Headlight converters for trip to Le Mans
Discussion
Can anyone offer some advice please on which headlight converters to get for a T350 going to Le Mans? Will the Halfords universal converters work OK on the T350 headlights? Has anyone used these before? I do not expect to have to drive at night but do not want to risk a ticking off from the Gendarmes!, or worse, a fine!
BP-TVR said:
Can anyone offer some advice please on which headlight converters to get for a T350 going to Le Mans? Will the Halfords universal converters work OK on the T350 headlights? Has anyone used these before? I do not expect to have to drive at night but do not want to risk a ticking off from the Gendarmes!, or worse, a fine!
Don't bother. Les Fick has better things to fine you for...like speeding. If you really are that worried about it have some in the boot to show willing. REMEMBER TO TAKE A FLUORESCENT VEST, WARNING TRIANGLE & ALL YOUR DOCS as without these they WILL fine you. I got pulled a few weeks ago coming out of St Tropez by a bored plod who wanted a nosey around the Sag and he did check these, didn't say anything about not having h/l converters.
Most of all, have fun
I’m still trying to find a solution to this problem for my Griff.
It’s fitted with HID units in the original lenses, so it’s bright enough to be dazzling. The legal point is useful, but I want them pointing the right way for the practical reasons of seeing the kerb and not dazzling the oncoming traffic.
With a holiday home in France the problem is frequent. Anyone had any good ideas, preferably for something reusable?
It’s fitted with HID units in the original lenses, so it’s bright enough to be dazzling. The legal point is useful, but I want them pointing the right way for the practical reasons of seeing the kerb and not dazzling the oncoming traffic.
With a holiday home in France the problem is frequent. Anyone had any good ideas, preferably for something reusable?
Uncle Fester said:
I’m still trying to find a solution to this problem for my Griff.
It’s fitted with HID units in the original lenses, so it’s bright enough to be dazzling. The legal point is useful, but I want them pointing the right way for the practical reasons of seeing the kerb and not dazzling the oncoming traffic.
With a holiday home in France the problem is frequent. Anyone had any good ideas, preferably for something reusable?
It’s fitted with HID units in the original lenses, so it’s bright enough to be dazzling. The legal point is useful, but I want them pointing the right way for the practical reasons of seeing the kerb and not dazzling the oncoming traffic.
With a holiday home in France the problem is frequent. Anyone had any good ideas, preferably for something reusable?
Few bits of string & some spring mounts 
I have no idea how feasible this would be or if I'm simplifying it too much, but would it not be possible to modify the light pods to make the actual (entire) light units removable ?
IIRC you currently have to remove the whole pod to change the lense... is that right ? Since there is already an access area in the wheel arch could this and the pod be modified to make the lights easily removable, but leaving the pod in place ? That way if you make frequent trips to Europe it would just be a case of switching the lenses for European versions.
I appreciate that it's not something you'd want to attempt for a one off trip, but if you are in Europe frequently it might be worth the effort ? If it was feasible (as in my over simplified way of looking at things...) It might take what ? an hour to jack up the car, remove wheels and fit the pods for a trip to France ? If, like UF, it's not just the legal side, but also practicality and safety issues... I think it'd be worth it.
IIRC you currently have to remove the whole pod to change the lense... is that right ? Since there is already an access area in the wheel arch could this and the pod be modified to make the lights easily removable, but leaving the pod in place ? That way if you make frequent trips to Europe it would just be a case of switching the lenses for European versions.
I appreciate that it's not something you'd want to attempt for a one off trip, but if you are in Europe frequently it might be worth the effort ? If it was feasible (as in my over simplified way of looking at things...) It might take what ? an hour to jack up the car, remove wheels and fit the pods for a trip to France ? If, like UF, it's not just the legal side, but also practicality and safety issues... I think it'd be worth it.
Edited by GJR on Tuesday 12th May 09:13
Not sure about changing lenses as the reflectors would need to be angles differently as well?
As for beam deflectors I have a K1200S that BMW recommend you take into dealers whne travelling abroad to get the headlight re-directed.
Thinking there would be some alterations and adjustment of the headlight i did this the first time I took it over to France.
BMW simply stuck electrical tape on the headlight cover and billed £20 +vat which I told them to poke as it had no significant effect.
Police here take no notice and accept that even if you do stick them on at the ferry first heavy rain tends to get them falling off.
As for beam deflectors I have a K1200S that BMW recommend you take into dealers whne travelling abroad to get the headlight re-directed.
Thinking there would be some alterations and adjustment of the headlight i did this the first time I took it over to France.
BMW simply stuck electrical tape on the headlight cover and billed £20 +vat which I told them to poke as it had no significant effect.
Police here take no notice and accept that even if you do stick them on at the ferry first heavy rain tends to get them falling off.
Uncle Fester said:
I’m still trying to find a solution to this problem for my Griff.
It’s fitted with HID units in the original lenses, so it’s bright enough to be dazzling. The legal point is useful, but I want them pointing the right way for the practical reasons of seeing the kerb and not dazzling the oncoming traffic.
