Headlight deflectors (1 Viewer)

[IanF]

Hi -this may be a stupid question however I can agree with that if I'm declared to be stupid!
We are about to make our first trip to France and I am fitting "stick on" headlight deflectors which I'm advised are required there.
My question is then---Do they need to be removed to comply,on our return to the UK?
Look forward to your kind advice
Ian

 

[Yorick]

Mine passed MOT with them on.

 

[Lot lover]

The only stupid question is the one that you don't ask.

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[Baycott]

I've left mine on Ian, never had a problem.
Enjoy your trip to France

 

[EX51SSS]

Hi -this may be a stupid question however I can agree with that if I'm declared to be stupid!
We are about to make our first trip to France and I am fitting "stick on" headlight deflectors which I'm advised are required there.
My question is then---Do they need to be removed to comply,on our return to the UK?
Look forward to your kind advice
Ian

No they don't have to be removed to comply with our law and/or MOT. If you are considering regulat trips abroad, consider EGR headlight protector. It also has a place to fit the supplied blanking part (probably a proper name) so that you are totally legal in Europe and UK. Once put into place, the black blank square sticks on the headlight protector rather than the headlight itself and the added bonus is that your headlights are protected from things that can hit them (stones, chippings etc). I thought about it around 10 years ago and except for taking them off once a year to clean the inside, they stay in place and legal wherever I drive.

 

[Terry and Jan]

If you dont intend to drive at night, dont bother.

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[Steve N Tracy]

If you dont intend to drive at night, dont bother.

And of course stop driving as soon as it starts raining because you are required to drive on dipped lights when it does.

 

[busby]

I never see foreign vehicles coming into Dover with them fitted,,,strange,,,BUSBY.

 

[TerryL]

I've always left mine on - except once last year and the van failed the MoT because I've got one LHD headlamp unit! Solution? Refit the deflectors and it passed!

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[EX51SSS]

If you dont intend to drive at night, dont bother.

Excellent idea theoretically but reality may be quite different. It's extremely rare that I have ever travelled at night and it's usually because of something outside my control. So, you just happen to have a malfunction with your moho or a flat and whilst in all the best intentions you planned every trip only daylight but something happens, do you want to have it on your mind that you're possibly also going to drive at night.
At the cost of the deflectors, it's worth having a set even if you don't fit them unless you need to.
I bought mine as a protection for expensive headlights in case the worst happens and the deflector ability was a great bonus

 

[magicsurfbus]

I buy job lots of 10 stick on pairs on eBay, fit them in the outbound ferry queue at Dover and remove them in the return ferry queue at Calais. Simples.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not advisable to leave then on if your van has plastic headlamps as the adhesive will migrate into the plastic.

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[rosalan]

Like others, I leave mine on and passed the M.O.T. As for migrating gum, it is unlikely to be a problem, for stone chips are gradually wearing the black patch away. As for the plastic headlamp protectors... I was a slow learner and had to buy a new headlamp before fitting them. One of them also got stone damage but I managed to replace it at a motorhome show from end of seasons stock, otherwise they are not cheap.

 

[Muddibootz]

I tend to leave mine on but mainly because I forget. Passed plenty of MOTs too. To be honest, I'mnot sure how accurately they're fitted but hopefully it's the thought that counts for the Gernarmerie

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Do the headlight on a Hymer A class have the flat beam eurolights or can they be changed left to right dip. I ask as the handbook does not say and they seem the same as the ones on LHD vans I do not know if UK spec just means they are specials or just flicked flat with a lever?

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[treetops1]

Never fitted them yet ,had then on the van in a locker 8years just in case .lol

 

[EX51SSS]

Like others, I leave mine on and passed the M.O.T. As for migrating gum, it is unlikely to be a problem, for stone chips are gradually wearing the black patch away. As for the plastic headlamp protectors... I was a slow learner and had to buy a new headlamp before fitting them. One of them also got stone damage but I managed to replace it at a motorhome show from end of seasons stock, otherwise they are not cheap.

So @rosalan, you would recommend headlamp protectors then?

 

[EX51SSS]

Never fitted them yet ,had then on the van in a locker 8years just in case .lol

Is that in case you drive at night, in case you drive abroad or in case you get pulled?

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[irnbru]

We have left ours on too and passed an MOT. Have fun both of you and keep us updated.

 

[mowbotman]

The last owner of my Ducato based MOTORHOME left them on and it knackered the headlamp unit, take them off as soon as you are back is my advise or buy the clip on covers and leave them on them, like I have

 

[Lenny HB]

Do the headlight on a Hymer A class have the flat beam eurolights or can they be changed left to right dip. I ask as the handbook does not say and they seem the same as the ones on LHD vans I do not know if UK spec just means they are specials or just flicked flat with a lever?

They are Hella projector lamps, RHD ones can be changed from left kick up (UK spec) to flat dipping for continental use, LHD can be changed from right kick up to flat dipping for use in the UK. LHD set to flat dipping is acceptable to the VCA for registration under the Mutal Recognition system.

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[treetops1]

I leave mine in the locker in case i drive at night.

 

[IanF]

We have left ours on too and passed an MOT. Have fun both of you and keep us updated.

Will do Sandra leaving on 5 September
Ian

 

[Lot lover]

AFAIK you are supposed to have gender benders, if necessary, in place here (and small islands off the coast) even if not driving at night. Though I suspect that no-one really cares.

My car or MH would not get through a CT (French MoT) with benders in place.

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[DigglyDog]

If you dont intend to drive at night, dont bother.

Also don't drive through any tunnels...
I had clip on protectors with the beam deflectors fitted, and managed to lose one on the motorway in Italy, so back to the old sticky tape...

 

[EX51SSS]

The last owner of my Ducato based MOTORHOME left them on and it knackered the headlamp unit, take them off as soon as you are back is my advise or buy the clip on covers and leave them on them, like I have

I know people leave the stick on ones on but if you never use your lights, I daresay they'll be alright but if you put your lights on at anytime, they will seer into the headlight glass and you end up with what @mowbotman said. I appreciate that the clip on protectors are not cheap but except for once a year removal for cleaning, you can forget them safe in the knowledge that your a) headlights are protected, b) you're legal to drive at night or when lights are required and c) the black sticky bitbis adhered to the protector not your headlight.

 

[mikebeaches]

We've got a new Ducato X290-based PVC and I was pleased to find the headlight protectors just clip on and off really easily - only need to lift the bonnet. Much quicker and more convenient than the faffing about necessary with the previous X250 ones.

All marked up ready for putting the black masking tape in place.

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[Reallyretired]

My Rapido Aclass has flat dipping suitable for UK or Continent, but the headlights are so feeble I don't think they could dazzle anyone anyway. I don't drive the MH at night as I prefer to see where I'm going.

 

[EX51SSS]

My Rapido Aclass has flat dipping suitable for UK or Continent, but the headlights are so feeble I don't think they could dazzle anyone anyway. I don't drive the MH at night as I prefer to see where I'm going.

That's a brilliant view but bad weather especially in the UK can catch us out. Too many variables to give 100% guarantee that you won't drive at night or inclement weather or in fact on a spot check. Lights fitted have to be working and comply with the law.

 

[Reallyretired]

That's a brilliant view but bad weather especially in the UK can catch us out. Too many variables to give 100% guarantee that you won't drive at night or inclement weather or in fact on a spot check. Lights fitted have to be working and comply with the law.

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