Hello! We are in the process of finalizing our English version of the website. There may still be some small errors and poor texts, but we are working on it! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Hello! We are in the process of finalizing our English version of the website. There may still be some small errors and poor texts, but we are working on it! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
The Danish Road Traffic Authority has just published their update of the Vehicle Inspection Guide, effective from January 1, 2024 (Source: Standard letter, form (fstyr.dk))
What we find exciting is what you can read in section “6a” and we have just cut and pasted it here:
“SECTION 6
6a. Installation of LED light sources without E-approval in an E-approved vehicle
According to current regulations for lighting, it is not permitted to use a different lamp (light source) than the one the lamp is designed for or E-approved with.
New possibility for approval of LED light source in lighting
LED light sources may – regardless of the light source not being E-approved – be installed in an E-approved
vehicle, if the installation is approved by an authority in an EU country, e.g., KBA in Germany.
The installation may only be carried out on the vehicle types (make, model, possibly variant and possibly year),
for which the LED light source is approved by the authority. LED light sources that are
so powerful that they require the installation of headlight washers cannot be approved.
The documentation for the authority's approval can consist of one of the following:
• The authority's approval of the LED light source and its installation.
• A list from the manufacturer of the LED light source, listing the vehicle types (make,
model, variant and possibly year) the LED light source is approved for by an EU authority.
The owner is not obliged to immediately go to an inspection company and have the change
of the light source entered in the Vehicle Register (DMR) as a structural change.
When a vehicle that has had an LED light source retrofitted in lights designed for halogen light sources,
comes to an inspection for the first time after the replacement, the owner must present the above documentation (one of the two options), and the replacement is entered in the Vehicle Register (DMR) as a
Page 6 Notice no. 2040
Structural change. It is described in the DMR which LED light source is involved, and what documentation for approval has been available, and the documentation is uploaded to
the Road Traffic Authority's Document Portal.
If the owner has not yet registered the change in the DMR, the owner is recommended to
bring the above documentation in the vehicle, which can then be presented to the police, at roadside inspections
and at the next inspection at an inspection company”
Until now, the legislation has been very strict – if a light is designed for use with a halogen bulb or incandescent bulb, then that is how the light must be used – and you were not allowed to change the “bulb type” – which makes sense, but for some time now Osram has obtained type approvals (meaning that the specific bulb has been tested on the individual car model's light/bulb) for many car models where in other countries it has been possible to retrofit LED bulbs for, among other things, low beam.
So, as of January 1, 2024, it is also legal in Denmark!
The Osram Night Breaker LED product range is quite broad and now covers many cars, you can find the products here:
Astina.dk – Osram Night Breaker LED
In addition, Philips has also made an Ultinon Pro6000 which is also type approved – you can find them here:
Astina.dk – Philips Ultinon Pro6000
Under the products, there are links to lists where you can look up which models are covered and legal to retrofit LED bulbs so far.
Besides being legal – a previous problem for those who have retrofitted LED has been that it can be difficult to hit the right glare point and thus get proper light and most importantly – avoid dazzling other road users. With these kits, the product is tested and approved, ensuring that it is easy to install and works as it should.
We are in the process of updating the website so you can easily just select your car model and buy the “complete kit” needed to retrofit the LED bulbs. Here you can see an example from Osram where for a VW Passat 3C B7 new covers and a CANBUS box are needed, which easily clicks between the car's headlight plug and play – here you get everything you need to switch it around – and now even LEGALLY!
VW Passat 3C B7 Osram LED Low Beam Set H7 10-15, Astina.dk
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