Installation of xenon in lensed headlights: installation features, regulatory documentation

Headlights with xenon (gas discharge) lamps provide greater illumination of the road, which helps reduce accidents in the dark or in poor visibility conditions.

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Is it possible to install such lighting devices on any vehicle and how to legalize the conversion of a car, read on.

If necessary

In accordance with the annex to Government Decree No. 1090, operation of a vehicle is prohibited if the vehicle is equipped with headlights that do not comply with the design.

This means that xenon can be installed on a vehicle:

• having headlights marked DR, DC or DCR;
• on headlights, if the design of the car provides for automatic leveling and washer of lighting equipment.

In all other cases, the installation of xenon is illegal, and the car owner can be held administratively liable under Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code.

The penalty under this article is deprivation of a driver’s license for a period of 6–12 months.

The correctness of lighting is checked by a traffic police inspector at a stationary or mobile post with special equipment.

The decision to impose fines and deprivation of rights is made by the court after receiving the appropriate conclusion from traffic police officers.

However, the re-equipment of a vehicle, including the installation of xenon headlights, can be legalized.

This means that after all changes have been made to the vehicle and the design requirements have been checked, any driver can use lighting devices with a brighter luminous flux.

Car service offers

At service stations with experience, certificates and an established reputation, specialists offer a choice of installing lenses with halogen and xenon. Most car owners prefer to opt for the second option. This is due to the fact that the power of gas-discharge light bulbs is much higher compared to their halogen “relatives,” especially for models with reflectors.

Basic configurations do not provide for the installation of xenon in lensed headlights; a similar prerogative applies to top versions. In factories, designers most often prefer to use halogen to focus the light beam. Installation of lensed equipment requires professional equipment. In addition, sensors must be installed in the headlight, thanks to which the light angle will be adjusted. Hella models, Chinese Catz i, PIAA are popular with consumers; Philips and Osram have shown their abilities well.

Where to contact

How to legalize xenon in headlights? First of all, it is necessary to obtain appropriate permission from a specialized organization (NAMI or any other company that has permission to engage in relevant activities) regarding the possibility of installing new lighting devices on a specific car.

Examination of a vehicle is carried out for a fee (approximate cost 4,000 rubles ).

To obtain a preliminary examination, a written application is submitted to NAMI (automotive product certification body), which indicates:

• Full name of the director of the institution to whom the application is being submitted;
• Full name and residential address of the car owner;
• make and model of the car to be converted;
• car passport details;
• a detailed description of the proposed changes, indicating the specific brands and models of equipment being installed.

As a rule, such a request is not denied to the car owner.

After researching the possibility of installing xenon or bi-xenon lamps, the owner of the car is issued a conclusion indicating:

• vehicle data;
• possible changes;
• description of the work that needs to be done to properly re-equip the vehicle.

Compliance of lighting devices with regulatory requirements is checked after final installation.

Next, you will need to obtain a number of documents confirming the serviceability of the headlights and the correct installation of the devices.

Based on the documents provided, xenon will be legalized and the car owner can drive safely without fear of fines or deprivation of his license.

About legal subtleties

Self-installation of xenon in lensed headlights is an acceptable procedure. First, it won’t hurt to find out if you can change the optics of your “steel horse” in a similar way and be a law-abiding citizen. A fan of tuning modernization should remember: the slightest intervention, not approved by the relevant authorities, in the design of lamps is considered an offense. The traffic police officer has all the rights to dismantle the optics, and the owner of the vehicle begins to have incidents when conducting a technical inspection.

To obtain approval for installing xenon in lensed headlights with your own hands to improve the lighting function, you must seek the help of a certified organization. You will need to obtain the appropriate paper from the traffic police and complete a complete replacement of the lights.

How to write an application for refurbishment

So, how to legalize xenon for a foreign car or other type of vehicle?

