Fitting beam deflectors to drive in France & to pass the CT (MOT equivalent)

[Jenski]

Hi MB folks, I have a CLK Cabriolet W209 200 Kompressor. I imported & am registering my car to/in France & it needs to pass its CT before it can be registered. I have the up to date CT requirements (in French) which state that beam deflectors are acceptable however putting them on them is a whole different ball game. I know nothing about lights although I've tried to gen up on them today. I've circled on the photos the relevant bits but have no idea whether my headlights are Standard Headlights or Projector + Xenon headlights. The instructions say to have the beam deflectors at 10 o'clock on the the Standard Headlights and at 3 o'clock on the Projector. I've read everything I can but can't get my head round this. My local CT guy tried to help but hasn't ever put them on or even seen them before. When it goes dark I'm going to try sticking some bits of paper on to test first but I'd like a definitive answer if possible. The 2nd pic number 4 is Projector & 3rd pic number 67 is Standard. The 4th pic is my headlights which do look to me like reflector (Standard) but I don't know if it's that simple. Ps There is no little switch on the headlights to make them LHD. I checked with my Merc garage before driving over.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Check on the back of your lamp unit. If there is a little square black or grey box connecting to the back of the bulb, with a yellow high voltage sticker, then you have HiD (xenon) lamps. You can also check this with an online VIN lookup.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Btw the beam deflectors you have are very good. I’ve used them before.

 

[EmilysDad]

projector headlamps still have a filament (H7? bulb) HiD head lights take a second or so to 'warm up' and will do a dance when they are first switched on.

 

[EmilysDad]

Wouldn't both projector & HiDs have a shutter inbuilt into the headlight?

 

[Craiglxviii]

Wouldn't both projector & HiDs have a shutter inbuilt into the headlight?

Depends on model year. My MY2000 CL500 doesn’t have a beam cutoff but does have HiD…

 

[Jenski]

projector headlamps still have a filament (H7? bulb) HiD head lights take a second or so to 'warm up' and will do a dance when they are first switched on.

Thanks EmilysDad. Are HiD the Standard ones? Mine do take a couple of seconds to warm up.

 

[EmilysDad]

Thanks EmilysDad. Are HiD the Standard ones? Mine do take a couple of seconds to warm up.

It's my understanding that even seats & steering wheel are options on a Merc

 

[EmilysDad]

Depends on model year. My MY2000 CL500 doesn’t have a beam cutoff but does have HiD…

I'm just going off the fact that my R Class with projectors had a lever for the cut off as did my Omega that had HiDs

 

[Jenski]

Check on the back of your lamp unit. If there is a little square black or grey box connecting to the back of the bulb, with a yellow high voltage sticker, then you have HiD (xenon) lamps. You can also check this with an online VIN lookup.

Sorry to be gormless Craig but when you say 'Check on the back of your lamp unit' do you mean on the inside ie by lifting the bonnet up?

 

[V6Matty]

You have standard H7 reflector type lights

 

[Craiglxviii]

Sorry to be gormless Craig but when you say 'Check on the back of your lamp unit' do you mean on the inside ie by lifting the bonnet up?

Yes I do

 

[Jenski]

You have standard H7 reflector type lights

Thanks V6Matty!

 

[EmilysDad]

I thought beam deflectors & internal shutters that cut off the kick up to the left of a RHD car were only for temporary use while on holiday

 

[Jenski]

Thanks Everyone, I was testing the deflector on them last night in the dark. The 10 o'clock position cut out some of the light spill, the 3 o'clock did nothing so I think they're definitely reflector lights. While I was testing it I tried 5 o'clock which worked much better at cutting out the diagonal spill. How do you

I thought beam deflectors & internal shutters that cut off the kick up to the left of a RHD car were only for temporary use while on holiday

Hi EmilysDad, no, as I said in the initial post it actually states in the most up to date CT documentation that they are acceptable. Ireland, Cyprus & Malta drive on the left so it doesn't just affect cars coming from the UK. I don't know if it'll work but I've tried to attach the relevant documentation.
The relevant paragraphs are 4.1.2.a.2 and 4.1.4.b.2