Legality of headlight covers?

martinijosh · 22-01-2010, 01:05 PM

Is it legal to use opaque or semi transparent headlight covers during the day? I know some classic cars have headlight covers that hide the lights completely.

It may end up looking ********, but I've mocked it up in photoshop and I like how it looks (tinted black covers, semi transparent so you can still see parkers if they're on etc.)

geckoGT · 22-01-2010, 01:08 PM

Depends on your state I suppose. I know there have been quite a few driving around in QLD with no probs but that does not mean they are legal. I would suggest that if you are caught with them on in low conditions requiring headlights, you are gone. Would be a case of pull over and remove them moment the street lights come on, personally I do not see the point.

martinijosh · 22-01-2010, 01:16 PM

Obviously you'd need to keep a section on the edge clear for the side indicators. But you get the idea.

geckoGT · 22-01-2010, 01:20 PM

I know what you mean, as pictured would be highly illegal at any time as the indicators or obscured.

martinijosh · 22-01-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

I know what you mean, as pictured would be highly illegal at any time as the indicators or obscured.

NSW - from the official transport website PDF

Quote:

Some vehicle owners have even gone to the extent of fitting opaque plastic or metal covers to their headlights.
There is no objection to these covers if they are easily removable without the use of tools and are not used with the
headlights on. Permanently fixed covers are not permitted. Covers with slots or holes in them are not permitted
either, because they drastically reduce lighting efficiency.

QLD - from the official transport website PDF

Quote:

From the QLD transport website

Tinted headlight covers are acceptable but must be removed when high or low beam
headlights are operated.

aussie muscle · 22-01-2010, 01:35 PM

i'd say your headlights would need to meet a minimum lux on high and low beam and covers would affect that. i supposed if you upped the power until it meets that minimum they wouldn't ask you to remove them??
The guys that build Mad Max Interceptors come up against this issue, as the car is supposed to have darkened covers.

martinijosh · 22-01-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

i'd say your headlights would need to meet a minimum lux on high and low beam and covers would affect that. i supposed if you upped the power until it meets that minimum they wouldn't ask you to remove them??
The guys that build Mad Max Interceptors come up against this issue, as the car is supposed to have darkened covers.

As my post above quotes, it's legal during the day to have tinted headlight covers, I guess they figure you won't need headlights at daytime.

I'll make sure they come off easily/without tools if I end up doing it and obviously not drive with them on if it's really overcast or late in the afternoon.

geckoGT · 22-01-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinijosh JWM I6

NSW - from the official transport website PDF

QLD - from the official transport website PDF

As I said. The caveat to this is both these regs only refer to headlights, I am sure you will find regs that state indicators are not to be tinted. Therefore the covers pictured would be illegal, need to leave the area over the indicators clear.

Quote:

i'd say your headlights would need to meet a minimum lux on high and low beam and covers would affect that. i supposed if you upped the power until it meets that minimum they wouldn't ask you to remove them??
The guys that build Mad Max Interceptors come up against this issue, as the car is supposed to have darkened covers.

There is no provision in the regs for use of tinted covers with upgraded bulbs, therefore still illegal.

nstg8a · 22-01-2010, 03:58 PM

thats interesting, i always thought they were illegal, iv have some i use on my xf for club events, but thats it.

Kryton · 22-01-2010, 04:14 PM

Just have to look back to the old P5 LTD days with the flip around lights.
same deal more or less - no headlights visible at all when they arent turned.

kenz · 22-01-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC807

looks like one of those "i have no real money for real mods, so i'll just spraypaint something or put altezza taillights in" kind of deal

if done right some mods dont need to cost a million bucks to look it

:

UNR8D · 22-01-2010, 04:34 PM

what if you own 'said' altezza... then they are factory fitted ;)

in qld, you can have them on so long as they are removed at dusk, *fairly sure OP has posted this legislation* had them on my EB ages ago, never had an issue but got sick of taking them off all the time so they just stayed off.

what about the mod of darkening the lens its self aka BF2 fairmont ghia style, a little more work but think the result would be worth it

martinijosh · 22-01-2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNR8D

what if you own 'said' altezza... then they are factory fitted ;)

in qld, you can have them on so long as they are removed at dusk, *fairly sure OP has posted this legislation* had them on my EB ages ago, never had an issue but got sick of taking them off all the time so they just stayed off.

what about the mod of darkening the lens its self aka BF2 fairmont ghia style, a little more work but think the result would be worth it

Pretty sure I read it isn't legal to put any kind of tinting on the physical headlights.

