Headlights - European use.

R

ronk

Lifer
 Durham
The book says "Fit Beam Benders" for continental use !

It seems a bit Heath Robinson on a £45k car with a load of other toys and gizmos !
 
I travel back from Germany to the Uk all the time, with LHD and RHD, in the last 20 years ive only used the beam benders once..

i never bother ( sorry if i blinded you on the way home :)
 
There is a lot of confusion even with dealers on this topic.

I don't see the need given the flat nature of xenon beams.
 
The xenons in my previous E85 had a tiny switch and I used to do that each year! I dont really fancy sticking those bender things on and I don't do any driving at night over there. The headlights are only on when it rains.
 
Don't bother faffing around with it. I tried to get a definitive answer from Ascot BMW about what needed doing for driving Sur le Continent. After two booked appointments they were none the wiser. After listening to advice on these forums I just left them as is. I've done quite a bit of night driving in France and never been flashed. If you shine your headlights against a wall at night (as I did) you can see that the beam is pretty flat, unlike old headlights.
 
Yes i.a.w the law you do need beam benders. It would seem from previous posts that the lights on the E89 are switchable but we cannot get to the switch :o However, I have travelled regularly from UK to Italy and Germany and have only used beam benders on 1 trip and never been stopped - but then you never know!! That said the beam benders were very easy to fit and remove - got them from Amazon.
 
I'm being talked out of it- But bake me a cake with a file in it just in case!

I have to ask, whats i.a.w ? :)
 
ronk said:
I'm being talked out of it- But bake me a cake with a file in it just in case!

I have to ask, whats i.a.w ? :)
Click to expand...


just take a roll of silver duct tape. you can always do a roadside quick fix.
 
I've just done 4000 miles through France and Spain. I fitted the beam converters from Halfords. Took a couple of minutes to stick them on and the same to take them back off again. I might have got away without them but if I got stopped by the police I knew that I wasn't going to get into trouble. They might not have made much of a difference but at least I could be seen to be complying with the law - not worth falling out with the boys in blue over it for the sake of a few pounds.
 
Dont drive in Europe.....simple, cos then you dont have to put up with ignorant Europeans (he says from his English Castle....)
 
i ve never been stopped out their for lights...... other things yes.....
two bits of black insulation tape for 0.001 pence will do the job..
 
I drive in France a lot and I use the same as Stafainn cheap ones from halfords. Easy to put on and off. Just keep headlights on for while and they come off OK. A friend got pulled over in france (daylight but was raining) and he did not have them and was spot fined 100 euros. As they say it's up to you.
 
My sister lives in France. She was saying that the French Police are increasingly targeting UK drivers for non-compliance with the various regulations, often neat the ports and tunnel.... including not having the now compulsory breathalysers.

She just returned from after having our old car from us - on UK - plates. They were stopped a few miles from Calais....
 
I erred on the side of caution and fitted some beam benders - Halfrauds specials £10 to you sir - Better than €100 fine tho!

I did contact BMW customer services and the said Xenons dont need benders - but weren't 100% certain - Make what you want of that - I did and fitted benders - AND I kept the packet which has the EU approved logo!

Its the old engineer in me I suppose!
 
Just thought i would add this...

Motorists are being advised to have at least two breathalyzers at all times, so that one can be used if necessary while the other is kept to produce if requested by police.

Anyone driving in France is already required to carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest. The vest should be carried inside the car and not the trunk. Failure to have these in the car can lead to a fine of €90.

Other items required are a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and and spare bulbs for car lamps, lenses and reflectors.


Good news the breathalyzers are about €1
 
Note that the breathalyser law won't be enforced for foreign drivers until November, and the fine for not having one will be just €11.

Very strange requirement if you ask me.
 
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