Head Lamp Convertors / Beam Deflectors

[thebadleys]

Hi All,

Assuming that the French will let us into the country what is the consensus for headlight convertors/deflectors for the Stag, black tape or bought ones ?

Nigel

[Jeff]

Doesn't matter, it won't change anything, do a search, it has been discussed on here. Only main beam dazzles and that does it in this country too.

Just returned from 4 weeks in Spain with no deflectors, tape etc and no problems, never even got flashed once and my lights are on all the time, (Volvo).

[marshman]

It's the dipped beam that needs cutting off/deflecting. I always just use some black insulating tape placed in the right place on the lens of any car I take abroad. Cheap, quick and simple, also cleans off more easily than the expensive commercial ones.

Roger

[Jeff]

As I said, it makes no difference.

[Jeff]

My daylight running lights are my dipped headlights and as I say make no difference abroad, ONLY main beam blinds oncoming traffic, same as here.

2 breathalyser tests are to be carried in the car by law in France - well technically they are but you will not get fined if you do not have them.
2 triangles, first aid kit, spare bulbs, fire extinguisher - no they are not.
Speed camera alerters - yes
Hi vis jackets - absolutely yes and even if not law should be carried and worn in case of breakdown, shame we don't adopt that one here.

All a ploy by the AA and ferry companies to make you buy these items. Oh and Halfords.

[thebadleys]

Daylight running lights are different to main beam - UK main beams are of course directed to the left, which does dazzle continental drivers.

Off to Germany in our Audi next week so yes I have fitted a set of deflectors to the lens - so expensive at £2.99 plus free p+p then of course you will need a warning triangle ( standard in Audi ) - first aid kit (standard in Audi ) - spare bulbs - reflective jackets - Alcohol test kit - GB Sticker - all required if crossing Europe ( mostly France ).

So yes just fit a set of deflectors not black tape.

See internet advice to avoid an on the spot fine

Neil

Got the kit you listed, Euro plates might have to go !!!!, as I have travelled frequently to Europe, but curious as to opinions on to deflect or not, with tape or bought deflectors. A friend of mine who has a house in France knows of visitors who have been fined when visiting.

My own experience of visiting Le Mans in my MGB was that the police were stoping a number of vehicles, I had insulating tape on my lights and was waved thru' a check with no problem.

Nigel

[KOY 23]

You must shield the "kick up" on left side of beam.

It does not matter how, by either tape or deflectors, properly applied they do the same thing.

A roll of tape costs a lot less than deflectors and has other uses.

Shame our police are not so strict with foreign vehicles with no deflectors.

[marshman]

Doesn't matter, it won't change anything, do a search, it has been discussed on here. Only main beam dazzles and that does it in this country too.

Just returned from 4 weeks in Spain with no deflectors, tape etc and no problems, never even got flashed once and my lights are on all the time, (Volvo).

Jeff that is not correct, yes main beam dazzles whether you drive on the left or on the right, that is why you have a dipped beam. In the UK, and other countries that drive on the left, the dipped beam normally "kicks up" to the left to illuminate the edge of the road. It is this part of the beam that beam deflectors block as it can dazzle oncomming drivers, at night, when driving on the right. That is why you have different headlamps on left and right hand cars. (Older cars any way, some newer cars have universal headlamps that do not suffer this problem, but original Stag lights certainly do). Personally I use black insulating tape, others prefer a proper kit, their choice.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_180.htm

I agree on first aid kit and breathalysers but it is compulsary to have spare bulbs and a warning triangle. Just because you have never been stopped doesn't mean its not required.

Roger

[Jeff]

Thanks Roger, I'm no expert on all this but when you turn right with a car opposite, why does our dipped beam not blind them? I have never noticed glare from a properly adjusted headlight coming from the other direction turning in front of me, perhaps I've never noticed.

I purchased some expensive beam diverters then learnedyou can use duct tape which I did, now I use nothing, saw many police looking at my car and nothing said. So as you say, perhaps old ones do more than newer cars.

Copied from EU road legal: Note triangle essential safety equipment, not legal. Spare bulb set, recommended safety equipment, not legal. Only AA say legal as they want to sell the items as far as I can see.
FRANCE – drives on the right
Please read the general notes in conjunction with those below.
Essential Safety Equipment

• Warning triangle
• Headlamp converters
• At least one unused NF approved breathalyser
• GB sticker (see note 1)

Recommended Safety Equipment (by France and /or EUroadlegal.co.uk)

• First-aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Spare bulb kit (see note 2)
• Reflective vest
• Torch

Note 2: Regardless of local requirements it is always a wise precaution to carry a spare set of vehicle bulbs and adjust headlamp beams for driving on the right. A spare bulb kit will not prevent a fine if you are travelling with faulty lights, but it may avoid the cost and inconvenience of a garage call out. On some cars it is inadvisable or impossible for anyone other than a qualified technician to change a headlamp bulb or lamp unit e.g. high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and carrying spare bulbs is not an option. However, it is recommended that spare bulbs are carried for any lights which may be easily and/or safely replaced by the owner/driver. Do not forget to ensure that you also carry any tools that might be required to change the various bulbs.

Jeff

[DJT]

Jeff,
This is the dipped headlamp beam pattern for RHD cars (taken from mot.co.uk):

lights_diagram1.gif

The 'kicked up' section is there to illuminate roadsigns, etc. and is created by the triangular section of the headlamp glass. If not obscured by black tape it will dazzle oncoming traffic when driving on the right. The reverse is true for LHD cars.

When my family travelled Europe in the '60's and '70's we had to fit amber plastic covers to the headlamps to convert the dipped beam in order to stay legal.

[Jeff]

Cheers Dave,

I remember amber lights on all foreign cars at one time, not now though, why?

So for the sake of a bit of tape, keeps the frogs off.

Jeff.

[Jeff]

Headlamps - driving in europe

[StagJonno]

Mine came fitted with Cibes (fitted mid 90's I think). They can be set for either RHD or LHD by removing the bulb and swinging over a selector. This positions the bulb so that it has a "kick-up" on the appropriate side. This functionality is indicated by arrows <- -> on the front lens. Downside, on the Stag, you need a cross-head screwdriver to remove the grill sections etc (which can be a pain to refit at the dockside).

Why can't these universal light units be fitted to all cars?

Jonno

PS - what is the European attitude to tw*ts using fog lights in clear weather?

[DJT]

PS - what is the European attitude to tw*ts using fog lights in clear weather?

Dunno, but I know what mine is; full beam (x4 in the Stag) in their rear view mirror..... I know, 2 wrongs, etc. but

[Ian P]

Jeff that is not correct, yes main beam dazzles whether you drive on the left or on the right, that is why you have a dipped beam. In the UK, and other countries that drive on the left, the dipped beam normally "kicks up" to the left to illuminate the edge of the road. It is this part of the beam that beam deflectors block as it can dazzle oncomming drivers, at night, when driving on the right. That is why you have different headlamps on left and right hand cars. (Older cars any way, some newer cars have universal headlamps that do not suffer this problem, but original Stag lights certainly do). Personally I use black insulating tape, others prefer a proper kit, their choice.

+1

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_180.htm

I agree on first aid kit and breathalysers but it is compulsary to have spare bulbs and a warning triangle. Just because you have never been stopped doesn't mean its not required.

Roger

+1