LED Sidelight bulbs & MOT

rjk · 2 Sep 2012 at 19:37

Looking at the description for some LED sidelight bulbs

Powerbulbs Website said:
These bulbs are designed for interior use. They can be used in an exterior application but it is not road legal to do

is this just to cover their back with regards to possible MOT failures or is it genuinely illegal to run this type of sidelight in your vehicle?

why is an LED bulb really any different to a standard one in MOT terms?

paradigm · 2 Sep 2012 at 19:43

Never had my Cupra R fail on having LED (white) sidelights.

Zack101 · 2 Sep 2012 at 19:50

Nothing in the MOT regs to say LED's not acceptable as long as they are white it's no problem.

Liquidfox · 2 Sep 2012 at 19:52

Mine passed last month with them in.

rjk · 2 Sep 2012 at 19:52

Why does it say they are not for road use then?

It says off road on the pack and all the other sites I have seen stocking them.

Is there some kind of clause like fitting aftermarket HIDs or something?

BinnsY · 2 Sep 2012 at 19:56

I'll hazard a guess its because there not E marked?

Dr Who · 2 Sep 2012 at 20:03

Pretty sure it is down to how they radiate light and the unsuitability of the reflectors, much like the situation with HID's, although they don't usually check for this on sidelights at an MOT.

Likely you will have no issues unless you go to a real savvy MOT centre with a grumpy inspector

NathWraith · 2 Sep 2012 at 20:09

BinnsY said:
I'll hazard a guess its because there not E marked?

this.

Most LED sidelights are perfectly legal, they just say "for off road use only" to cover their asses

Frozennova · 2 Sep 2012 at 20:15

Mine passed with white LED sidelight bulbs.

A friend was using blue bulbs and forgot to swap them over and his failed for them.

Zack101 · 2 Sep 2012 at 20:19

E markings aren't part of an MOT test and they wont fail for not having them.