Forgive me if this has been asked before, I couldn't find any relevant threads. I imagine it's possible to physically swap out Projector Headlamp units for the fully LED equipped units but what other parts or programming would be required to make them work correctly? Also, at the other end of the car, what else needs to be done to swap out the standard tailgate switch for the one that has the built in rear facing camera and to get the picture to display on the centre screen while reversing? Thanks.

Other than for the aesthetics, why in the blue hell would you want to? 

They were something like a £2K optional extra, when one of the light units fails it'll probably cost that, or more, to replace one.

I've been spoiled by driving a car with LED matrix headlights that do a very good job of switching off the high beam LEDs only where they need to to avoid dazzling on coming drivers. I don't know if the Fiesta LED units have that capability. I find my car's projector headlamps have a comparatively yellowish high beam compared with the LED low beam, and that's with very blue tinted H1 bulbs in place. I do not want to fit aftermarket LED or HID high beam bulbs that will lead to an MOT fail. I also find the gradual activation of the high beam lamps a bit of a pain. It might be kinder to the filaments and increase their life span but I prefer on to be on straight away.

I've been looking on eBay at used parts but need to get a fuller appreciation of what's involved, to see if it's worth considering, hence my questions.

On the logistical aspect good luck with even attempting to do that swap.

On a purely legal point, no you can't change the type of head light to something different. The vehicles type approval was issued for your vehicle with it's original headlights. Changing them will mean an instant MOT failure if the change is noticed, and of course it goes with saying your insurance will be void.

11 hours ago, Old_Timer said:

LED matrix headlights 

Matrix only appeared on the Mk 8.5 ST which couldn't be retrofitted to the Mk 8 anyway due to the facelifted front end. 

12 hours ago, unofix said:

The vehicles type approval was issued for your vehicle with it's original headlights.

It surprises me that the law would be that specific. I thought that if LED headlight units were approved for Mk8 Fiestas they would be approved for use in all Fiestas, across the different trim ranges.

 

1 hour ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Matrix only appeared on the Mk 8.5 ST which couldn't be retrofitted to the Mk 8 anyway due to the facelifted front end. 

That being the case, LED headlight units for my pre-facelift car are not so attractive a proposition. Changing headlight units being knocked on the head, what about issues with retro-fitting the rear facing camera?

6 hours ago, Old_Timer said:

what about issues with retro-fitting the rear facing camera?

One member on here has done it on a diy basis mentioned in this thread:

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/122076-fiesta-mk8-reversing-camera-advice/

If you try just googling "Fiesta Mk 8 reverse camera" you will find other hits on this site, plus numerous firms who do an aftermarket job - from other members comments, it seems Ford dealers are not interested in doing it.

 

10 hours ago, Old_Timer said:

It surprises me that the law would be that specific. I thought that if LED headlight units were approved for Mk8 Fiestas they would be approved for use in all Fiestas, across the different trim ranges.

Then be prepared to be surprised !!

I'm sure one of many MOT testers /  knowledgeable members will be able to quote you the exact part of the MOT test that regards the type of headlight / lamp

@TomsFocus might know the MOT rule, I know someone has posted it here before.

13 hours ago, unofix said:

Then be prepared to be surprised !!

I'm sure one of many MOT testers /  knowledgeable members will be able to quote you the exact part of the MOT test that regards the type of headlight / lamp

@TomsFocus might know the MOT rule, I know someone has posted it here before.

He is right in this case, it is allowable to replace the full cluster with an LED cluster.   It is not allowable to fit an LED bulb into a halogen cluster.

Reason for refusal:

(c) Light source and lamp not compatible -

Major

 

MOT wording:

Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.

This does not refer to complete replacement headlamp units which may be constructed with HID or LED light sources.

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test.

Headlamps can be done, but it's very, very complicated and expensive. There is a very long, complex thread on the FORScan Forum about it, go check that out

You can, of course, just put a £10 H7 LED headlamp bulb in your projectors, that hasn't got a fan, which is exactly what Ford did.

Camera as mentioned in above posts

 

 

Thank you all for your advice.

22 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

One member on here has done it on a diy basis mentioned in this thread:

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/122076-fiesta-mk8-reversing-camera-advice/

I thought the rear camera job would be more involved than plugging the different tailgate switch into an existing part of the wiring loom but not that involved! I reckon I'll probably make do with the reverse beeping noise after all.

Ironically, for a short while, when the Mk 8 was first launched, the Titanium X had a reversing camera as standard, but oddly, no parking sensors.