cougar newbie from exeter

This place is the only worthwhile repair manual for the Cougar although a Haynes for the Mk2 Mondeo will cover most of it.
The headlamps are adjusted using an Allen key in the hex holes to the rear and bottom of the lamp unit.
Many people fit HIDs without issue but beware come MOT time.
 
thank you quicksilver for the info, is it easy to fit the hid kit and could you explain the poss problem with mot many thanks steve
 
I don't have HIDs myself but the fitting of them is well documented across the forum.
Technically they should fail the new MOT regs. but it appears from other member's comments that it is down to the individual testers take on said regs.
 
thank you for the heads up so it would be alright to fit xenon bulbs to give a better light source as the halogens ive got are so orange and dim even allowing for miss alignment. any ideas. many thanks steve
 
From the regs: “A car with HID lights MAY also have headlight washers and self levelling which must be checked and in working order if fitted.”

It doesn't say "MUST" and therefore if they're not fitted, cannot be tested and are not a requirement, any more than a spare wheel or reversing lights are.

Also, from the AA:

"HID headlights can cause dazzle if they are dirty or aimed too high, so they are generally (if light output exceeds 2000 lumens) fitted in conjunction with headlamp cleaning and levelling systems. Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted the tester will switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted. The car will fail if a headlamp levelling or cleaning device is inoperative or otherwise obviously defective."

You still hear stories of people being failed for having them though, but I'm not sure if that's because the car was presented dirty, the lights were badly aligned, the tester was over-zealous, or they misinterpreted the regs.
 
Re headlight adjustment, it's worth checking that the bulbs have been put in correctly as most of the lights that dazzle, is due to people just shoving the bulb in without lining it up correctly, which effects the way the beam is sent out of h/lamp
 
hi to all thanks for the info, it also appears that there is a baffle plate in front of my nearside dip beam that blots out half of the light could any tell if there is a reason for this or can i just remove it to see if i get a better spread when i get round to re aligning my lights. kind regards steve
 
that 'plate' is there to adjust the beam when driving on the left, remove that and you'll probably be dazzling everyone coming towards you
 
thanks for that i will leave that alone could you tell me the best way to set my headlight aim as i not tried before or should i just take it to a garage so they can do it? regards steve
 
i shall give this a try me think, as at moment my lights lite up peoples bedrooms as i drive by. big thanks to shaggy part arrived today and fittedperfect now i can use the heater and radio without having to chase them into the dash, nice one cheers. regards steve
 
The specs are public you know. If you have a wall/garage door you can park your car in front of, you can use the online MOT guide to make chalk marks on it for where your lights should be.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...data/file/203591/M1_IVA_inspection_manual.pdf

I must also apologise to Andy (Quicksilver) for contradicting him with the information I provided above regarding HID lights. Although they make mention of it, the AA's information is potentially wrong if the HIDs are brighter than 2000 lumens, (which most are) unless "the vehicle meets the requirements of 6.2.6.1.2 of ECE Regulation 48.03 in all loading conditions." Which it might...or might not.

This, it seems, is the problem.
 
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