A-class headlamps need deflectors?

Guigsy

Guigsy

Joined
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A-Class
Exp
2017
I've got a Geist i585 A-class. We're heading through the tunnel at the weekend and I'm panicking that I haven't considered the headlights. It's got Hella LEDs. I'm assuming it can't use beam deflectors. But I can't see an obvious lever to switch them to driving on the other side. Are they neutral biased, so they don't need flipping?

Top two are headlight and main beam.
PXL_20220813_135859181.jpg


LEFT side from behind:
PXL_20220903_112922020.jpg


Right side from the centerline:
PXL_20220903_113158633.jpg


Thanks.
 
I thought that LED were a flat beam so worth checking against a wall.
 
Anything here any good?

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Last edited:
My mate has just ordered a Carthago with LED headlamps, he asked the question and was told they are flat dipping.
 
They are Hella 1ml 102 488 01... Which I think are hand-of-drive specific.
Screenshot_20220915-222823.png

So does that mean I'm supposed to put a deflector on them?

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If the are LHD you don't need to change them for your trip but they are not legal in the UK..
 
Lenny HB said:
If the are LHD you don't need to change them for your trip but they are not legal in the UK..
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The 01 model isn't on the list... Maybe it's neutral beam? I'll check to see if it's the same on the other side?
 
I agree 100% with Euro Trotters.

Colyboy
 
EuroTrotters said:
drive OFF the ferry from Harwhich. I will give you a fiver for every LHD truck that has Beam Benders on, heading to the continent !
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But they wouldn't need them.
Me thinks you should re-read what you wroteTrev. :rofl:

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Guigsy said:
They are Hella 1ml 102 488 01... Which I think are hand-of-drive specific.
View attachment 664903
So does that mean I'm supposed to put a deflector on them?
Click to expand...
I think you are right actually that they are drive side specific, I had in my mind that they were flat but maybe it was actually that they are fixed and not adjustable which our halogen classic seem to be, well I stopped getting flashed in Germany once I turned them.
 
Lenny HB said:
But they wouldn't need them.
Me thinks you should re-read what you wroteTrev. :rofl:
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"Heading for" so the trucks have been in the UK maybe they have all changed them at the last services though ;)
 
As Martin says just point the van at a wall or garage door you will soon see if they kick up to one side.
 
If you don't drive at night, do you still need defectors on the continent.
 
jongood said:
There can be a lot of tunnels, you would be pretty unpopular very quickly
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Yeah, especially as my only lights are either off (driving lights and no rears) or on... which might be blinding people.

I've searched and I can't even find the model number mentioned in the Hella catalogue. All the similar numbers are side specific.

If there's no adjuster and I can't put deflectors on them, it's not like I can do anything about it anyway.
 
Guigsy said:
Yeah, especially as my only lights are either off (driving lights and no rears) or on... which might be blinding people.

I've searched and I can't even find the model number mentioned in the Hella catalogue. All the similar numbers are side specific.

If there's no adjuster and I can't put deflectors on them, it's not like I can do anything about it anyway.
Click to expand...
Hellas always used to be rotatable but I can't see anything on the drawing, I find it hard to believ that there isnt a solution. Email to Hella technical??
 
I have a i685 with exactly the same lamps, checked and found them to have a flat beam, no adjustment possible or required.
 
Rogerwyn said:
I have a i685 with exactly the same lamps, checked and found them to have a flat beam, no adjustment possible or required.
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Phew! Cheers Roger.
PXL_20220920_131612843.jpg


Lenny HB said:
Guigsy have you checked the beam pattern yet?
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I'm in France, in the Champagne region. I tried to check before I left. But I was rushed. Garage door is brown and the area is well lit, so I wasn't certain.

We've had excellent weather this week. But it looks like I'll be driving in the rain next week. On to Germany!
 
Guigsy said:
Phew! Cheers Roger.
View attachment 667683


I'm in France, in the Champagne region. I tried to check before I left. But I was rushed. Garage door is brown and the area is well lit, so I wasn't certain.

We've had excellent weather this week. But it looks like I'll be driving in the rain next week. On to Germany!
Click to expand...
How are you finding the Geist/ LMC we’ve had ours for over a year and find the build quality really good pity they stopped making the AClass, not come across many, yet in Salamanca a couple of weeks ago there were 3 LMC in a line not seen one since.
 
