Adjusting Headlamps for Driving in Europe

[tode]

So i spent ages looking online & re-reading the one paragraph in the handbook trying to work out what I needed to do for a 2013 facelift E-Class to drive in Europe.

The answer is ... nothing! After admitting defeat I rang MB customer services who informed me that my car has static LEDs as standard (standard SE trim, no light pack) for dipped headlights - main beam is halogen. The light pattern conforms to continental and UK standards.

This isn't clear from any where i can see (MB website spec list for car, brochure, handbook, websites). .The handbook itself says you need to adjust...unless you have static LEDs - but doesn't specify what is standard on what model.

Great news as no fiddling with the lights to try and feel for a switch & no silly stickers on the front either!

On a 2013 car you should be able to set your lights via the computer. Your handbook will explain under "Driving abroad" section.

 

[Corned]

So i spent ages looking online & re-reading the one paragraph in the handbook trying to work out what I needed to do for a 2013 facelift E-Class to drive in Europe.

The answer is ... nothing! After admitting defeat I rang MB customer services who informed me that my car has static LEDs as standard (standard SE trim, no light pack) for dipped headlights - main beam is halogen. The light pattern conforms to continental and UK standards.

This isn't clear from any where i can see (MB website spec list for car, brochure, handbook, websites). .The handbook itself says you need to adjust...unless you have static LEDs - but doesn't specify what is standard on what model.

Great news as no fiddling with the lights to try and feel for a switch & no silly stickers on the front either!

If this is correct, then the easiest way to check would be to wait for dark and put the car against a wall/garage door and look at the beam pattern. If it is a flat pattern, then yes you will not have to do anything for continental driving.

However, if the beam pattern includes the kerb flick-ups to the left then something - one way or another - will have to be done to avoid dazzling our continental friends.

 

[st4]

Is it just me or the sticky beam deflectors the easiest solution?

 

[television]

Is it just me or the sticky beam deflectors the easiest solution?

With some lamps there are no markings at all as to where to fit them, my CL for instance

 

[Teflon]

Just to confirm what Tode has posted - the manual isn't best designed to make things clear.

My facelift 2013 E-Class has partial LED lights, which I assume is what they mean by "static LED". So no adjustment necessary, even for the halogen high beam.

It's a good job really, because although the handbook says to adjust unless I have static LEDs, it doesn't tell you how or where to do it and there's nothing available on the instrument cluster menu. The only think I've got is the option to switch the speedo centre display to kph.


.

 

[parkman]

Hi, just to add my pennyworth to the discussion - I took my Jag XJR to Bordeaux via Le Mans [for the race] and although the car has xenon lights I didn't have any trouble with night driving. I didn't change anything and I didn't get any hassle of either French drivers, who are very quick to start flashing if they think that you are main beam, or French police.

The one thing that I am sure nowadays are aware of, is to ensure that drivers always carry [a] a self breathalizer kit, a high viz vest, and [c] a warning triangle. I was talking to a friend of mine a while ago who went to Paris and was involved in a bit of a bump and when the police turned up he got fined for not carrying a hi viz in the boot. Luckily, he had his breathalizer.

parkman

 

[television]

So you need a breathalyzer as well now in France, I never really touch the stuff

 

[Ricardo_e220]

Don't need a breathalyser anymore. That got thrown out as unenforcable. I have some but wont replace them when they expire

 

[parkman]

Hi Malcolm, I don't know when the French introduced the requirement for having to to carry a self-use breathalyzer [I spelt it incorrectly in my previous post] but yes you have to carry one.

I think it was purely for preventing accidents after consuming a bottle of wine [or two] at lunch time, which was the norm a few years ago. I used to work in Brittany, driving fridge HGV's for a meat importer, around 10 years ago and every day at lunch time all the drivers went to a routiers restaurant and we would drink at least a half bottle of wine each, followed by a calvados or a cognac, and then go back to work driving a 40 foot artic to make a delivery somewhere.

To be honest, I did enjoy it. I spent 18 years working on the continent driving HGV's and there were no laws about drinking and driving in France, Italy or Spain in those days. All the southern European countries ignored the drink driving issue, but all the northern European countries were very strict about it. Good old heady days indeed although ridiculously irresponsible even if I do say so myself.

parkman

 

[EmilysDad]

Hi, just to add my pennyworth to the discussion - I took my Jag XJR to Bordeaux via Le Mans [for the race] and although the car has xenon lights I didn't have any trouble with night driving. I didn't change anything......

Still doesn't mean they were set right. As above, it's likely your Jag lights are asymmetrical and need something doing them to remove the up/left kick-up. The projectors of my Merc & the HIDs of my Vauxhall both have a lever inside to shutter off the offending part of the beam.

 

[EmilysDad]

Hi Malcolm, I don't know when the French introduced the requirement for having to to carry a self-use breathalyzer [I spelt it incorrectly in my previous post] but yes you have to carry one. .....

but in practice ....... you don't http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/road-safety/9880120/France-breathalyser-fine-dropped.html

depends which language setting you have set as to which spelling is correct

 

[parkman]

Hi, if EmilysDad is correct about the different spellings of "breathalizer" or "breathalyser" does that mean that we could get a different result when using the item in question. I think we should be told the truth

parkman

 

[brandwooddixon]

In modern English the use of z or s is now interchangeable and accepted usage.

 

[Uncle]

My 2003 ML270 has Bi Xenons I must have a look at the weekend to see if there is a lever fitted or will I need to mask the lens - does anyone know this?

Also the requirement to carry Hi Vis jackets in France is that you must carry one for each occupent and that they must be stowed somewhere that is reachable from inside the car not the boot. I always carry 5 but gonna need 7 now with the ML

As for carrying spare bulbs - what about the rear LED's I am not sure what I would need for the E class W212?

 

[Billigmeister]

i have a s212 2010 with regular lights.

According to the online manual i should be able to adjust my headlights with a lever/switch in the light cluster itself. I have tried a couple of times to find it but can never find the damn thing - or is there another way?

 

[EmilysDad]

In modern English the use of z or s is now interchangeable and accepted usage.

I might be, but one is American & t'other is English .... like it's common to find color tire (tyre not to get tired ) on forums

Does't make it correct

 

[EmilysDad]

My 2003 ML270 has Bi Xenons I must have a look at the weekend to see if there is a lever fitted or will I need to mask the lens - does anyone know this?

Not specifically on yor car, but I would think so.

As for carrying spare bulbs - what about the rear LED's I am not sure what I would need for the E class W212?

You're only required to carry spare bulbs for those lights that you can change them in without the use of tools ..... ie you're not expected to remove bumpers etc at side of the road to change headlight bulbs like you have to on some cars.

 

[tode]

Not specifically on yor car, but I would think so.





You're only required to carry spare bulbs for those lights that you can change them in without the use of tools ..... ie you're not expected to remove bumpers etc at side of the road to change headlight bulbs like you have to on some cars.

That's not quite what the French law states. If you have defective lights, you are supposed to change them in situ, or the car can be immobilised (allowing you to go to a garage in daylight) if the police believe your car to be dangerous. . . . A question of appreciation.

 

[Philedge]

R230 Bi Xenons

Does anyone know for sure if am R230 with Bi Xenons has adjusting levers for European driving? I cant find any.

If the levers aren't there are they adjusted with STAR or with sticky tape on the lens?

 

[television]

You have levers on that SL they are there, one flip and that shutter comes down, do it again and they go up again