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Xenon Headlight Conversion for driving Abroad
- Thread starter ianreeves
- Start date
Switch the lights of as else the grim reaper will visit you...
Turn the steering onto lock
Undo the cover under the wheel arch using a coin in the slots
Remove the rear light cover by undoing the wire clip
Remove the cover
Look at the side of the xenon reflector and see a lever. Move it to the opposite position
Replace light rear and wheel arch cover.
2 minutes per side
Turn the steering onto lock
Undo the cover under the wheel arch using a coin in the slots
Remove the rear light cover by undoing the wire clip
Remove the cover
Look at the side of the xenon reflector and see a lever. Move it to the opposite position
Replace light rear and wheel arch cover.
2 minutes per side
cj10jeeper said:Switch the lights of as else the grim reaper will visit you...
Turn the steering onto lock
Undo the cover under the wheel arch using a coin in the slots
Remove the rear light cover by undoing the wire clip
Remove the cover
Look at the side of the xenon reflector and see a lever. Move it to the opposite position
Replace light rear and wheel arch cover.
2 minutes per side
Yes, and the same procedure will blank (but not fully convert) non-xenon halogen lamps.
BUT...
you might find that the whole shebang is caked in mud. It is essential that you clean this off before removing the cover that is held on by the wire clip, because it must form a proper seal when you put it back, or you will be in real and expensive trouble. If you get lots of mud and rubbish in the channel into which the cover seats, it will not seal. So, I strongly suggest taking the wheelarch panel off before you set out and clean everything up. Then, when you arive in France, or wherever, you can do the coversion quickly.
Those with xenon lamps must not convert them until they actually change to the opposite side of the road, because they will seriously dazzle drivers coming the other way, and it is illegal. Those with halogen lamps can change over before they leave home, because all that happens is that part of the beam is shaded, so the headlamps will be even worse than they normally are (a frightening thought) but will cause no harm to others.
A
sapphire_nick
Member
Wierd, I have just gone down to do this myself as I leave for mainland Europe on Thursday and I can't find the lever either. Is it on both sides of the car and is this procedure still relevant for 2007 facelift coupes? There is no mention of being able to do this in the manual so I am not sure if this feature has been removed!? It says that you need to be qualified to do any work on Xenons that is all.
I managed to undo the plastic cover in the wheel arches, but not fully remove the hard plastic light cover under the wired clip.
Not sure what I am doing wrong. Can anyone help??
I managed to undo the plastic cover in the wheel arches, but not fully remove the hard plastic light cover under the wired clip.
Not sure what I am doing wrong. Can anyone help??
sapphire_nick
Member
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2760738350059512216KreHNV
This picture suggests that you turn the knobs from inside the engine bay but there is not much info on it. Any ideas?
This picture suggests that you turn the knobs from inside the engine bay but there is not much info on it. Any ideas?
sapphire_nick said:Wierd, I have just gone down to do this myself as I leave for mainland Europe on Thursday and I can't find the lever either. Is it on both sides of the car and is this procedure still relevant for 2007 facelift coupes? There is no mention of being able to do this in the manual so I am not sure if this feature has been removed!? It says that you need to be qualified to do any work on Xenons that is all.
I managed to undo the plastic cover in the wheel arches, but not fully remove the hard plastic light cover under the wired clip.
Not sure what I am doing wrong. Can anyone help??
Have a look at this thread where I covered it in some detail:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6150
The link oyu point to shows how to adjust the beam in one of its 2 planes (up, down the other left,right) This has nothing to do with conversion to Euro driving.
sapphire_nick
Member
Thanks as always cj10jeeper, I tried looking for the lever last night but really could not find it so will try again later. Is it on the outermost edge of the car on each side or towards the radiator?
Also - I really struggled to remove the backing from the headlamps - just wont budge on one side. Are you meant to remove them completely to gain access?
Also - I really struggled to remove the backing from the headlamps - just wont budge on one side. Are you meant to remove them completely to gain access?
Undo the spring clip on the back of the light and hinge it out of the way (very stiff to unlip)
The rear cover comes out at the outer edge then uncips from the inner. Needs a bit of wiggling to come out.
The lever is down the side of the Xenon reflector (Lights off please!!!!!! as death can be upsetting) Really easily visible silver coloured lever, but its on the outer bulb housing (the xenon one). Can't recall if inside or outer edge.
I suggest do this with the car facing the garage door. Having adjusted you can see the light pattern change and lose the left side elevated part of the beam. As stated before no hands near when lights switched on with Xenon....
The rear cover comes out at the outer edge then uncips from the inner. Needs a bit of wiggling to come out.
The lever is down the side of the Xenon reflector (Lights off please!!!!!! as death can be upsetting) Really easily visible silver coloured lever, but its on the outer bulb housing (the xenon one). Can't recall if inside or outer edge.
I suggest do this with the car facing the garage door. Having adjusted you can see the light pattern change and lose the left side elevated part of the beam. As stated before no hands near when lights switched on with Xenon....