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expatRob



Member Since: 24 Feb 2015
Location: Frankfurt
Posts: 58

Germany 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Tonga Green
Advice on German Headlight Laws
I am looking for a good source on what is allowed in Germany as far as Headlight replacement, indicator lights and any additional light bars I may want to add. For example I want to know if Halogen / LED's are allowed and what the parameters are. Thanks.
Post #513902 13th Mar 2016 5:59pm
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Eau02467



Member Since: 20 May 2015
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 48

Scotland 
Surely what is good for the goose is good for the gander....

In the uk we must conform to EU rules with ce markoing etc and therefore surely whatever the rules are in the uk, must translate across to Europe also? I appreciate that is not a definitive answer but I think it would be hard if not impossible to prosecute you for something that is legal in the UK I.e you can't add LED's to a halogen unit but if you add a sealed CE marked LED unit then it is fine
Post #513984 13th Mar 2016 8:38pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8580

United Kingdom 
Local knowledge is best knowledge Thumbs Up

Jan at Nakatanenga specialises in lighting so he will be able to advise about any pecularities regarding German laws. The Germans tend to be be stricter then other countries.

Under harmonisation regulations i.e, UN ECE reg 112 governs most vehicle lighting. So road legal lights have to be E marked. No putting LED clusters as replacement of filament bulbs etc.



Brendan
Post #514008 13th Mar 2016 9:18pm
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expatRob



Member Since: 24 Feb 2015
Location: Frankfurt
Posts: 58

Germany 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Tonga Green
Leeds
So you are saying that I can NOT replace my OE indicator lights etc with LED ones?

I will also check with Jan at Nakatanenga

Thanks
Post #514168 14th Mar 2016 12:26pm
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Wild Card 90



Member Since: 03 Dec 2014
Location: Gerlingen
Posts: 1060

England 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Indus Silver
As far as I know, Brendan is quite right. As in the UK, you still cannot (legally) use LED bulbs in reflector lamps designed for conventional bulbs.

Replacing the complete unit with E marked LED units is fine.

The reason being that an LED light source cannot use the full reflector surface and therefore garantee to fulfill the original homologation. 1998 Tdi 90 SW,
2008 Td4 90 SW,
2012 2.2 90 SW,
2" raised Trailmaster/Terrafirma
Heavy Track Raids, 255 MTīs,
Recaro CSīs, anorak, wellingtons
Post #514182 14th Mar 2016 1:17pm
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expatRob



Member Since: 24 Feb 2015
Location: Frankfurt
Posts: 58

Germany 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Tonga Green
Wildcard
Thanks, I see don't replace the bulbs replace the whole unit with a LED E marked component.
Post #514190 14th Mar 2016 1:31pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8580

United Kingdom 
Replacing the whole unit with a proper type approved/E marked unit is perfectly legal.


If you have say a type approved/E marked light unit which runs a standard filament bulb then the manufacturer has gone through the official process at some expense to get official type approval. If you replace like for like when a bulb goes then the type approval is still valid. Put something completely different in then the type approval is invalid as the original manufacturer has not got approval for that combination.


Basically why should any manufacturer approve an unseen unauthorised untested modification to their equipment?


Brendan
Post #514200 14th Mar 2016 1:49pm
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Wild Card 90



Member Since: 03 Dec 2014
Location: Gerlingen
Posts: 1060

England 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Indus Silver
Thats right. There are plenty (for a Defender) to choose from.
LED headlight, signal lights and number plate light.

In Germany roof (on roof rack or light bar) lights are "tolerated".
However, the number of light sources are defined.
You can only have 2 (one per side) side lights.
Legally, you are only allowed to have 2 dipped beam lights (the headlamps, obviously) four main beam (the 2 headlamps + 2 roof lamps Embarassed ) and 2 fog lamps.

Nakatanenga is an excellent source, and will advise you well. 1998 Tdi 90 SW,
2008 Td4 90 SW,
2012 2.2 90 SW,
2" raised Trailmaster/Terrafirma
Heavy Track Raids, 255 MTīs,
Recaro CSīs, anorak, wellingtons
Post #514202 14th Mar 2016 2:01pm
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Supacat



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green
leeds wrote:
Under harmonisation regulations i.e, UN ECE reg 112 governs most vehicle lighting.


Regulation 112 covers one just one small area specifically related to headlights - "Uniform provisions concerning the approval of motor vehicle headlamps emitting an asymmetrical passing-beam or a driving-beam or both and equipped with filament lamps and/or light-emitting diode (LED) modules"

Regulation 48 is seen as the core regulation for lighting - "UNIFORM PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE APPROVAL OF VEHICLES WITH REGARD TO THE INSTALLATION OF LIGHTING AND LIGHT-SIGNALLING DEVICES"

Hella do a good guide:

https://www.hella.com/hella-com/assets/med...LLA_EN.pdf
Post #516455 21st Mar 2016 4:18pm
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