Headlights in EU

[SueandAndy]

We have a 2005 Laika Ecovip 680. Off to EU in summer. As it's an A class the headlights are little round things - rather than what would have been on the original - although I have seen similar on various coaches and buses is and buses.
Question how do I get the right little sticky things to make the OK for Europe? They don't go into that kind of detail on the packaging.

Any ideas anyone?
Cheers.

 

[Stealaway]

Don't drive at night


I suspect only the dip lens needs doing. I would would stick a square of black tape any where you like if you must. Nobody is going to check them.
I've not used any thing for years

 

[Landy Andy]

I’m sure many will disagree, but I find the best place for the “sticky things” is in the glove box. Still got the ones I bought over ten years ago.

 

[Itsmcb]

See Lenny HB suggestion, post #5 on this thread from yesterday.

Need help with headlamp stickers

Hi everyone. I need some help with the headlamp stickers. I have looked on the list that you get with the stickers but our motorhome isn't on it. But the picture that it shows isn't the same as ours. It shows bottom left but in real life lol its bottom right.. Any ideas how to fit them please...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Sheddy]

I use Black insulation tape across the top area of the bulbs easy to remove when not needed.

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[pjay]

They look similar to the lights (Hella) I used to have on my 2006 Hymer A Class.
If they are the same you should be able to adjust them from behind.
If they are anything like the Hymer ones you will need to be double jointed to do it.

 

[Kups]

Good advice but during our recent three week trip through France, Germany and Switzerland I did not see another UK vehicle of any type with adapted headlights. We have the Van Comfort headlamp protectors that come with sticky black shapes to blank out the beam. Indeed a good third of UK vehicles that went past us did not even have a GB or UK rear sticker! Not sure this aspect of UK motoring is high on the traffic police's agenda.

 

[Just smiffy]

I have been touring Europe extensively for the last 7 years and have never put anything on the headlights, drove a lot at night and have never been flashed or had any enquiries about not having them….

 

[sueandjohn]

I’m sure many will disagree, but I find the best place for the “sticky things” is in the glove box. Still got the ones I bought over ten years ago.

You’re out of the same school as Mr.sueandjohn

 

[Tombola]

I have similar on my Rapido, i found the btoom around 7 oclcock did the trick

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[Chris]

I just stick them on without thinking about it too much.

The French police wouldn’t have a clue how they should be stuck on anyway.

 

[nicholsong]

I just stick them on without thinking about it too much.

The French police wouldn’t have a clue how they should be stuck on anyway.

Goodness! Chris has found an advantage in deficiencies of that France place

 

[Reallyretired]

I had those headlights on my last Rapido. Never bothered adapting them, they are so feeble I dont think they could dazzle anyone.

 

[Just smiffy]

I have been touring Europe extensively for the last 7 years and have never put anything on the headlights, drove a lot at night and have never been flashed or had any enquiries about not having them….

I’ll add that is in a motorhome and car….

 

[Mike Rivers]

In 15 years of touring in France we’ve never bothered for the odd occasions we’ve been driving at night. We do carry hi-vis vests, warning triangles and in-date breathalyser kits so we’re not ‘anti-regulations’ per se.

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[SueandAndy]

Thanks everyone. You have validated my plan to run the gauntlet of les gendarmes!! BTW pjay, great drawings, but no, Giovanni's lights are far more straightforward than Hella's.

 

[SueandAndy]

Update! Pjay you were right, but you need to be double jointed to even SEE them!!! I reckon I'll go with showing the gendarme your piccies and assuring them I've done the necessaries!!

 

[pjay]

Don't worry, after a few times changing them around and umpteen grazed knuckles I gave up and left them in UK configuration, plod never showed any interest in the remaining 12 years going abroad with that van.

Pete

 

[Hoppipolla]

I bought the headlight things and have forgotten to fit them on our trip around France. I'm going to work on the don't drive at night principle.

 

[ED O'DARAC]

They look similar to the lights (Hella) I used to have on my 2006 Hymer A Class.
If they are the same you should be able to adjust them from behind.
If they are anything like the Hymer ones you will need to be double jointed to do it.

PJAY is right, your circular lights should only need to be turned from behind as they are 'Tourist' lights and are designed to be adjustable left to right. Brilliant, no tape needed!
Either that, or don't drive after dark

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[Just smiffy]

In 15 years of touring in France we’ve never bothered for the odd occasions we’ve been driving at night. We do carry hi-vis vests, warning triangles and in-date breathalyser kits so we’re not ‘anti-regulations’ per se.

