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adjusting led headlamps to comply with French regulations
- Thread starter sachb
- Start date
sachb said: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
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 said: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.
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?
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.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Why do you think they are LEDs?
On the E89 they are HIDs...?
On the E89 they are HIDs...?
A
Anonymous
Guest
sachb said: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
Why do you need snowchains? What’s wrong with winter tyres?
sachb said:I appreciate that thank you. The shadow is on both lights.
I just checked mine and you are right there is a cut off / shadow on the left of both headlights on the main beam. Funny that it hadn't really bothered me! If this issue didn't exist when the lights were adjusted to driving in the UK, you could just adjust them back, since they have a flat beam pattern they really won't annoy any road users. I used mine at night before I adjusted them and never once did I get flashed. It's only when they test them on the machine that they do not fully comply. But of course this would mean having to change them over and back again each time you go for the test!
sachb said:I've just been told that the french control techniques will now accept the stickers on the English headlights !!!
Are you sure about that? If so then change them back to UK and put the stickers on when you go to the control techniques and take em off again after LOL. In Spain the equivalent ITV will not accept the stickers!