Headlights For Continental Driving (again...)

[Guest gritrash]

Hi all, i have been looking round your site as a guest for a while now, and have decided to take the plunge...

 

I have seen a number of threads on converting headlights to drive on the continent including the conventional stick-on converters. Excuse my ignorance but did the headlight design change when the model was facelifted? I have a current model galaxy LX, and the manual states: "The headlight beam direction can be changed to suit driving on the left or right hand side of the road. Please consult your dealer."

 

Does this mean that current model galaxys can be converted without the need to use stick-on converters (I have seen such a system on a BMW with Xenon lights - simple rotation of a switch on the reverse of the headlight unit and the beam was redirected, took about 30 seconds as we were waiting to disembark from a ferry), if so - how do you do it? Is it just Xenon equiped galaxys that can convert in this way? Does "Please consult your dealer" really mean "your dealer will be pleased to sell you a set of stick-on converters"

 

Any information anyone?

[Guest nimrod]

Galaxy's with HID's can be swapped by flicking a lever on the back of the headlight but the standard lights are converted with the usual method of sticking masking strips on the outer lense

I would imagine its as you say, see the dealer for the stick on converters

[italiastar]

My dealer copied a page from what I believe the TIS which gives the cutout and size of the converters - These are no longer black wedges. I cut them out of wide black tape and stuck them on with the aid of the template. The cost from my dealer for the copied page - nothing - a first eh. I'm not sure if the Alhambra / Sharan lights are the same as I could e-mail a copy. Otherwise someone with the Galaxy TIS may have a copy.

 

I ahave actually read in a motoring magazine that converters are no longer required for holidays etc - only if you plan to live in the country - I still think it's better to use them.

 

Gerald

[Richmond]

I'm sure that converters are needed even if you are visiting during daylight hours only. What did change several years ago was that it stopped being compulsory to make your beams yellow in France if you were there on hols (the French have now realised that yellow beams are ridiculous and no longer use them).

 

Ford customer services faxed me a template for the masks. I made them out of metallic tape - 2 per headlamp, all different shapes, pain in the arse. There must be an easier way B) . They worked OK so far as I could tell.

[suzuki91]

i bought some headlight beam stick on deflectors on the ferry.

they were

[Ivor_E_Tower]

There are several stories on various forums that the French police will stop and fine you for not having deflectors or tape fitted - even if it is broad daylight and you have no intention of driving at night.

Not sure about certain adhesives on the polycarbonate lenses of facelifted Galaxys, you have to be careful not to use solvents to clean them, but quite what you use to remove sticky patches I don't know, any suggestions?

[italiastar]

I was afraid of sticking anything to the poly lenses, so invested in a set of covers - as luck would have it, the tape came off without residue, but I bet if it was the actual headlamp .........

 

You could even leave the tape attached to the covers and clip them on when you go abroad.

 

With regard to standard wedge type deflectors, these get no where near the correct design.

 

On this subject, how may European cars have you seen in this country with deflectors or tape - or even a country sticker for that matter?

 

Gerald

[Guest FlyingDutchMan]

On the continental drive problem with Xenon lights, i contacted the Ford Helpdesk (@