Reindeer Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 On 22/07/2024 at 16:53, Miker7 said: How does that pass an MOT? The beam pattern they show is abysmal. If you have the light upside down it might pass. And herein lies the problem..... It seems to be you either take a gamble with the eBay specials or shell out £600 plus for the JAL/ Caterham ones..... Shame there's no middle ground. (The Cafe Racer ones are the eBay ones with their stickers on the boxes) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ainsley Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 These JAL ones are £348 for the pair. https://justaddlightness.co.uk/product/caterham-7-led-halo-headlight/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Moderators’ note: content removed at original poster’s request. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ainsley Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Ah, bugger. So Ive paid £236.44 over the top then. Perhaps I can get them to pop over and fit them for me 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miker7 Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 depending on your beam pattern, you might not have paid over the odds but got a specially sourced pair that actually have the correct pattern........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ainsley Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Ah, yes. That the spin I need to feel better, thanks 🙂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted July 24 Member Share Posted July 24 11 hours ago, Reindeer said: It seems to be you either take a gamble with the eBay specials or shell out £600 plus for the JAL/ Caterham ones..... Shame there's no middle ground. There's a vast amount of information and experience in the archives, but it's scattered across... several... threads. It would be great if someone could knock it into shape in a Technical Guide... Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 My research is now taking me to WIPAC being a possible option.....apparently popular in the defender/jeep world and properly tested beam patterns....approx £400 a pair.... Has anyone already got them maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Just now, Jonathan Kay said: There's a vast amount of information and experience in the archives, but it's scattered across... several... threads. It would be great if someone could knock it into shape in a Technical Guide... Jonathan Completely agree. I spent maybe 7 hours the other day reading through the various threads....I even went into the world of Morgan to see what their owners have been doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ainsley Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 I too got lost in multiple threads, lost patients and just paid for the JAL ones - perhaps the easy of buying can compensate for the £236 overpayment I've made 🙂 I also figured that if there were any issues I could at least contact them as they were in the UK and own a Caterham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 No that's fair enough. I very nearly did the same. Have to be fair to the Chinese ebay sellers, they've been decent, see messages below... "Hi friend, I'm sorry for that. I have attached two pictures for your reference. Did you connect them correctly? Could you please tell me what the difference between our lights and UK legal specifications? My apologies for all troubles. Best Regards." And then.... "Hi friend, OK. I have attached a return label to you. You can return the other set by using the return label. After received your return package, we will refund to you. Thanks. Best Regards." It appears that although their lights are SAE marked etc they themselves have no idea of UK beam pattern rules! I'll keep this thread updated as I go on...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 (edited) (I bought two sets from them as they were only £28 a pair! Fitted one and then kept a spare, now returning the spare set) It does seem that some of these cheaper Chinese ones are infact passing MoTs......I'm just wondering if it's down to generous testers or if some of them actually do have decent beam patterns. When's your next MoT due?...that'll be the test! Edited July 24 by Reindeer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ainsley Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 I've had several motorbikes pass MOT's and there was no way the lights ever would or ever did point in the right direction. My 911 has a switch that flips the beam from UK to Euro pattern, which in typical German precision is great. But I forgot to flip it back to UK two years ago and its passed its MOT every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlastererPete Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 2 hours ago, Reindeer said: My research is now taking me to WIPAC being a possible option.....apparently popular in the defender/jeep world and properly tested beam patterns....approx £400 a pair.... Has anyone already got them maybe? Do they do 5.25” versions or just the 7” for defenders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miker7 Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 (edited) you're making the assumption the legislation markings are actually legit. There is nothing stopping them it seems just putting on a DOT or E mark without following the rules. I discovered a few years ago that the CE mark on a lot of imported goods didn't mean it was safe for use in Europe but was actually a "China Export" mark - using the same font etc. edited to add, after a google today the difference between CE marks is the China Export mark has a slightly narrower spacing between the C & E compared to the European CE mark. Edited July 24 by Miker7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 1 hour ago, PlastererPete said: Do they do 5.25” versions or just the 7” for defenders? Only seen 7 inch so far..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted 23 hours ago Share Posted 23 hours ago Cafe racer video https://youtu.be/8pH_TwGbJtc?feature=shared Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted 16 hours ago Share Posted 16 hours ago Interesting..... the packaging of their own ones in that video is identical to the £30 set I bought from ebay...... I was hoping they'd compare the two below.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reindeer Posted 16 hours ago Share Posted 16 hours ago (edited) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387032005989?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=j7sjk-tzqw6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=mpEaYPnNSPq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=EMAIL (I know Cafe Racer are a business and everyone needs to make a profit! You pays your money and takes your choices!) For anyone interested, the Chinese ebay seller sent me a return label and gave me a full refund......I'm still on the hunt! Edited 15 hours ago by Reindeer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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