Breathalyser no longer required..

 

[Reallyretired]

Strange how many times the breathzlyser comes up considering it is over two years ago that totally ignored rule was repealed.
It appears that some retailers are still trying to shift their stock by misinforming customers about the need for them.

 

[iandsm]

I’m sure many will disagree, but I find the best place for the “sticky things” is in the glove box. Still got the ones I bought over ten years ago.

I do indeed agree, my Rapido had them and we never had any issues when abroad, they obviously didn't blind oncoming drivers.

 

[spikehcm681]

Driving at night | Driving in Europe | Green Flag

Driving at night presents many hazards, like poor visibility and fatigue. To avoid accidents and breakdowns, Green Flag has some top tips for your road safety.

www.greenflag.com

Quote from the above website "Before you head to Europe, you will need to adjust your car's headlamp beam pattern for driving on the right-hand side of the road, so that the dipped beam doesn't dazzle oncoming drivers. This is a compulsory requirement in most countries"

We have been flashed in Europe, even with the beam diverters on - we often drive at night as the roads are much quieter.

There is a school of thought that black tape absorbs heat - as well as reducing the transmission of light - and that proper beam diverters should be used. to stop "crazing" of the lenses.

I get my friendly local garage to put Eurolights on - just after they've done the MOT. They use the same machine that's used for checking alignment and place them to blank off the part of the beam that points to the left.

As far as chancing it is concerned - I believe in Sod's Law. If involved in an accident it's just one more thing that can be thrown at you.

But as they say in (parts of) Europe - "Chacun à son goût!"

 

[Btg]

Put mine 7 o’clock either side n stay on even with mot here no probs

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[kev54]

In 15 years of touring in France we’ve never bothered for the odd occasions we’ve been driving at night. We do carry hi-vis vests, warning triangles and in-date breathalyser kits so we’re not ‘anti-regulations’ per se.

I agree with you Mike! Update - the French have finally killed off the farce of the Sarkozy-mate’s breathalysers. Not legally required anymore.

 

[nicholsong]

Bit of a reverse on the thread, but same subject.

For those who have headlights adjusted(not just stickers) for Continental driving, when returning to UK how strict are the UK police if one does not adjust the headlights back to UK position?

If I come to UK I might only be there for a few days and then not sure if I might drive at night.

 

[Bertilak]

A word of warning re using insulation tape to black out the offset...
Having done this over many years with glass headlights I repeated on my T5, left it on for a couple of months as I don't drive the van in the dark in summer much.
When I did remove it, I found the plastic had crazed under the tape, irreversibly. -(OE VAG plastic lamps, c15 years old). I didn't panic on that age , but I worried about when it would fail an MOT. And some headlights are dearer than others...

 

[nicholsong]

A word of warning re using insulation tape to black out the offset...
Having done this over many years with glass headlights I repeated on my T5, left it on for a couple of months as I don't drive the van in the dark in summer much.
When I did remove it, I found the plastic had crazed under the tape, irreversibly. -(OE VAG plastic lamps, c15 years old). I didn't panic on that age , but I worried about when it would fail an MOT. And some headlights are dearer than others...

Early on in this thread I was about to post that I had read somewhere that one should not use tape on these plastic headlamps, such as Hella, but I was uncertain about my facts, so said nothing.

I am pleased that you have posted your experience.

I had filed my first thoughts and when I needed to adjust I did it mechanically with the adjustment screws installed.

 

[Peppadog]

Well. I've only been driving to France etc annually for over forty years, in numerous 'vans (the first of which is the VW image here). so have plenty of real world experience. In the early years. French lights were yellow - ish. So I bought the right stuff and painted them. probably also stuck stickers on for possible glare as well. But only in the 80's. After that, I stopped bothering with anything. I have never been stopped or questioned in all those years!

I also have the Hella round lights, dipped and separate main beam, similar to yours. As mentioned above, they are feeble and do not need to be made worse.

On related stuff. I never bothered to carry the breathalysers, reading the French were ignoring them from the start. I also noticed while away in Spain for the last five weeks, that plenty of Brits are still towing their cars with the illegal (in France and Spain) A frames! I guess they are still mostly being ignored by police.

I would not worry about the police questioning you about any of these things personally. And I think you are more likely to have a night time accident through poor lighting than dazzle anyone with those lights.

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