Hi guys

So the car is my wife's. It's a 2011 Zetec (2.0 TDCi PowerShift)

I wanted to upgrade the halogen headlight to xenon like I have on my 2006 Mondeo ST. 

I bought the headlight units on FB Marketplace after being told that they're plug and play.

However it seems not to be the case. When I plug them in (new bulbs & ballasts) I'm met with "low beam fault" on the dash and no working dipped (xenon)

What have I done wrong? What have I missed? 

(a) Definitely not plug 'n' play

(b) Conversion from halogen to xenon is not legal in the UK

(c) It is an automatic MOT failure if spotted by the tester.

(d) Could well void the vehicle insurance.

Are you still sure it's a good idea ? 🤔

 

1 hour ago, Semproxion said:

What have I done wrong? What have I missed? 

No HCMs probably

No self levelling

No Wash facility

As unofix says, you have to fit as if they were fitted in the factory or they fail MOT

1 hour ago, unofix said:

(a) Definitely not plug 'n' play

(b) Conversion from halogen to xenon is not legal in the UK

(c) It is an automatic MOT failure if spotted by the tester.

(d) Could well void the vehicle insurance.

Are you still sure it's a good idea ? 🤔

 

(b) There's nothing in law that states you cannot do it with the exception of fitting HID bulbs into halogen units. I'm using genuine Xenon units. There are requirements that need to be satisfied but as long as they're done, perfectly legal. 
(c) Provided the requirements are done, no MOT tester will fail the car. I've done the conversion on my own vehicle and passed 6 MOTs with them fitted. 
(d) Car is on a modified policy. As long as the units are marked (which they are as they're Ford originals) then they don't care. 
 

28 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

No HCMs probably

No self levelling

No Wash facility

As unofix says, you have to fit as if they were fitted in the factory or they fail MOT

HCMs? 

I assume the car already has SL as there's no manual leveller control in the cabin. 

Wash facility will be implemented. 

Zetec didn't get self levelling as standard in the UK.  Can you post a picture of your light switch panel?  Levelling should be the knob on the left hand side.

HCM - Headlight Control Module 

16 hours ago, Semproxion said:

(b) There's nothing in law that states you cannot do it with the exception of fitting HID bulbs into halogen units. I'm using genuine Xenon units. There are requirements that need to be satisfied but as long as they're done, perfectly legal. 

You have to have auto levelling and wash for Xenon to be as factory, that's all I'm saying

Tom answered HCMs👍

Some MOTers may pass you, some may not