wanted: LHD motorised headlights for 04 XT 2.0

1578 Views 7 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Ianb1234, Oct 24, 2019

zuluwarier

Discussion Starter · Aug 20, 2019

I've moved to Poland and trying to find replacement LHD headlights for my RHD XT to get through the Polish MOT. You can get cheap lights in the States but shipping is crazy ($130 shipping for a $70 headlight), but it's hard to find lights for sale in Europe except crazy expensive ones. This is an old car... anybody know where I can get cheap lights - secondhand in good condition would be fine.

I'm also thinking of importing it... Has anybody done this? How much hassle is it?

Thanks, Steve

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mando

· #2 · Oct 22, 2019

zuluwarier said:
I've moved to Poland and trying to find replacement LHD headlights for my RHD XT to get through the Polish MOT. You can get cheap lights in the States but shipping is crazy ($130 shipping for a $70 headlight) (...)

Has anyone confirmed with you you'll be able to pass the MOT with USDM headlights?
Most USDM cars have different illuminating pattern than UK and European cars and that's a fail in the test.

This is an old car... anybody know where I can get cheap lights - secondhand in good condition would be fine.

Local online auction and check twice what are you buying. Sometimes people are trying to sneak in UK spec under the radar.

I'm also thinking of importing it... Has anybody done this? How much hassle is it?

Importing the car or the headlights?

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zuluwarier

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 22, 2019

mando said:
Has anyone confirmed with you you'll be able to pass the MOT with USDM headlights?
Most USDM cars have different illuminating pattern than UK and European cars and that's a fail in the test.

So it seems. I bit the bullet and bought new genuine lights. 2200 zloty... and I'm not unhappy because, looking at the old faded ones and the new pristine ones side by side I reckon there'll be about 300% more light...

Importing the car or the headlights?

the car. I've almost completed the paperwork now. A current UK MOT is supposed to be acceptable, but in practice they don't want to know. I just fitted the lights so now it's just a matter of getting the technical inspection. The car's in good nick so I shouldn't have any trouble. Someone said that the mirrors might have to be changed - did you have to do that? Another 700 zloty if so...

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mando

· #4 · Oct 23, 2019 (Edited)

zuluwarier said:
the car. I've almost completed the paperwork now. A current UK MOT is supposed to be acceptable, but in practice they don't want to know.

They won't accept the UK MOT because the car needs to be modified hence it needs to run through a technical inspection.

Someone said that the mirrors might have to be changed - did you have to do that? Another 700 zloty if so...

In some cars yes but not in the Forester SG.
You only need to change the front headlights and the rear fog (move it from right to left) and you are good to go.
First of all though you'll need to visit the local HMRC and pay excise tax and actually prove the car is yours, so translated V5 is a must. I'm assuming you've done all that? If not - let me know

Also I sent you a PM, check it out

2200PLN for two headlights is woooooosh

I bought a pair of LHD for 550 from two different sellers a while ago. They were very faded but I gave them to a company which polished and later put some varnish (?) on them so they don't fade again and look worse than before. Because that's what usually happens when you just polish them.

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zuluwarier

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 23, 2019

mando said:
They won't accept the UK MOT because the car needs to be modified hence it needs to run through a technical inspection.

According to the rules, it doesn't have to be modified

From the board outside the council offices...
"uznawane jest badanie techniczne pojazdow zarejestrowanych sprowadzonych z panstwa czlonkowskiego ini europejeskiej konfeder szwarajcarskiej lub panstwa czonkowskiego europejskiego w ktorego dowodzie rejestracynym lub innym dokumencie wydanym przez wlasciwe organy tych panstw zawarta jest informacja o wykonanym badaniu technicznym i jego termomie waznosci.

a technical examination of registered vehicles imported from a Member State and an European Swiss Confederation or a European Member State is recognized whose registration certificate or other document issued by the competent authorities of these States contains information about the technical examination carried out and its term of validity."

Not that it matters. I'm not going back to the UK so I'd have to modify the car when the MOT ran out anyway.

mando said:
In some cars yes but not in the Forester SG.
You only need to change the front headlights and the rear fog (move it from right to left) and you are good to go.

Good to know, thanks. I've got the translations and paid the tax (zero in my case) and have all the forms.

mando said:
Also I sent you a PM, check it out

Sorry, my old-tech setup doesn't show any PM option (or any option to change or add personal details)

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Ianb1234

· #6 · Oct 24, 2019

Adding you're on a phone, click the circle at the top right of your screen that I suspect had a Z in it, then there should be a little drop down box. One of the sub sections should be "conversations".

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zuluwarier

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 24, 2019

Ah, thanks. Not a phone but it works the same way. I didn't know that 'conversations' were messages either, so thanks again

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Ianb1234

· #8 · Oct 24, 2019

That was supposed to be "guessing" but looks like you got the idea anyway haha.

I don't think you can edit your profile on a phone either, so maybe the same thing on your device as well. (Either this thread or another you mentioned it was blank when you followed the instructions.. I got told the same a little while ago and had the same outcome!! but it worked on my laptop)

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