UNR8D · 22-01-2010, 06:18 PM

'lens' as in not the headlight polycarbonate plastic its self, im referring to talking apart your headlight and tinting the 'chrome' part, such as seen in the BF Fairmont ghia's, they are still a clear plastic but with darkened lens. ditto for my old T3 TS50 they have a darkened bezel.

geckoGT · 22-01-2010, 06:28 PM

If you are talking of modifying the reflector of the headlight by tinting, that would be illegal as it alters the light characteristics of the headlight. The surround (black plastic in XT/XR/FPV, chrome in Fairmont etc) is fine as it does not alter the light characteristic or performance of the headlight.

Kryton · 22-01-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

If you are talking of modifying the reflector of the headlight by tinting, that would be illegal as it alters the light characteristics of the headlight. The surround (black plastic in XT/XR/FPV, chrome in Fairmont etc) is fine as it does not alter the light characteristic or performance of the headlight.

What i think UNR8D meant was that the BF 2 Ghia has factory darkened headlight lenses (from memory, i think they do).
If it can be done from factory, i think the point he was trying to make was that why cant you do it yourself - alright for the factory - not alright for you.

geckoGT · 22-01-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

What i think UNR8D meant was that the BF 2 Ghia has factory darkened headlight lenses (from memory, i think they do).
If it can be done from factory, i think the point he was trying to make was that why cant you do it yourself - alright for the factory - not alright for you.

Because they prove that the unit meets all relevant standards for design, safety and performance, you don't.

Simple fact is if it reduces the performance of the headlight, it is illegal.

nstg8a · 22-01-2010, 06:41 PM

with the blackening of headlights, its been done a few times on xfalcon, pull them apart, and basically spray everything black except the reflectors, makes quite a difference.

BA Baracus · 22-01-2010, 06:57 PM

Few years back I left work near the Valley approaching peak hour and the birds were singing, sun was shining bright, ..got to the start of Coronation Drive coming off the Riverside expressway and faced a wall of horizontal hail. Was chaos, people were going everywhere or giving up and stopping dead in the middle of the road. Would of been stuffed without functioning headlights.

Also tunnels are the latest craze in road infrastructure and you'd think it would be illegal for obvious reasons there. Maybe the law is designed to allow for cars with closing or revolving headlights but in those you generally don't need to stop, hop out and stuff around.

nstg8a · 22-01-2010, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA Baracus

Also tunnels are the latest craze in road infrastructure and you'd think it would be illegal for obvious reasons there. Maybe the law is designed to allow for cars with closing or revolving headlights but in those you generally don't need to stop, hop out and stuff around.

in case of a tunnel il flick on my driving lights and imagine im just another hsv driver...

UNR8D · 22-01-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

If you are talking of modifying the reflector of the headlight by tinting, that would be illegal as it alters the light characteristics of the headlight. The surround (black plastic in XT/XR/FPV, chrome in Fairmont etc) is fine as it does not alter the light characteristic or performance of the headlight.

everything bar the reflector, essentially the bezel surrounds

kenz · 23-01-2010, 10:44 AM

you could have a look at www.crystalite.com.au
It is on its way to becoming legal headlight tint. Already legal in WA and should be everywhere else hopefully soon. Theres a silver commo in the gallery on there which Im guessing is the darkest you can get on the lights

ossie cossie · 24-01-2010, 09:56 AM

Im in WA and am going to get the headlights tinted on the F6, with the crystalite effect in the near future. Been quoted $250 for the headlights and will do the fog lights for free.

kenz · 24-01-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ossie cossie

Im in WA and am going to get the headlights tinted on the F6, with the crystalite effect in the near future. Been quoted $250 for the headlights and will do the fog lights for free.

be sure to post up some photos, pretty keen to see how it turns out