The first step after receiving a preliminary expert opinion on the possibility of replacing lighting devices on a car is to submit a written application to the traffic police, which indicates:

• name of the traffic police unit to which the relevant document is submitted;
• request for changes. In this situation, installing a set of xenon headlights of a certain brand, which includes ignition units, lamps, automatic correctors and washers;
• full data of the car on which the conversion is supposed to be carried out (make, model, VIN, category, color, body type, body, frame, chassis and engine numbers, if any);
• information about the owner of this vehicle (full name, date of birth, residential address, passport details, contact phone number).

If the owner of the car is a legal entity, then indicate accordingly:

• Name;
• company registration address;
• TIN;
• telephone.

After examining the vehicle, a mark is placed on the application regarding compliance/non-compliance with the requirements of the proposed re-equipment, as well as the date of the decision on the possibility of installing xenon and the signature of the person in charge.

The reverse side of the document is completed after installation of the equipment and passing technical control.

The procedure for legalizing xenon

The next step in obtaining permission to use gas-discharge headlights is the direct purchase and installation of the equipment.

When purchasing sets of lighting devices, it is important to obtain certificates for all products, which will then be required for compliance assessment.

Equipment installation can be done:

• in a specialized service. Professionals can complete the work of re-equipping a car within 1 – 3 days;
• on one's own. When installing headlights yourself, it is important to follow the established procedure and connect not only new lighting devices, but also additional equipment necessary to obtain permission to use xenon.

After installation, it is required to obtain a declaration on the volume and quality of work performed.

The document must reflect the following information:

• name and details of the organization that was involved in making changes to the design of vehicles;
• number of the organization’s license and certificate confirming the possibility of carrying out work on the conversion of vehicles;
• details of the vehicle on which xenon headlights were installed instead of halogen ones (make, model, state number, VIN number, body, chassis, engine numbers);
• description of the changes made, indicating the model of installed headlights and other equipment;
• characteristics of the car after making changes corresponding to the previous section (dimensions, power, weight, body type, clutch, suspension, and so on). The xenon installation is reflected in the “other” line;
• an indication of the vehicle's compliance with the required certification and the number of this document;
• an indication of the conformity of the changes with the expert opinion with the number of the corresponding document;
• date and signature of the document originator. Seal of the organization.

If the xenon installation was carried out independently, then the declaration on the volume and quality of services is filled out on its own in accordance with the developed rules.

The final stages in the xenon legalization operation are:

• passing a technical inspection to obtain a conclusion on full compliance of the installed lighting equipment with the requirements;
• receiving a certificate of registration with a note on the changes made.

How much it costs to repair xenon ignition units in Yekaterinburg is shown in the article: repair of xenon ignition units. Read about purple xenon here.

About the advantages

Among the positive characteristics the following can be noted.

1. These types of lights are functional and durable. One thing to remember: installing xenon in lensed headlights by non-professionals is considered an illegal procedure. After installation, they must be properly adjusted, trusting only experienced auto repair shops.
2. It is also successfully used by servicemen during tuning work. The lights look stylish and provide an “angel eyes” effect.
3. In order to improve factory lighting. Installation services are provided by specialized companies that have a certificate for such manipulations. Professionals will carry out the work competently, and the results will last for a long time.

Often, car enthusiasts wondering whether it is possible to install xenon in lensed headlights use this to update the style of their “swallow”. The use of lenses provides special light focusing, thanks to which the beam is directed to certain sections of the road. “Angel eyes” are not only decorative elements of vehicles, they are a whole “palette” of high-quality technical characteristics.

What difficulties may arise

Some difficulties may arise in the described process:

• obtaining certificates for all equipment that must be installed to legalize xenon headlights on a vehicle. Many, especially small retail outlets, do not provide the relevant documents, since they do not work with manufacturers of spare parts or their legal representatives, but with intermediaries. The same situation arises when purchasing equipment online, for example, when ordering LED lamps, ignition units, and so on from China;

The absence of certificates of conformity for additional equipment will make it impossible to legalize it legally.

