Question on headlights for EUR trips

[CamperManLez]

So… a question to those who do trips into Europe with Fiat based vehicles, what are you using to adjust or deflect your headlights for driving on the other side of the road? If you have website links please include them in any replies.
Cheers

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

The easiest, [ IMO] but not the cheapest in the short term is a set of polycarbonate headlamp protectors which are a straight push fit on normally, but can require some fine fettling . These come with the relevant obscured section marked out with dotted lines, so even some black sticky tap can used on the inside. Your also then protecting the [ very expensive] headlamp from stone damage. They are about £70 a set off Ebay.

Fiat Ducato headlamp protectors: Search Result | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Fiat Ducato headlamp protectors. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

Mike.

 

[MichaelT]

Assuming you have a coach built and not an A class you can buy deflectors from Halford etc. If an A class don't bother they are not bright enough to dazzle anyone

 

[Kups]

We use the headlight protectors from Van Comfort which come with reusable beam correcting stickers. https://www.vancomfort.co.uk/vehicle-make/fiat/
However, so few uk drivers use beam correction kit that I wonder if it's worth the expense.
No doubt some drivers are penalised but I'm sure that EU plod has better things to do.
The headlight protectors are simple to put on and can save the big cost of a replacement headlight. We leave ours on permanently.
Up to you if you want to risk it.

 

[Oldrat]

Firstly check if you need to do anything.


Park facing a wall and see if your light beam kicks up on the left. If so it does this to light up the footway the uk hence will blind oncoming vehicles when driving on t’other side of road.

Many modern vehicles have a flat topped beam pattern so you don’t need to do anything other than make sure it’s not too high.

If your beam does kick up on the left, some simple tape over the offending part of the lens will do, or you can buy proprietary stickers that do the same.

Of course if you have the super duper unobtainium laser style head lights, you might want to check if the lens gets too hot for tape/stickers

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[Two on Tour]

As the OP has a van conversion, then Eurolites beam deflectors are the easiest and cheapest option at £3.49.

Eurolites Headlamp Converters, Beam Benders, Headlight Adaptors | eBay

Set contains 2 individual adaptors plus full fitting instructions. Headlamp Beam Deflectors.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Guigsy]

The Eurolites stickers work. The instructions are a bit overwhelming at first, but not too difficult once you work out that it's for a thousand combinations of headlights and once you've found the right section, it's easy to follow.

Don't leave them on forever though. The adhesive eventually damages the lens plastic.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Another vote for the headlamp protectors + black tape solution.

A stone has cracked one of my headlamp protectors so it proved its worth.

 

[franknjan]

We've been travelling through France and Spain for over 10years. Never used any form of beam deflector/sticker.
Admittedly we don't do a lot of night driving.
You don't see left-hand drive vehicles in the UK with beam deflectors.

 

[Two on Tour]

We've been travelling through France and Spain for over 10years. Never used any form of beam deflector/sticker.
Admittedly we don't do a lot of night driving.
You don't see left-hand drive vehicles in the UK with beam deflectors.

Johnny foreigner must love having you coming the other way in a tunnel.

Lefthand drive vehicles normally have flat forward pattern dipped beam headlamps, unlike UK headlamps.

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[franknjan]

"Johnny foreigner must love having you coming the other way in a tunnel."

When was the last time you went through a tunnel with on coming traffic?

 

[MichaelT]

"Johnny foreigner must love having you coming the other way in a tunnel."

When was the last time you went through a tunnel with on coming traffic?

Lots recently in Spain

 

[Two on Tour]

"Johnny foreigner must love having you coming the other way in a tunnel."

When was the last time you went through a tunnel with on coming traffic?

Both in May and September in France, France does have tunnels for vehicles you know or had you not noticed ?

 

[Fdhadi]

Surely there aren’t that many foreigners called Johnny , and if so, the chances of meeting a Johnny in a tunnel are even less so don’t bother about it. Turn your headlight leveller up to 5, you’ll be fine.

 

[Reallyretired]

My last motorhome was an Aclass so the round Hella headlights didn't need adjustment as they were too dim to dazzle anyone. I now have a low profile coachbuilt on Ford Transit and have a pair of right hand dipping headlights which I can just swap with the lh dip as required. They are only held by a single torx screw and can be swapped in a minute. The set of headlights cost less than a set of headlight protectors.

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[martin2603]

How many foreign trucks do you see with deflectors?
Don't worry about it.

 

[Fdhadi]

How many English trucks do you see with deflectors is probably more relevant.

 

[Badknee]

Nothing, nowt, nadda.

 

[Lenny HB]

As the OP has a van conversion, then Eurolites beam deflectors are the easiest and cheapest option at £3.49.

Eurolites Headlamp Converters, Beam Benders, Headlight Adaptors | eBay

Set contains 2 individual adaptors plus full fitting instructions. Headlamp Beam Deflectors.

www.ebay.co.uk

Agree they work well if correctly fitted as said don't leave them on too long.

Admittedly we don't do a lot of night driving.
You don't see left-hand drive vehicles in the UK with beam deflectors.

I used to sell loads of Euro lites for LHD vehicles.

Lefthand drive vehicles normally have flat forward pattern dipped beam headlamps, unlike UK headlamps.

Untrue on LHD vehicles the dip pattern kicks up to the right.

 

[CamperManLez]

Thank to all for the replies and links, some interesting comments made as well such as the Euro lot don't sort there lights when over here. I think I will do it right even though I am not a much of a night time driver and the clip on light cover/protector is probably be the way I will go. Todays vehicle lights are plastic and I am concerned about stickers being difficult to remove.
Cheers

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[jumar]

Might be worth considering the need for daytime driving too. Some countries require lights on during daylight hours..

 

[VXman]

"Johnny foreigner must love having you coming the other way in a tunnel."

When was the last time you went through a tunnel with on coming traffic?

About 30 odd tunnels so far here in Italy. Some of them 3 miles long.

 

[VXman]

Both in May and September in France, France does have tunnels for vehicles you know or had you not noticed ?

I think he was suggesting all tunnels are one way (dual carridge way) which they tend to be on motorways.

 

[Kups]

The worst single carriageway tunnel we drove last year was the Tunnel de Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in the Alsace. Converted 7 km railway tunnel, dreadful experience and €10 I think. Should have gone over the pass. Definitely needed the correct headlights.