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Driving in Europe: adjusting headlights

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  • 26-07-2008 2:32pm
    #1
    Winger_PL
    Registered Users Posts: 295 ✭✭


    Hi,

    I'll be driving over to Poland in August, just wondering, has anyone had any experience in adjusting the headlights not to dazzle oncoming drivers?

    I'm driving a 407, I'll be passing the Eurotunnel around 6am so there will be a full day to get the adjustment done. I imagine there are numerous garages around Dover / Calais that can do this within minutes, am I correct here? Or is it something one can do himself (doubtful)?

    Any help greatly appreciated.

    Kind Regards,
    Winger


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    #2
    Toots
    Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,920 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    I remember when we were taking family holidays to Europe when I was younger you got these little sticker things that you put on the headlight that redirects the beam so you don't blind oncoming drivers. AFAIK you should be able to get them in any autostore. My Dad used to get them from the one beside the leisureplex in stillorgan.


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    #3
    DJ Hafez
    Registered Users Posts: 948 ✭✭✭DJ Hafez


    Halfords have the sticker things aswell. They seem to do the job :)


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    #4
    Cionád
    Registered Users Posts: 2,000 ✭✭✭Cionád


    Yeah, I got the beam deflectors from the local motor factors (CPL Motor Factors, Maynooth), cost around 8 euro afaik.


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    #5
    Tails142
    Registered Users Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭Tails142


    A lot of cars have a simple lever on the headlight that can switch the light from shining to the left, and turn the lens to shine to the right.

    Check your manual.


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    #6
    Winger_PL
    Registered Users Posts: 295 ✭✭Winger_PL


    Many thanks, got one set of those stickers in Halfords today. I always thought they're a cheap solution and a proper regulation is required for a proper effect, apparently I was wrong.

    Nothing in the manual about the settings anyway.

    Kind Regards,
    Winger


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    #7
    Tropheus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,937 ✭✭✭Tropheus


    The stickers don't work on Xenons. My Audi has xenons and there is a lever to adjust them for continental driving. This isn't mentioned in the handbook - I learned about it on a specialist forum. You're supposed to go to a main stealer to get them adjusted.

    Stickers are an easy solution if you don't have xenons.


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    #8
    parsi
    Site Banned Posts: 5,904 ✭✭✭parsi


    Winger_PL wrote: »
    Hi,

    I'll be driving over to Poland in August, just wondering, has anyone had any experience in adjusting the headlights not to dazzle oncoming drivers?

    Every year in the queue for the ferry you see all us Paddies putting on our beam benders before heading to France.

    I've never yet seen a French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Spanish car in Ireland with beam benders....


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    #9
    Tropheus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,937 ✭✭✭Tropheus


    parsi wrote: »
    I've never yet seen a French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Spanish car in Ireland with beam benders....

    Good point and yet I can't say I've every been blinded by a LHD car on Irish roads. My problem is Irish people who think front fog lights are fashion accessories.


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    #10
    Anan1
    Registered Users Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    parsi wrote: »
    Every year in the queue for the ferry you see all us Paddies putting on our beam benders before heading to France.
    As a child, I remember painting our family car's headlights yellow...


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    #11
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,466 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    parsi wrote: »
    Every year in the queue for the ferry you see all us Paddies putting on our beam benders before heading to France.

    I've never yet seen a French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Spanish car in Ireland with beam benders....
    Good point. However when I lived on the continent, I tried to no avail to get hold of some for my car when I went over to the UK. The motor accessory shops looked at me as if I had two heads when I asked for them. And before you ask, no, you can't use the ones you get in the UK, they're the 'wrong way round' apparently.


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    #12
    L1011
    Registered Users Posts: 68,910 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    ksimpson wrote: »
    Good point and yet I can't say I've every been blinded by a LHD car on Irish roads. My problem is Irish people who think front fog lights are fashion accessories.

    I have, often. :mad:

    Worst is actually LHD versions of my own car (Panda) due to the insanely bright (yet halogen) bulbs it comes with, if they're not switched over it feels like retina burn time! I've seen more PL regs than IRL on them at times, might be national pride or something - built there...


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