• filling out the declaration yourself. If the installation of new lighting equipment was carried out on your own, but the document does not need to indicate the details of the organization and license details. Entering incorrect data into a document may serve as a denial of legal conversion.

What to especially pay attention to

When going through the procedure for legalizing xenon headlights, you need to pay special attention to the following aspects:

• all data in the documents must correspond to the actually installed equipment and not have any discrepancies even in the smallest details. That is, if the application states that headlights of a certain model will be supplied, then the same model must be in all other documents, and so on;
• After installing the headlights, you need to configure the car's light alarm. The luminescence of the low and high beams must comply with all standards established by laws and regulations. Incorrect adjustment of the headlights may result in failure to pass the technical inspection and, accordingly, failure to obtain a certificate of conformity.

What and how much do you need to pay for?

All stages that must be completed to legalize xenon are paid for by the customer.

For what services and how much will you have to pay:

Fine for illegal installation of xenon in 2018

There is no specific ban on the use of this type of headlights.

However, for non-compliance with the law and neglect of technical regulations for the installation of xenon, you can incur the following penalties:

• The traffic police fine for xenon is 500 rubles.
• Forced liquidation of devices that were installed independently and illegally.
• Imposition of a ban on driving a vehicle - deprivation of a driver's license for a period of six months.

Situations in which a traffic police officer can draw up a report on violation of the law:

• the operating mode of the headlights does not meet the standards set by the manufacturer;
• headlights are not adjusted;
• red lamps are installed in the headlights;
• equipment is used that does not meet the standards for authorization to operate the vehicle.

A certain preventive measure is established by the court.

Important! Statistics show that the court often sides with traffic police officers and makes the most severe decision.

Usually the case ends with the violator being deprived of his driver's license and the illegally installed devices being confiscated.

Passing a technical inspection

The final stages of legalization of xenon lighting equipment:

• passing a technical inspection;
• obtaining a certificate;
• making changes to the vehicle registration certificate.

You can undergo a technical inspection in accordance with the current law:

• at the state technical inspection station;
• at any technical inspection point.

To undergo maintenance, you will need to provide all previously received documents, including notarized copies of certificates of conformity of the equipment installed on the vehicle and a receipt for payment of the state duty.

During the inspection the following will be checked:

• compliance of all license plates, including chassis numbers, body numbers, etc.;
• technical serviceability of the car (steering, braking system, etc.);
• compliance of the installed headlights with the submitted documentation;
• correct installation and configuration of lighting equipment.

As a result of successful completion of the technical inspection, a diagnostic card will be issued with a description of the vehicle and confirmation of the serviceability of the installed equipment.

Based on the diagnostic card, the traffic police issues a certificate of compliance of the changes made with regulatory requirements.

The document states:

• all the distinctive characteristics of the car;
• information about the car owner;
• list of changes made.

Is xenon banned in Russia and Ukraine?

If you decide to install xenon headlights, then first of all you need to figure out whether it is possible to install such optics on a car or not, as is this point stated in the traffic rules? To understand what the fine for xenon is provided for when installing xenon bulbs, you must first of all be guided by the laws of your country. Thus, in Russia, according to the law, a traffic police officer does not have the right to make claims against the driver if the headlights are certified for the use of gas-discharge light bulbs. In addition, punishment for the use of such lamps in Russia is not provided for in the Code of Administrative Offenses.

However, the Code of Administrative Offenses provides for the responsibility of the motorist for the use of xenon in optics, which must use incandescent elements. By law, the operation of xenon lighting sources must only be carried out in vehicles with appropriately certified optics. To put it in simpler and more understandable language, in the Russian Federation they can only fine you for this if the optics were originally intended for this purpose. If such lamps were installed at the factory, then their use is permitted; if not, then by law you will have a serious conversation with a traffic police officer.

Light from conventional and xenon bulbs

Are they deprived of rights for xenon in Ukraine? In accordance with traffic rules and the law, there is no ban on the use of xenon lamps (XL), however, deprivation of rights for xenon is a quite common practice.

