Headlights

[dogginut]

Having exported to France I now need to know how to change the headlights from RHD to LHD. Is this difficult or a dealer job. I have the replacements.

[3rensho]

Assuming that RHD and LHD stand for right/left hand drive respectively, what does that have to do with the headlights? I'm a newbie and just curious.

[andy-womble]

Assuming that RHD and LHD stand for right/left hand drive respectively, what does that have to do with the headlights? I'm a newbie and just curious.

In the United Kingdom, we drive on the left hand side of the road and headlights when on dipped beam should shine or divert to the left or kerbside.
On the continent, including France, where vehicles are driven on the right hand side of the road, headlights when on dipped beam should shine or divert to the right or kerbside.
It used to be possible to purchase adapters to fit over the headlight lens to divert the direction of a beam but these are only a temporary fit.
I assume that when a vehicle has been permanently exported to a country the light units must comply with that countries legislation and probably a permanent fit is the solution.

[3rensho]

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't aware of that difference - I mean the dipped lights being offset to the curb.

[Andre]

I never knew that either. Not very noticiable to the eye is it!?

[andy-womble]

I never knew that either. Not very noticiable to the eye is it!?

it is if you happen to be an oncoming motorist being dazzled by main beam!!!

[dogginut]

Especially if it's the Gendarmes coming the other way. Well thats the law sorted now back to the issue. How difficult to replace, my guess is that the whole front end has to be dismantled otherwise how would the garage make it's money.

[Chris]

I spend quite a lot of time in France and for the Volvo (XC90) which I normally take, I actually keep a spare set of LHD headlights. The headlight unit on those is great as the whole thing comes out by releasing a couple of pins and undoing a connector. To change both is a five minute job. I haven't looked to see if it would be as simple on a Berlingo. Have you been through a Controle Technique yet?

[dogginut]

Hi Chris
Controle Technique (MOT to the uninitiated) done and dusted. I have 2 months to get the lights on other than that all is good. Should be able to regester it next week. I have been looking at the headlight fitting and there are three securing points but the bottom one disapears behind the bodywork. I figure that I will have to get them aligned so I may as well just get them fitted at the garage.

[Chris]

This is a favourite subject of my dad's as my parents live in France but have a UK registered car. He hasn't got round to registering it in France yet, but is trying to find a better solution than a bit of tape stuck to the headlight. The obvious solution is to get a second hand pair locally (eBay or suchlike) as his car (a Mazda) doesn't have any method of mechanical adjustment. I wasn't sure whether you could get through the CT using beam deflectors (aka the bit of tape) or not?

On my previous car, a Golf, there was a small lever behind the headlight that allowed you to simply move the direction of the beam for driving on the right. Maybe a case of Teutonic efficiency over Gallic quirkiness??