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EP3 Polish or replace? EP3 headlights

7DT

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16
So, started to look at sprucing up the car, and the headlights are pasdt their best. Both are yellowed, and one has condensation.

Worth polishing up?

Can the condensation be fixed?

Or just better off buying a new set?

Also, the UK EP3 facelift headlights aren't xenons, or are they?
 
Only the JDM came with Xenon/HID, it's a nice setup but I've been having issues tracking them down.

Fixing condensation is either a seal issue where the bulbs sit, or there's a crack or the seal between the clear plastic and the rest of the shell has a break somewhere.

You can polish them for about twenty quid and it might last a year or so, if you keep applying the treatment it'll likely last longer (or if you can get someone in a paint shop to apply a UV clearcoat it could last longer still :) )

Replacements cost about 150 each. If your level adjustment motors still work it might be worth just polishing them.
 
I did my lads with a 6” polishing mop in a drill and the finest cutting compound I could find.

Trev
 
I'm led to believe you are not allowed to put HID kits in the ep3, is that right? My lights are crap, it's like I've got two candles on the front of the car.
 
I'm led to believe you are not allowed to put HID kits in the ep3, is that right? My lights are crap, it's like I've got two candles on the front of the car.

Pre-facelift wouldn't work because the reflectors are designed very specifically for the exact position of a glowing filament (beam pattern would be off). The projectors on the facelift should be fine though.
 
Is it illegal though? Read that HID are only allowed on cars from the factory - please tell me I'm wrong :D
 
As with anything legal, it's complicated:

https://greyhead.co.uk/other-things/are-aftermarket-hid-lights-legal-uk

Shortest answer is "was this assembly designed for HIDs?". The EP3 projector assembly was, the prefacelift may not have been.

The draft - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...lasses-3-4-5-and-7-from-20-may-2018-draft.pdf - bears the text:
Some vehicles may be fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps. It is not permitted to
convert existing halogen headlamp units for use with HID bulbs. If it is clear that such a conversion has
been carried out, rather than replacing the entire unit with one designed and approved for use with HID
bulbs, the headlamp should be rejected.

The current legislation post-draft - https://www.mot-testing.service.gov...s-and-electrical-equipment.html#section_4.1.4 - has:
Existing halogen headlamp units shouldn’t be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.

It's debatable whether any of the assemblies are "an existing halogen headlamp unit" since the JDM models with the same came with HID (ballast/exciter mounted under the assembly, cap over the rear of the unit), see:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JDM-HONDA-CIVIC-TYPE-R-EP3-HID-XENON-Headlight-GENUINE-OEM-/252783512432
or
... I can't find an example right now of the facelift.
 
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I’ve polished my headlamps, far better than before but you won’t get that same finish that you’d see with a brand new unit.
As for HID/Xenon conversions, it was a grey area with MOT’s when they first brought in some rules over it a few years back. But now the rules are if it’s not factory fit then it should be failed.
However... if you’re clever enough and do a good job fitting your own kit, how is the tester to know if it’s a conversion kit or factory fit?
 
However... if you’re clever enough and do a good job fitting your own kit, how is the tester to know if it’s a conversion kit or factory fit?

From the markings on the headlamp itself - an E-marked HID unit will contain D in its function markings instead of H.
 
Is it illegal though? Read that HID are only allowed on cars from the factory - please tell me I'm wrong :D

I've got them in mine (6000k 55W) and once warm they look crystal white, passed MOT no problem.
 
OK, seems a lot of hassle to get them polished, and to fix the sealant, think I'd be better off without the effort and just buy some new ones.

Follow up question:

Best place to get a new set of headlights?
 
They're double easy polish if you get a specific kit, just makes a bit of a mess. Get a bottle of plastic sealant and you're laughing!
 
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