More mods - and problems... :(
Discussion
Hi, Folks,
So as the weekend was rained off, and I'm totally impatient, I took my car to Sussex Performance Centre today to have the C5R Style headlights and the Vararam fitted.
The results are as follows:
I'm really pleased with the way that it looks, and the Vararam has made a noticable difference to the acceleration which now seems a lot more "grunty", which is better than standard C5's which, to my mind, tend to roar, have a big lurch forward, then level off with the acceleration (this is experience of my 3 C5's to date!
)
The only problem (and I still need to clarify this) is that the place that fitted the headlights say that they cannot be angled to a UK Legal driving position (AFTER they had fitted them, I hasten to add!
). This is a major pain in the arse, as I was VERY specific with the supplier in the US with regard to this fact, but as I've now spent money having them installed, I'm wanting to hang onto them.
So, if it is the case that they can't be angled in the right direction, I need advice as to what to do to make them legal. When UK cars drive on the continent, they need those stickers to angle the beams in the other direction, which got me thinking - is anyone aware of any "more permanent" versions of these stickers but the other way around? I figure that there must be europe or US only cars which don't have the ability to change the direction of the lights that would benefit from this kinda thing?
Any ideas?
So as the weekend was rained off, and I'm totally impatient, I took my car to Sussex Performance Centre today to have the C5R Style headlights and the Vararam fitted.
The results are as follows:
I'm really pleased with the way that it looks, and the Vararam has made a noticable difference to the acceleration which now seems a lot more "grunty", which is better than standard C5's which, to my mind, tend to roar, have a big lurch forward, then level off with the acceleration (this is experience of my 3 C5's to date!
)The only problem (and I still need to clarify this) is that the place that fitted the headlights say that they cannot be angled to a UK Legal driving position (AFTER they had fitted them, I hasten to add!
). This is a major pain in the arse, as I was VERY specific with the supplier in the US with regard to this fact, but as I've now spent money having them installed, I'm wanting to hang onto them.So, if it is the case that they can't be angled in the right direction, I need advice as to what to do to make them legal. When UK cars drive on the continent, they need those stickers to angle the beams in the other direction, which got me thinking - is anyone aware of any "more permanent" versions of these stickers but the other way around? I figure that there must be europe or US only cars which don't have the ability to change the direction of the lights that would benefit from this kinda thing?
Any ideas?
Edited by Colvette on Thursday 28th June 20:38
Whose lights are they.
Did the fitters carry out an MOT at the same time. If they didn't then you could wait until MOT time
When I fitted mine (Spectre Werkes), I lined them up as best I could using adjusters that move the lenses up & down and side to side. I got one light spot on. The other side was out on main beam for the MOT. The problem seemed to be the beam pattern rather than the adjustment but in the end the MOT tester was happy.
Did the fitters carry out an MOT at the same time. If they didn't then you could wait until MOT time
When I fitted mine (Spectre Werkes), I lined them up as best I could using adjusters that move the lenses up & down and side to side. I got one light spot on. The other side was out on main beam for the MOT. The problem seemed to be the beam pattern rather than the adjustment but in the end the MOT tester was happy.
Edited by C5RagTop on Thursday 28th June 20:50
My last both SVA and MOT prior to UK registrations were for C5 Z06's, and used the stock pattern US lights that essentially did a direct dip and were not adjusted in any way.
The only absolute is that your lights must not dip "R".
Its my belief that your current mods should pass, especially if your MOT guy is "sympatico"
The only absolute is that your lights must not dip "R".
Its my belief that your current mods should pass, especially if your MOT guy is "sympatico"
The lights are very well made units produced by this company:
www.alfaotto.com
I'll take some other photos over the next few days to show you how the look from different angles. I like 'em a lot, actually - I've seen some non-popups that I really didn't like, so when I saw these which are vented and are high quality, I was keen to snap them up.
The beam pattern is probably a problem too, as they're essentially just clear beams. I figured this wouldn't be a problem as I've seen lights without the correct beam pattern before, but the fact that they don't point to the left is the issue that I seriously need to get over...
There must be something I can do to make them work - to be honest, I'd not have fitted them had the garage told me they couldn't be angled the right way, but I'd be seriously unhappy about having to remove them and refitting the standard pop-ups...
www.alfaotto.com
I'll take some other photos over the next few days to show you how the look from different angles. I like 'em a lot, actually - I've seen some non-popups that I really didn't like, so when I saw these which are vented and are high quality, I was keen to snap them up.
The beam pattern is probably a problem too, as they're essentially just clear beams. I figured this wouldn't be a problem as I've seen lights without the correct beam pattern before, but the fact that they don't point to the left is the issue that I seriously need to get over...
There must be something I can do to make them work - to be honest, I'd not have fitted them had the garage told me they couldn't be angled the right way, but I'd be seriously unhappy about having to remove them and refitting the standard pop-ups...
I'm with Em on this - I don't think you really have a problem and you certainly won't know for definate until you go for an MOT. Working on the basis that the standard US lights dip up and down, then it would be logical to expect the manufacturer of your lights to make them in the same way for the US market. Both VHR and me have been ok with ours, so panic not - I'm sure it can be sorted.
Have you taken the covers off to see if there are any adjusters in there??
Have you taken the covers off to see if there are any adjusters in there??
In order to fit the lights, they needed to be taken to a garage adjacent to the place fitting them for alignment. These guys said that as they couldn't be made to point the right way, they would fail an MOT.
I realise you're all saying, "Doesn't matter until MOT time", but MOT time will eventually arrive, and this wasn't a 10 minute job to swap them over, so I don't really cherish the idea of having them "wrong" at all other times than MOT day - I'd sooner sort them out so they're right all the time. Not least of which because I think it'd be kinda anti-social to keep blinding people driving the other way!
That said - is it actually the case that cars imported from Europe fail MOT's anyway? I've been looking for those "Beam Bender" stickers (that RHD cars have to fit when visiting France) but for the other way around (France -> England), and so far I've been unable to find them?
I realise you're all saying, "Doesn't matter until MOT time", but MOT time will eventually arrive, and this wasn't a 10 minute job to swap them over, so I don't really cherish the idea of having them "wrong" at all other times than MOT day - I'd sooner sort them out so they're right all the time. Not least of which because I think it'd be kinda anti-social to keep blinding people driving the other way!
That said - is it actually the case that cars imported from Europe fail MOT's anyway? I've been looking for those "Beam Bender" stickers (that RHD cars have to fit when visiting France) but for the other way around (France -> England), and so far I've been unable to find them?
Colvette said:
C5RagTop said:
Have you taken the covers off to see if there are any adjusters in there??
No - unfortunately I can't do that - they're sealed units... Why don't you just take it to an MOT station and ask them to test the beam deflection etc without doing a full MOT - they can advise you what needs doing and it isn't going to cost you the full price of an MOT and will put your mind at rest.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Update: So the car is booked in with American Carriage in Barnes who think that they may be able to adjust them enough to get them through an MOT. They suggest that it might be touch and go with regard to them failing anyway, as American headlights point straight ahead, NOT to the right, and as long as they don't point to the right, they're not a fail (or something), hence the reason why the minor changes may just work!
I tried calling Ian Goss, but unfortunately Ian is away on a long weekend, so I'll see what happens with American Carriage on Tuesday and then give him a ring if they can't sort it out.
Anyone got any other ideas?
I tried calling Ian Goss, but unfortunately Ian is away on a long weekend, so I'll see what happens with American Carriage on Tuesday and then give him a ring if they can't sort it out.
Anyone got any other ideas?
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