With a holiday home in France the problem is frequent. Anyone had any good ideas, preferably for something reusable?
Some years ago now, but a friend of mine with a villa in Spain - a flat actually - had the same problem with his car. He fitted removable lenses, yellow ones as he drove down through France, which cut the light. He also fitted four driving lamps on a plate which made the easily removable. The two inside ones dipped - Cibie Oscars - and were aimed at the nearside, for the continent, some 100 yards ahead. The others were straight ahead.It’s fitted with HID units in the original lenses, so it’s bright enough to be dazzling. The legal point is useful, but I want them pointing the right way for the practical reasons of seeing the kerb and not dazzling the oncoming traffic.
With a holiday home in France the problem is frequent. Anyone had any good ideas, preferably for something reusable?
He reckoned that he could maintain normal speed at night in light traffic.
He took them off in this country as they went the wrong way and replaced them with smaller units.
GJR said:
I have no idea how feasible this would be or if I'm simplifying it too much, but would it not be possible to modify the light pods to make the actual (entire) light units removable ?
IIRC you currently have to remove the whole pod to change the lense... is that right ? Since there is already an access area in the wheel arch could this and the pod be modified to make the lights easily removable, but leaving the pod in place ? That way if you make frequent trips to Europe it would just be a case of switching the lenses for European versions.
I appreciate that it's not something you'd want to attempt for a one off trip, but if you are in Europe frequently it might be worth the effort ? If it was feasible (as in my over simplified way of looking at things...) It might take what ? an hour to jack up the car, remove wheels and fit the pods for a trip to France ? If, like UF, it's not just the legal side, but also practicality and safety issues... I think it'd be worth it.
As I said, in the Tuscan switching the head lights, is a case of taking of the bonnet, getting the head light covers off, unbolting 3 screws, turn the light unit a few degrees, and screw everything back on...IIRC you currently have to remove the whole pod to change the lense... is that right ? Since there is already an access area in the wheel arch could this and the pod be modified to make the lights easily removable, but leaving the pod in place ? That way if you make frequent trips to Europe it would just be a case of switching the lenses for European versions.
I appreciate that it's not something you'd want to attempt for a one off trip, but if you are in Europe frequently it might be worth the effort ? If it was feasible (as in my over simplified way of looking at things...) It might take what ? an hour to jack up the car, remove wheels and fit the pods for a trip to France ? If, like UF, it's not just the legal side, but also practicality and safety issues... I think it'd be worth it.
Edited by GJR on Tuesday 12th May 09:13
What I do if I’m taking the daily driver is stick on beam adjusters while I’m on the train going out. Remove and clean the glue coming back. It passes the time going under the channel nicely. I’m after something that I can do with similar convenience.
The time and effort to change pods would be prohibitive. I keep trying to design something, but haven’t got it good enough on paper to start cutting the car about yet.
What’s in my mind is something that’s permanently fitted. A beam deflector rises out of the pod floor into place in front of the lenses within the pod. Inside the wheelarch is a nut. Turn the nut and the beam adjuster moves position. This version uses a worm gear on a shaft.
Another possibility is a solenoid to flip the beam adjuster up into position. Normally it would lie in the bottom of the pod. Part of the problem is I want it invisible when in the UK position.
Anyone got any good idea’s how to achieve it?
And a shameless plug, if anyone wants to rent a holiday home with 7 bedrooms, about 90K North of Le Mans.
The time and effort to change pods would be prohibitive. I keep trying to design something, but haven’t got it good enough on paper to start cutting the car about yet.
What’s in my mind is something that’s permanently fitted. A beam deflector rises out of the pod floor into place in front of the lenses within the pod. Inside the wheelarch is a nut. Turn the nut and the beam adjuster moves position. This version uses a worm gear on a shaft.
Another possibility is a solenoid to flip the beam adjuster up into position. Normally it would lie in the bottom of the pod. Part of the problem is I want it invisible when in the UK position.
Anyone got any good idea’s how to achieve it?
And a shameless plug, if anyone wants to rent a holiday home with 7 bedrooms, about 90K North of Le Mans.
Would not worry....
Go through France, Belgium on way to Holland most weeks, for the last 2 ½ years. Driving my A4. Drive at night and never have been stopped.
Le Mans would not do also, I have some strips I keep in the boot, and would just pretend I had forgotten, if stopped.
As someone else said, if you are pulled over, it will probably for speeding away. Looking forward to getting all stickered up in the Tuscan.
Go through France, Belgium on way to Holland most weeks, for the last 2 ½ years. Driving my A4. Drive at night and never have been stopped.
Le Mans would not do also, I have some strips I keep in the boot, and would just pretend I had forgotten, if stopped.
As someone else said, if you are pulled over, it will probably for speeding away. Looking forward to getting all stickered up in the Tuscan.
I did several thousand miles in France, when I took the Griff on holiday. Just made sure there was some tape in the boot, with the bucket and spade, in case the cops stopped me. The idea being "I can do it now officer" Most important is the kit you must have, spare bulbs, yellow jacket, for you and passenger etc. They are much more interested in that kit, your speed and any device you may have to warn of radar.
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