Exporting Octavia to Spain, headlights?

Dai John

I have a 2001 Octavia I was thinking of exporting it to Spain for a runaround as I have an apartment there. I have found a company to do all the paperwork but I have to do a couple of changes to comply. One is the rear high intensity fog light, that's not a problem as I can fit a couple of independent lights. The other is the headlights (the beam has to be thrown to the other side). What I need to know is; can they be adjusted or must they be replaced ?

Sabre Man

Will beam benders do perhaps?

Bigus

Replaced

pippip

You might be able to swing them. I have an Audi A4 2002 and when I had to get a headlight replaced a year ago there was a switch within the headlight that needed to be turned to either left or right hand driving. This may have been a newer feature on the more modern headlight.

Only mentioning as both are VAG cars from similar years.

colm_mcm

Far as I know, the projectors on an 01 Octavia are for the fog lights, not the headlights.

darragh o meara

Some of the VAG cars had a switch on the bottom of the headlamp that would allow you to swing it over for the continent.

Other than that, if the car is gonna be left over there your better off trying to pick up a set of second hand lamps from a scrap yard over there and fit them. I find beam benders to be ok but long term replacement headlamps is yer only man. Couldnt see second hand headlamps being too expensive for one of them. A motor factors here might be able to order them for you if you ask nicely :-)

Dai John

Thanks, I am told that BMW has a small deviice you change over, but got no answer yet about Octavia. The guy who does the importing cannot give definite price but estimates 300 euro to change reflector bowls. Car is good, had since new and to sell it here would be a low price and 2nd hand cars in Spain are expensive, and rental prices were silly for a while.

L-M

Just source a set of second hand LHD lamps. Its a very easy job.

Dai John

darragh o meara wrote: »

Some of the VAG cars had a switch on the bottom of the headlamp that would allow you to swing it over for the continent.

Other than that, if the car is gonna be left over there your better off trying to pick up a set of second hand lamps from a scrap yard over there and fit them. I find beam benders to be ok but long term replacement headlamps is yer only man. Couldnt see second hand headlamps being too expensive for one of them. A motor factors here might be able to order them for you if you ask nicely :-)

Beam benders no good for their NCT. Trouble with spurious is sometimes the beam not as good as genuine parts, found that out years ago with VW Vento. Scrap yard could be a good idea.

biko

Limerick man wrote: »

Just source a set of second hand LHD lamps. Its a very easy job.

Aye, maybe once is Spain source some lights from a breakers there?

enumbers

search ebay.de should be able to pick up a set of lights cheap

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Skoda-Oktavia-Octavia-1U-Scheinwerfer-Frontscheinwerfer-Blinker-komplett-4-Teile-/201017569880?pt=DE_Autoteile&hash=item2ecd94b258

Dai John

Well spotted, thanks very much Biko.

keithclancy

enumbers wrote: »

search ebay.de should be able to pick up a set of lights cheap

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Skoda-Oktavia-Octavia-1U-Scheinwerfer-Frontscheinwerfer-Blinker-komplett-4-Teile-/201017569880?pt=DE_Autoteile&hash=item2ecd94b258

Just to note a lot of Germans will only post to Germany or do local pickup.

And don't be surprised if they want bank transfer, some Germans think any online sort of payment is a scam (paypal etc)

robertxxx

Id sell the car here and buy a left hand car over there, something small. 1ltr 1.2ltr

colm_mcm

I think the ones on eBay there are the pre facelift model.

enumbers

sorry was only a quick link to show the idea. generally have had no issue with postage from german sellers. most do want bank transfers but not really an issue once they have good feedback.

Dai John

robertxxx wrote: »

Id sell the car here and buy a left hand car over there, something small. 1ltr 1.2ltr

Like I said, second hand cars are quite expensive in Spain compared to here, and my car is good and it is a spare. Strange thing is new cars are cheaper in Spain than Ireland. Car tax is low in Spain(about 80 euros) and the insurance is good about 280 euros a year for any driver 12 months green card and full breakdown service. You can park near Alicante airport for 260 euros a year. Only thing now is I have been given a low cost web site for car hire in Spain, it is called "www.doyouspain.es." I fly for short visits but drive when I stay for over 3 weeks and car hire has been expensive in the past.