Is it Legal to Retrofit Xenon?

Many customers ask if it is legal to retrofit Xenon and LED. The rules are actually quite simple – but the solutions can be complex.

Requirement 1 – The Headlight Must Be Approved for Xenon – E-marked (D-marked)

For Xenon to be legal on a car, the headlight must simply be approved for Xenon – and this is where many misunderstand the error – a headlight can never be legal for Xenon installation without the D-mark – and it will only be there if the headlight was originally made for Xenon.

What about LED – The same applies here – the headlight must be approved for LED as the light source in the headlight.

E-mark on headlight without D-mark for Xenon

E-mark with D-mark for Xenon approval

Requirement 2 – Automatic Leveling of the Headlight

For Xenon to be legal, the headlights must have automatic leveling – and this is not to be confused with “electric adjustment via headlight adjustment motor” – it means that there must be a sensor on the front and rear axle that can “measure” how much the car tilts – below is an example of a leveling kit for retrofitting.

Xenon Leveling Kit

Exception – Some new Xenon types are in 25-Watt versions and they are under 2000 lumens light output – and therefore headlight washers are not required – Note that it is the Xenon socket type that determines this, D8S and D5S are 25-Watt.

Requirement 3 – Headlight Washers – Are They Necessary? Yes – and No, Today There is an Exception

The rules are actually such that if the headlight emits more than 2000 lumens – then ECE approval requires that the car is equipped with headlight washers –

Why must it be there? There are many myths about it being due to ice on the headlight, etc. – the truth is that because the light is so strong, dirt on the headlight will distort the light and can dazzle oncoming traffic – therefore, the headlight must be equipped with headlight washers when the light output is so strong.

Headlight Washer System Spray

Exception – Some new Xenon types are in 25-Watt versions and they are under 2000 lumens light output – and therefore headlight washers are not required – Note that it is the Xenon socket type that determines this, D8S and D5S are 25-Watt

D8S 25W Xenon Bulb

Can I Legally Retrofit Xenon on My Car?

Yes! You usually can, there are 1 of 2 conditions that must be met, either the car must be made with original Xenon from the factory, or there must be aftermarket headlights made with legal Xenon.

Golf 5 Xenon Headlights

Example of Legal Xenon Installation for VW Golf 6 – here you can buy a complete headlight set from Osram where you also get LED daytime running lights and dynamic LED indicators.

Myths About Legal Xenon!

It is legal when I have a DE lens – NO! The headlight MUST be type-approved for Xenon, and it is EITHER Xenon OR Halogen – you cannot buy a halogen headlight and then legally install Xenon in the headlight! – Very simple and straightforward.

I can just install a 25W Xenon bulb – then it is legal – yes and no, the problem is 25W Xenon bulbs are only available in socket types “born” as 25W – you cannot buy a headlight for D2S and then install a 25W bulb – so it cannot be used for anything as you would not have the problem from the start.

The Xenon kit is E-marked, so it must be legal? – NO! A bulb must always be E-marked – but the other requirements must still be met!

The headlights are electrically adjustable – so it must be legal? – NO! Electronic headlight adjustment has nothing to do with the legality of Xenon – there must be AUTOMATIC LEVELING – and it is not the same! Read the post again from the beginning!