adjusting led headlamps to comply with French regulations

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:45 pm

Hello all. I am a newbie and I will be bringing my rhd z4 over to France and will be registering it here. Does anyone know if I will have to adjust the headlamps or buy new ones to comply with French regulations. I will also need advice on snow chains! Thanks in advance

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:46 pm

they are led headlamps

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 12:34 am

sachb wrote: ↑Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:45 pm Hello all. I am a newbie and I will be bringing my rhd z4 over to France and will be registering it here. Does anyone know if I will have to adjust the headlamps or buy new ones to comply with French regulations. I will also need advice on snow chains! Thanks in advance

Hi, it might help if you tell us what model z4 you have got?

Rob

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:48 am

Z4 sdrive 28I m sport roadsters 2012. E89 with an N20 engine. hopefully thats enough info.

Zikim · Post by **Zikim** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 9:30 am

The E89 headlights can be switched manually for UK or Europe, this is at the rear of the light and accessed through the access panel in the wheel arch.

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:54 am

thank you very much

Silverstar · Post by **Silverstar** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 11:29 am

I did the same imported my RHD E89 Z4 to Spain, BMW told me there was no need to adjust the lights since they have a flat beam pattern but when I tried to register it here the ITV test centre (MOT equivalent) failed it for incorrect beam pattern. Turns out there is a lever in the back of the headlight that you have flick up. To get to it you need to remove the wheels and part of the wheel arch liner, remove the xenon bulb and then you can see the arc shaped lever which if I remember correctly you need to pull up. A lot of hassle just for a switch!

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:28 pm

sounds complicated but will tackle it soon! is this what you had to do?

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:29 pm

anything on snow chains?

Silverstar · Post by **Silverstar** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:57 pm

sachb wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:28 pm sounds complicated but will tackle it soon! is this what you had to do?

Yes this is what I did. The lever isn't easy to see / locate without removing the xenon bulb and to get to the xenon bulb you will need to remove the wheel and part of the wheel arch lining. The E85 E86 models you just open the access flap in the wheel arch lining and you can get to it but on the E89 from what I remember this wasn't possible.

It's not difficult to do just a bit time consuming. Mind you I read somewhere another forum member took their car to France and it passed the inspection without having to adjust the lights. You may want to take it for the inspection as it is and maybe they will pass it, so long as they give you a grace period in case it fails in which to rectify the issue then I don't see any reason why should not try that first.

Sorry no idea about the snow chains.

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 1:33 pm

yep, okay one of those jobs...once you've done it once, its not too difficult. Your description on what one has to do was perfect.
I will go to the control technique and see what they have to say. Thanks again.

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:59 pm

The controle technique have passed the headlamps now that they are changed, so am happy with that, thank you for all the advice........ As far as driving the car at night is concerned, on dip its great but when on full beam there is a large shadow in the beam to the left, quite horrible really! So is this normal because I would find it a little dangerous on roads that I don't know. Have I done something wrong or do I need to put up with it or buy new headlamps for this side of the channel?

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Tue Jan 14, 2020 5:58 pm

any advice on this ?

Silverstar · Post by **Silverstar** » Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:16 pm

I can't say that I have noticed this. Is this shadow on both headlights? I will have to take mine out at night and test it and tell you if it's the same.

sachb · Post by **sachb** » Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:29 pm

I appreciate that thank you. The shadow is on both lights.

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