Rogerwyn said:
How are you finding the Geist/ LMC we’ve had ours for over a year and find the build quality really good pity they stopped making the AClass, not come across many, yet in Salamanca a couple of weeks ago there were 3 LMC in a line not seen one since.
Click to expand...
The build quality of all the fixtures and fittings are really good. It's a bit brown, but it is definitely quality. Panels are much thicker than what I saw in Trigano Group vans and they've made an effort to hide screw heads. The big panels look like they are dowelled in too, which is a good sign. The design seems really well thought out too, especially as the Geist i585 appears to be a UK parts bin special that's a mix of various LMCs that were available at the time. But I find it's really noisy on the road. A lot comes from the bed over the cab, which squeaks a lot. I don't think there's a lot of sound and thermal insulation in all the A-class cab bits either. If you peel back the covers, you hit raw fibreglass very quickly.

We did quite a few trips in it over the past year in the UK, and although I love the internal space, the width is often a pain. Narrow roads in Norfolk and Cornwall and UK urban streets had me longing for a panel van again. With the extra noise and body shake from crappy UK roads, I wasn't sure if it was a keeper.

But this last week in France (now in Germany) has been great. We're moving every day and not finding it to be a problem at all. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to (finally!) bite the bullet and commit to keeping it for a few years and throw a wad of cash at full air suspension. That should make it much more comfortable when driving.

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Guigsy said:
The build quality of all the fixtures and fittings are really good. It's a bit brown, but it is definitely quality. Panels are much thicker than what I saw in Trigano Group vans and they've made an effort to hide screw heads. The big panels look like they are dowelled in too, which is a good sign. The design seems really well thought out too, especially as the Geist i585 appears to be a UK parts bin special that's a mix of various LMCs that were available at the time. But I find it's really noisy on the road. A lot comes from the bed over the cab, which squeaks a lot. I don't think there's a lot of sound and thermal insulation in all the A-class cab bits either. If you peel back the covers, you hit raw fibreglass very quickly.

We did quite a few trips in it over the past year in the UK, and although I love the internal space, the width is often a pain. Narrow roads in Norfolk and Cornwall and UK urban streets had me longing for a panel van again. With the extra noise and body shake from crappy UK roads, I wasn't sure if it was a keeper.

But this last week in France (now in Germany) has been great. We're moving every day and not finding it to be a problem at all. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to (finally!) bite the bullet and commit to keeping it for a few years and throw a wad of cash at full air suspension. That should make it much more comfortable when driving.
Click to expand...
I think like me you may have the Mitch’s on which are very hard and cause a lot of rattling even on the slightest rough road, spoke with our german neighbour in Salamanca who had the next size van up and he had fitted bridgstones which he said had dramatically reduced the noise,
 
Guigsy said:
I'm pretty sure that I'm going to (finally!) bite the bullet and commit to keeping it for a few years and throw a wad of cash at full air suspension. That should make it much more comfortable when driving.
Click to expand...
My van had a very hard ride and I fitted full air made quite a difference and then I got rid of the Michelin CP tyres and fitted Toyo Observe Van tyres they also made a bit improvement to the ride quality.
 
Rogerwyn said:
I think like me you may have the Mitch’s on which are very hard and cause a lot of rattling even on the slightest rough road, spoke with our german neighbour in Salamanca who had the next size van up and he had fitted bridgstones which he said had dramatically reduced the noise,
Click to expand...
I replaced the Michelin Campers within a month of getting it. :p I've got Continental Vanco 4Seasons and they've significantly improved the ride. I also pulled out some of the plastics on the extended dash and put soundproofing foam behind them, which has made a mild improvement.
 
Anyone else tried Bridgestones? I fitted 6 Bridgestone Duravis All Season two years ago & have been impressed with the ride and wet grip.
 
Guigsy said:
I replaced the Michelin Campers within a month of getting it. :p I've got Continental Vanco 4Seasons and they've significantly improved the ride. I also pulled out some of the plastics on the extended dash and put soundproofing foam behind them, which has made a mild improvement.
Click to expand...
Full air will iron out the crashes to thumps, don't expect miracles on the ride improvement but the other gains are well worth it. Incredible stability in crosswinds and going past artics, self leveling when parked not as much as Jack's but we get level 95% of the time.
IMO worth the money the boss doesn't think so but I wouldn't have a van without it now.

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