Converting headlights for continental driving

Stern

Hello,

I will be making a short trip to mainland (starting tonight). I thought I'd be able to switch my headlights using the onboard computer, but apparently (newly bought used car) the display is the crappy one so I would have to use a garage with the rights tools to adjust them. Good luck to me for that, seeing as it's Easter Monday.

Now I will have to revert to black stickers.

However, while googling on how to properly (and where) to apply the stickers, I came across several (unofficial) sources which said following:

1. It's not actually illegal to drive without converted headlights
2. If you are abroad for less than 30 days you shouldn't bother.

Considering my trip will be for 7 days, and I will be driving almost solely during daylight, I'm thinking maybe I don't have to bother. Can anyone clarify for me?

Thanks!

rugbyman

WITHOUT A DOUBT, DONT BOTHER
REGARDS, typing from Antwerp

Lutecia

I drive to mainland twice a year, I've never done it and never seen anyone in the ferry (nor before nor after) putting on these stickers on.

CiniO

I'd say theres very little cars which allow to swap between lhd and rhd lights. What car have you got?

Anyway - legality of driving with rhd lights on the continent depends on a country you are travelling in.
There surely are countries ther require lights to be modified or beam benders fitted, and there and ones that don't.
You would pretty much need to check with law in the county you are going to be driving in.

From my experience Ive done about 50k kilometres on the continent with rhd car, never had lights modified, went through several police checks, and no one ever said a thing.

However I always make sure I have lights adjusted correctly, and when going to the continent I would put them a bit lower then average setting to make sure I wont be dazzling oncoming drivers

cormie

I got templates from ebay for my transits where you can just cut around some black adhesive paper with the outline, then use the template to line them up to the lamp. Takes two minutes to do after they load you onto the ferry and then you don't have to worry about it again. Gives the fuzz one less thing to pull you up on if they have any reason at all. I can just make my own now in future rather than spending €10 a pop on the beam benders.

mb1725

BMW f30 handbook says that there is no need to adjust beam on xenon headlamps for continent. "Xenon headlight. Light distribution of the headlights automatically avoids dazzling of the low-beam headlights when driving in a country in which the traffic drives on the opposite side"

whomitconcerns

Is on the standard menu on the a6 to switch the side for the lights.

Sam the Sham

CiniO wrote: »

I'd say theres very little cars which allow to swap between lhd and rhd lights. What car have you got?

My 2010 Volvo V50 has a little switch in the headlamp housing that allows you to do this.

Stern

CiniO wrote: »

I'd say theres very little cars which allow to swap between lhd and rhd lights. What car have you got?

I'm driving a 2011 golf plus. The setting is standard on all golfs, but depending on what model display you have you can change it yourself or you need a garage to help you.

Anyway - as am only driving during the day won't bother to sticker it.

Thanks all - heading off in 2 hours!