In this case, for abnormal xenon, according to the law, a representative of the traffic police can draw up a protocol under Article 12 of Part 3, according to which the driver will be deprived of his license for a period of 6 months to one year if:

• red light bulbs have been installed or red reflective devices have been installed;
• optics have been installed, the operating mode of which does not comply with the rules for authorization to operate the machine.

For xenon, you will be deprived of your license if the car is used with defective optics, in particular:

• if the mode of operation, as well as the type of lights, does not correspond to the design features of the car, but if the specific car is no longer being produced, then the use of other lights is allowed;
• if, according to GOST, the lighting adjustment was made incorrectly;
• Xenon is prohibited if the diffusers and bulbs do not match the type of flashlight.

In general, no one can prohibit driving with such optics, since xenon is allowed. But the driver who installed xenon lamps must keep in mind that liability is provided for installation violations and non-compliance.

Xenon in the left headlight, halogen on the right

What documents are issued as a result?

After receiving a certificate of compliance with the changes made, the car can be used without fear of administrative liability.

The main rule is that the original of this document must always be with the driver when operating the vehicle.

Since driving additional documents and providing them to traffic police officers is not provided for by the current rules, based on the certificate, you can make changes to the registration documents of the car.

To do this you need:

• provide a document (certificate of compliance of changes with design requirements) to the regional traffic police department;
• pay the state fee for making changes to registration documents.

After the waiting time specified by law (no more than 40 minutes - 1 hour), the owner will be able to receive a certificate of registration with changes.

In the document, namely in the “special notes” column, it will be written that the car has been converted to install standard headlights of a certain type.

Many car owners ask the question: is it necessary to legalize lensed optics without xenon. Yes. Installation of any additional equipment on a vehicle must be carried out in accordance with the laws.

The only nuance during the procedure is that there is no need to provide a certificate of conformity for this equipment, since it is not subject to licensing.

The fine for xenon without headlight washers is described in the article: fine for xenon. For information on installing xenon in lensed headlights, see the page.

Find out how the color of xenon changes depending on temperature from this information.

What are the fines for xenon

If you decide to install xenon lamps, or you already have them installed, it will be useful to know what the fines are for xenon. The traffic rules in Russia provide for only two points that relate to xenon lamps.

One of them prohibits the operation of a car if inappropriate lamps and light diffusers are installed on it. The second paragraph states that driving a vehicle that does not meet operating requirements entails punishment, namely deprivation of rights for up to 1 year with confiscation of devices .

You may notice that the word “xenon” or “discharge lamps” does not appear here at all. But they fall under the category of devices whose operating intensity and color do not meet the requirements.

Remember that traffic police officers can only check for xenon lamps in your headlights using special tools and only at a stationary post.

Xenon in fog lights is also a violation of the laws of the Russian Federation and Ukraine. All PTFs and headlights have identifiers that indicate the type of lamps used:

1. H - halogen lamps;
2. D - xenon lamps.

If the headlights themselves are specifically designed for xenon lamps and the light does not interfere with other drivers, then the transport inspector has no right to fine you for xenon. Also, the driver cannot be fined if the car has factory xenon lamps. But it is worth considering that the standard xenon must be correctly configured and meet the design requirements.

In Ukraine, punishment for xenon headlights does not imply deprivation of rights. In 2013, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a new law increasing fines. Article 122 of the Code of Administrative Offenses prohibits the use of lighting devices that do not comply with the standards and design of the vehicle. Recently, the fine for homemade xenon in Ukraine ranges from 510 to 595 UAH.

The fines (penalties) for bi-xenon are similar, since it also falls into the category of “non-conforming lamps and diffusers”. And this is a violation of traffic rules and accordingly entails punishment.

Report on the introduction of fines for the use of xenon lamps. In this video, experts and car enthusiasts talk about xenon, its advantages and disadvantages:

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