Lights for the SVA

[paul barber]

Does anyone know if the tester actually looks for the E mark on the lense covers or just does a visual brightness check. I have heard various views on this

Thanks

[soundslegal]

I can only assume that the answer is 'it depends'. I'm hoping someone knows the answer though as I just bought all the lights this weekend, and none have e marks on, despite them all being Lucas units (as is typical on cobras, given the small amount of space in which we are expected to put them!).

Anyone know?

Simon

[coomers]

I recently passed in bristol,the tester did not look for E marks,just as well as mine are not marked,i think it will depend on how strict the tester is!

[h8jse]

I think the 'E' marking only needs to be on the headlight units and not on the stop/tail, indicators or no. plate lamp/lamps - can someone confirm this?

[TonyD]

According to the experts who supply lights, reflectors etc and who I had a chat with on Monday on this very subject overall you have a 25% chance of failing the SVA if you use non emarked items. Some inspectors are more lenient than others. So you pay's your money and take your choice.

Personally speaking rather than pay for a retest I'd sooner pass the first time and borrow or buy emarked items.

Cheers,

Tony

[kitcarman]

Hi Tony,
What you’ve said there isn’t right mate.

For starters; the conventional 2” round Lucas stop/tail lamp isn’t available with an e-mark. Neither can it ever be because it isn’t big enough to qualify for one.

The rules state that you have to satisfy the examiner that your lights are equivalent to those with e-marks.

Another point: I had a Sumo fail at Southampton BECAUSE its lights were e-marked. Ponder that!

Den.

[soundslegal]

Does anyone have any experience of putting LED lamps into the standard Lucas units and attempting to get it through the SVA?

[TonyD]

Originally Posted by kitcarman

Hi Tony,
What you’ve said there isn’t right mate.

For starters; the conventional 2” round Lucas stop/tail lamp isn’t available with an e-mark. Neither can it ever be because it isn’t big enough to qualify for one.

The rules state that you have to satisfy the examiner that your lights are equivalent to those with e-marks.

Another point: I had a Sumo fail at Southampton BECAUSE its lights were e-marked. Ponder that!

Den.

So then Den your advice is that we shouldn't fit e marked lights cos if we do they would fail the SVA ?

I think you have misunderstood my post.....I said that personally I would not fit non emarked lights as there is always the risk that the examiner might not accept them.

I dont think that I in any way mentioned the small 2" Lucas rear light. I don't fit them cos they are not emarked.

What I said is that when I asked the foremost purveyors of electrical lighting components for Cobras for advice, as I shelled out the £800 plus required for a set this weekend, he gave me the advice I put forward in my post. If you want to risk using non emarked lights theres a 25% chance you'll come a cropper at SVA time.

As this gentleman makes his living from selling said components to the hordes of Kit Car builders of all brands and design, and he comes highly recommended by kit manufacturers themselves I tend to give his opinion some credence.

Imho the small lights although authentic do seem too small to me and I actually prefer having the e marked larger units as there's a bigger lit area to catch the eye of the muppet just about to write off your boot area.

The SVA manual states that "the brightness of lamps bearing an approval mark as given in Annex 1 (ie approval mark E,e or BS"R" )defines the acceptable standard." (ie it will pass) "lamps not bearing such a mark should emit a light of similar brightness"

How is the SVA examiner to judge this, does he have a light meter? Its all a bit subjective and as you found out at Southhampton theres no accounting for just how subjective some SVA decisions can be.

So in what way have I misled the gentle reader and in what way am I wrong?

Cheers,

Tony

[TINKA]

I fitted non E marked lights to the rear of my car and had no problems at all. I think it says in the SVA manual that as long as they are the correct colour and of a suitable intensity that is all you need to do to have them accepted.

[dave]

And the winner is...........
Den and Tinka.
Who actually gave fully true answeres.
I couldn't be bothered to read the ranting.(Tony)
If the examiner feels the lights meet the requires levels of brightness etc. then they are fine.....End of.

BTW. Hi Den good to see you are still around even if you weren't at Stoneleigh....Or were you?