westfield Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Hi guys......my brother has just imported a Z, and we thought we had done everything required to get it through its ESVA test today..........I have imported various cars in the past for myself so i was confident it was going to pass first time..........I was wrong !!!!! It failed because the headlights are gas discharge efforts and Japan being a sensible country, they dont have to have washers and be self levelling.....the UK requires this functionality.......ridiculous ! so it failed......gutted ! So my question to you knowledgable lot is this: What are my options? : - Can UK 350z's come with normal bulbed headlights instead well as the fancy pants HID units? (HID will not do as I have no washers or self levelling gubbins) or if not do I have to search for a set of non HID JDM Headlamps? Is there any way of butchering the HID units to incorporate a normal bulb? I blame the Germans for all this un-necessary technology! I would be most gretful for any help/advice...... Thanks in advance Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 afaik usually importers swap the HID ones for normal ones on JDMs, exactly for that reason, then swap them back. Sounds like your importer hasn't done it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickya Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Thats what mine did; swapped them back after SVA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 does this affect your MOT at all afterwards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lomoto Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 does this affect your MOT at all afterwards? no HID are OK for MOT without washers, most people who import just swop the HID for Halogens at SVA then swop them straight back..Bloody ridiculous UK laws again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 sorry to be blonde despite being brunette - can you explain what all of the above means in english - I'm not over familiar with the headlight assembly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lomoto Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 sorry to be blonde despite being brunette - can you explain what all of the above means in english - I'm not over familiar with the headlight assembly. Sorry nixy.. basical the original bulbs on a Jap Import (HID ) wont pass the SVA test (you need this to first register an import ) this is because under UK laws HID equiped cars also need headlamp washers (God knows why ) All most importers do is swop the HID bulbs for standard Halogen items to pass the SVA, then when this is all done just put the orioginal HID bulbs back in.. These subsequently will pass any further MOT test's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I got the bit about the SVA its the HID bit I'm not clear on - what's the difference in bulbs and why do they need washers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lomoto Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I got the bit about the SVA its the HID bit I'm not clear on - what's the difference in bulbs and why do they need washers. God knows , just some Euro law that says HID equiped cars need headlamp washers fitted as well...They seem to be OK for everywhere else without them..in fact most people on here are working out how to stop them working on their UK cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westfield Posted February 21, 2007 Author Share Posted February 21, 2007 Cheers Guys......so i take it that they are a straight swap...... My brother didnt use an importer, he used me instead......! As long as i know i can swap them for some Non HID with not much fuss then I'm a happy bunny..... next issue is sourcing some that dont come from Mr Nissan Uk, as he is probably going to want to remove my pants and spank my behind !!!!! Any suggestions chaps ????!?!?!? Many thanks Ben (I like this forum, everyone is nice) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 My brother didnt use an importer, he used me instead......! That'll teach him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350Znismo Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Take it to a SVA center that handles 350Z's like the one i used in bristol who do all the changes before the official test and also change it back, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuey Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 so wots the differance between HID and zenon discharge bulbs...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westfield Posted February 23, 2007 Author Share Posted February 23, 2007 There is no difference they just have many names..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westfield Posted February 23, 2007 Author Share Posted February 23, 2007 Most importers whip out the HID bulbs and wire up a pair of halogen bulbs by bypassing the HID ballast unit.....the only issue I have with this, is how to fit them to the headlamp units, it doesn't seem possible. Then of course they cannot be adjusted so have to be set my an MOT garage before going for the SVA retest, hoping that they do not move around on the drive there ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flakmunky Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 My import dealer said they have a UK spec bumper with the washer jets in that they put on for the SVA then remove afterwards... So this particular dude didn't bother trying to swap out the bulbs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westfield Posted March 15, 2007 Author Share Posted March 15, 2007 Cheers guys.... It passed with a pair of Halogen bulbs bodged in anyway. Just had to bypass the Xenon Ballast unit and wire the halogens up to 12v...tricky to get them aligned though.... The xenons are now back in the lamps without the need for washer jets etc....and I've been told there is no reason they wont pass the MOT (when due) as the MOT test is nowhere near as anal as the ESVA. Happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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