Headlamps - driving in europe

[lord65]

What is the correct thing to do about headlamp deflectors when driving in France.
Are we supposed to have one on each lamp, anyone got any experience?

[mole42]

I've never bothered to do anything, just made sure I don't use full beam.
I used to have a set of LHD headlamps for my Peugeot 405, which I never used. If I was planning a long Continental trip with the Stag, I'd probably buy a pair of LHD dip/mains, that's cheap enough and three screws per side it isn't going to take long to change them over. And probably cheaper than the LHD headlamp stickers you can buy at Halfords or the AA.

[Steve JP]

You only need to deflect the dip beam, use insulating tape or duct tape cut to the right pattern. That's all I've ever done on the Stag when on continental touring. If you don't have anything there those pesky French rozzers will fine you.

The tape will stop the Dip beam straying onto the wrong side of the road. High beam doesn't matter as you always dip when there is oncoming traffic.

[Guest]

You only need to deflect the dip beam, use insulating tape or duct tape cut to the right pattern. That's all I've ever done on the Stag when on continental touring. If you don't have anything there those pesky French rozzers will fine you.

The tape will stop the Dip beam straying onto the wrong side of the road. High beam doesn't matter as you always dip when there is oncoming traffic.

What he just said

[stagmuffin]

What he just said

what he said too same as that

[Ian F]

What they both said, and that's only if you can be bothered! Have you ever seen any foreign cars in this country with beam deflectors, 'cos I haven't.

Ian

[jleyton]

Mr Triumph, or probably Mr Lucas or Mr Heller etc, kindly put a little triangle on the headlamp glass to show where the tape should go

I really splashed out and used insulation tape on mine, in the years when I have bothered (Looks like I couldn't even be bothered to cut off the zip clips )

As others have said, it is only the dip beam (both sides) that should be done. Dipped headlamps point down and to the left - illuminating the kerb over here. However when driving on the right they are down and ....into the eyes of oncoming traffic. However, as they are down, it doesn't really present a problem.

There was a little piece about fitting beam deflectors in the Club mag a year or two ago

Cheers

Julian

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[stuart]

I have lived in France for very many years and have never bothered to adapt the lights on various classic cars including my Stag. I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for this. The French police have better things to do than persecute motorists.