LHD vs RHD headlight question

J

jamiez

Senior member
 SW London
All

I recently purchased a complete LHD passenger side Xenon headlight unit and fitted it the other day - all fine.
It failed it MOT today due to the light shining too far to the left - they said they tried to "adjust it" but it would not adjust any further.

I then remembered the "switch" which you toggle when driving aborad and how to do it is illustrated in this post http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6150&start=15

However I wanted to ask here a few questions

1. Should this switch solve my problem?
2. Or will a LHD xenon headlight unit simply not work in a RDH car...?
3. Is there really some "adjustment" in xenon lights?

I will be reading the manual tonight...but wanted to ask here in the meantime.

Thanks
Jamie
 
1. Should this switch solve my problem?
Not really - UK headlight s have a flick in the beam designed to illuminate the nearside hedge, pavement, etc. All the lever does is cuts off the flick on UK lights for non UK driving. Left hand drive lights will not have the lever as they never make provision for the odd time they will ever be used in a RHD country. For mot's the issue can be ignored, and advisory or a fail for UK to not have the flick, flat beam or other pattern. Seems open to the tester and in your case he opted 'fail'

2. Or will a LHD xenon headlight unit simply not work in a RDH car...?
Yes it will work, but subject to the above. Also note that depending upon where it came from the wiring will be different and my not work. This US indicators, UK sidelights, etc.

3. Is there really some "adjustment" in xenon lights?
Yes of course, left right and up down using static setting adjusters, but they are designed to set a UK light correctly not compensate for a LHD units design settings

Bottom line is really get a UK light if you can.
 
cj10jeeper said:
1. Should this switch solve my problem?
Not really - UK headlight s have a flick in the beam designed to illuminate the nearside hedge, pavement, etc. All the lever does is cuts off the flick on UK lights for non UK driving. Left hand drive lights will not have the lever as they never make provision for the odd time they will ever be used in a RHD country. For mot's the issue can be ignored, and advisory or a fail for UK to not have the flick, flat beam or other pattern. Seems open to the tester and in your case he opted 'fail'

2. Or will a LHD xenon headlight unit simply not work in a RDH car...?
Yes it will work, but subject to the above. Also note that depending upon where it came from the wiring will be different and my not work. This US indicators, UK sidelights, etc.

3. Is there really some "adjustment" in xenon lights?
Yes of course, left right and up down using static setting adjusters, but they are designed to set a UK light correctly not compensate for a LHD units design settings

Bottom line is really get a UK light if you can.
Click to expand...

Thank you very helpful

Is there anything I can do or use to get the tester to ignore this? Something in the regulations?
 
Not really as the tester is using a beam tester. Another tester may be more tolerant, but in fairness all you're doing is to then drive around blinding every oncoming driver and at the same time not illuminating the kerb to see people, signs, etc.
 
cj10jeeper said:
1. Should this switch solve my problem?
Not really - . Left hand drive lights will not have the lever as they never make provision for the odd time they will ever be used in a RHD country.
Click to expand...

EU lights should have it, as i've seen it on the dutch forum, he used it because of his trip over to the UK. correct me if i'm wrong but that's what i've seen.
 
Lightning87 said:
cj10jeeper said:
1. Should this switch solve my problem?
Not really - . Left hand drive lights will not have the lever as they never make provision for the odd time they will ever be used in a RHD country.
Click to expand...

EU lights should have it, as i've seen it on the dutch forum, he used it because of his trip over to the UK. correct me if i'm wrong but that's what i've seen.
Click to expand...

You could be right. The LHD I've worked on and dismantled have been from the US and they certainly don't have the lever. If there is a lever all it will do is flatten in their case a right hand flick to a flat beam, not set it for proper UK use.
 
I have a LHD headlight on my car, this has the lever which allows me to set it as a flat beam.

Without wanting to tempt fate, it's been through two MOTs with both headlights set to flat beam and I've not had any issues.

Andrew.
 
Pass, Advisory or Fail is all down to the individual tester.

Here's the requirements of headlights:

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_180.htm

See the Section on Headlamp Aim.

Something of a minefield and I feel I could argue the flick up is or is not a fail, depending upon the read of it, but aside that plenty of scope for a tester to be arsy
 
in holland, you have to have a LHD beam or a Flat beam. so in the UK it can happen, but it's stil a minefield.


@cj10jeeper, US lights are indeed totaly different, they also have an extra turnsingallight ( what is the proper english word ?? ) in the unit.
 
Thanks guys for your feedback and advice. As it turns out I had fitted the bulb slightly on the wonk which was putting the beam pattern out. Once set correctly the aim was readjusted and it flew through. I didn't ask about the lever / will try and check some day
 
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