Best get some blue tungsten main beam lamps or some secondary dips. make sure the lens has EU mark E2 which is legal requirement for dipped beams E1 is main beam.

I hate fog light users on wet roads they blind on coming vehicles. Theres a blind spot as 2 cars pass each other so with fogs on you miss the deer running out and folks get killed.

Also try standing in front of your vehicle with fogs on you will see how bright they are at low level sports cars etc get hammered by them.

If you drive with fogs on they only light up a few feet in front of your vehicle so your as well on main beam fogs off unless it's foggy.

Drive into fog bank, fogs on out of fag bank fogs off. Otherwise it's as irresponsible as those ridding around with rear fogs on in summer.

That's my personal experience everyones got their own views and entitled to them.

Cheers H1

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