Headlight Adjustment

[Guest rbreach]

Taken delivery of Galaxy on Y plate, (replacing my earlier W plate) , due to go to France on Friday, bought headlamp deflectors from Halfords as for previous trips, but the lamps have changed.

 

User Manaul says consult delaers,

 

Can I adjust myself or use deflectors, there are no 'baseline' indicators on the lens

 

Help because I don't have much time !

 

Thanks

 

RB

[Guest sgould]

Do you really need the deflectors?

 

Obviously I don't know how much driving you will be doing in the dark, but unless you are going overnight, probably not much. It's summer still and it is light till quite late.

 

I would turn the leveller to its lowest position and leave it at that. A lot of new style lamps need small bits of black tape stuck on in all sorts of patterns; the deflectors don't always work any more.

 

Let's face it, how many European cars have you seen in Uk with deflectors? I reckon I've seen more deflectors on British cars, where they've forgotten to take them off on returning home.

[Guest Boggler]

Just a word of warning, the French Police are quite happy to nick you for not having deflectors even during the day. They probably won't stop you on the road but will get you when you either stop at Motorway services (Airs) or the Tollbooths.

[Keithb]

I believe it was the CSMA Magazine that stated that unless your trip is greater than 90 days, you don't need beam deflectors.

I took their advice and just turned the leveler down low. I had no problems with French Flashers!

As to the French police nicking you at the motorway tolls, this sounds like an urban legend much like the idea that they time you on the toll ticket and nick you if you're speeding. How do they know if you have adjustable lights or need deflectors?

[Guest Boggler]

I also frequent another forum "www.daytripper.net" (then click on the shoppers link). This contains a lot of information on Driving in Europe (esp France). If you think the Toll booth one is an urban legend I suggest you put it to the test one day, as for the Beam Deflectors they are required at all times, if you think about it you could need to flash your headlights to indicate your presence even during the day.

 

I go to France regularly, though I don't always use Beam deflectors I carry some which I will put on if the light degrades and I have to use my headlights.

 

I would suggest, if you are a member of one of the motoring services, you seek advice from them. I am not legally qualifed, especially in French Traffic Law, I am just tendering hopefully good advice, its up to you whether you wish to make use of it.

[Guest SA Intruder]

If you are required to use your lights, such as during rain, and you haven't got deflectors on, carry a wad of Euros.

 

In France, it is law to use headlights in heavy rain. The Gendarmarie regularly spot check vehicles in towns and villages.

 

For the sake of a few quid and 2 minutes, fit deflectors.

[Guest JIMSTDI]

better to pay out

[Guest SA Intruder]

Indeed...

 

one tip, as soon as you land back in UK, get them off...the glue is kin awful.

[Nick]

The web site - www.daytripper.net - does not work?

[Guest sgould]

Beam deflectors only work on dipped beam bit of the lens. So flashing lights will still mostly go straight ahead as main beam does anyway, except the bit that goes through the deflector. So half your main beam goes into the hedge.

 

In rain in daylight the dazzle effect is much less.

 

And I did say turn the levelling switch to its lowest position.

 

The black tape method seriously reduces total light output on many cars.

[handy andy]

2002 model Galaxy

 

I went for the Ford headlight protectors which have indications on them where to stick the black tape ( a set of which is provided). There can then be no problems with glue stuck to the headlights themselves. Cost was

[Guest Boggler]

Sorry all, www.day-tripper.net (forgot the hyphen, the story of my life). I've been contemplating getting some of the headlight protectors because I understand its easy to switch deflection on/off, however since my local Ford has moved miles away I haven't doen so yet.

[jccd]

In the Ford TIS CD there is a section with the templates that you print out & photocopy to the correct scale for the headlights. All the instructions are on the cd.

I've just used them with black masking tape - it did the biz!

[Richmond]

My 2002 V6 has a white plastic geared wheel on the outside of each black plastic headlamp cover in the engine compartment, on the inboard side of the cover, that is, adjacent the dipped headlight. The geared wheel appears to be turned (via a worm I guess) by a hex drive introduced into a white hex section tube extending vertically down from a hole in the slam plate of the bonnet (or maybe in the top of the headlamp cover - I don't have the car in front of me at the moment).

 

Are these gizmos anything to do with headlight adjustment for Euro driving? If so, how are they operated? If not, what are they? :unsure:

[Sher]

Over last 13 years travelling to France 5 Time/year 600 miles each way to the South + travelling around = 7200/ Annum min = 99,000 miles min I think.

The police have checked my car twice when I was the only English person around in Spring and Autumn (an odd time to be around at the time, but less now).

They only want to be sure I had vehicle docs, insurance , licence etc and the last time was 8 years ago.

Last 2 cars have adjustable levels so this gets over dipping problem and I would be quite prepared to argue this one with any French Traffic policeman if my Docs are OK.

Only if I am going to be doing a lot of night driving do I apply tape :-

Shiny sticky Aluminium Foil tape about 2" wide (the heat makes the reinforced tape come off after 4/5 weeks leaving a difficult to remove residue) I use scissors to cut it roughly to size with the headlights on main beam facing a wall.

I lay it on the headlamp covers in strips, slightly overlapping, leaving one edge raised before applying next strip, removing the obviously left facing beam.

The raised edge is useful in peeling back if it goes too far.

If the first strip is folded over slightly with sticky sides together you can peal it off with ease later. Any residues of adhesive can be removed with a paper towel dipped in a small amount of white spirit followed by meths to clean afterwards.

No problems yet.

[Guest mstraxs]

Hi All

 

I actually live here in France in the Alps and believe me there is no urban myth about the French police. In 16 years of driving my first ever speeding fine came a few months ago at the tollbooths and yes I was timed and caught. They really do it and it wasn't pretty. Even trying to pretend I couldn't speak French didn't work(I drive a right hand drive Tdi)! I must confess to speeding everywhere on the motorway and its a miracle I haven't been stopped before now but I do stick to the limits pretty much off the motorway. I am no boy racer by any stretch.

 

It is also law to use the lights in the rain as well as reduce your speed. I actually had to buy a set of left hand drive headlights as we are based here all the time so just as an aside if any wants a set of right hand drive headlighta I have them.

 

Mark

[Keithb]

Hi All,

 

Just to tidy up a couple of comments I made a while back in this thread. Firstly thanks to mstraxs for confirming that the toll booth/timing/speeding fine does exist. I'd never heard of anyone being caught before - but now I know.

 

Secondly the latest issue of the csma mag carries an apology for stating that beam deflectors are not required on the continent. They are most definately! apparently they took this info from a Peugeot letter and didn't check the correctness before publishing.

 

I add my apologies for passing the info on. This proves again the value of this forum in getting the views from such a wide range of people.

 

KeithB