Switch headlights from rhd to lhd

[Xrap]

Hi all I hope someone can shed some light for me (excuse the pun) I have a e280 cdi 2007 uk registered I want to register it in France which needs a new mot iam trying to find out if I need to fit lhd lights or not I have looked in one headlight I thought there was a little switch but it doesn’t seem to move at all it’s a flat piece of metal looks like a lever but does not move gratefull is someone can help

 

[LostKiwi]

You will almost certainly need to change the headlights. Even flicking the lever on suitably equipped lights doesn't clean up the beam pattern enough to pass the Control Technique.

 

[Xrap]

Hi thanks for your reply I have just put the car up against a wall and the beam seems very flat ie doesn’t seem to go left or right just up and down on main beam how can I fined out the part numbers I require to change the lights there is someone on eBay selling head lamp for my car apparently which states for lhd cars only is this what I need iam already in france so sorting things here are a problem thanks

 

[mimile]

You should change the headlights.

If you don't want to sell this car, in case you keep living in France, you can borrow a pair of French headlights to someone owning the same car for the time of the contrôle technique. You have to do it every two years, not very easy but cheaper...

 

[Xrap]

Hi mimile yes sounds good but not very practical I am quite happy to buy the lights but need to find out what ones I need...

 

[rorywquin]

You should change the headlights.

If you don't want to sell this car, in case you keep living in France, you can borrow a pair of French headlights to someone owning the same car for the time of the contrôle technique. You have to do it every two years, not very easy but cheaper...

Are you suggesting he drives an illegal car and dazzles other motorists?

 

[Xrap]

The lights are xenon does this make any difference. When you switch the lights on they raise up and down to self adjust....?

 

[LostKiwi]

The lights are xenon does this make any difference. When you switch the lights on they raise up and down to self adjust....?

Just means you'll either need LHD xenons or to recode the car for LHD non-xenon.

 

[umblecumbuz]

And when you CT your car, the tester will also check the position of the rear high intensity fog light. If you have only one, it needs to be on the left rear, not the right rear as in UK.

Have you considered keeping the car UK registered? It would mean an annual trip to the UK to get a Mot test (and many ex-pats do this trip anyway to see family etc), but against that you could offset the CT cost, which is dearer than the UK Mot - plus a possible contra visite if your car fails first time around - not 'gratuit' any more now the tougher CT regulations are in place.

 

[mimile]

Are you suggesting he drives an illegal car and dazzles other motorists?

Only during the nights... I rarely drive by night, (and I don't cross any other car on the French deserted roads) that's why I suggested this way. It could be different if he lives in a big town.

 

[Oldspanners]

Hi all I hope someone can shed some light for me (excuse the pun) I have a e280 cdi 2007 uk registered I want to register it in France which needs a new mot iam trying to find out if I need to fit lhd lights or not I have looked in one headlight I thought there was a little switch but it doesn’t seem to move at all it’s a flat piece of metal looks like a lever but does not move gratefull is someone can help

If the lever adjusts the beam pattern to a flat line ie no flick ups at the side it will pass the CT no problem. If you do go to the trouble to buy new units make sure they have the EU markings as a lot of cheap ones don't and they won't pass the CT.

 

[Oldspanners]

And when you CT your car, the tester will also check the position of the rear high intensity fog light. If you have only one, it needs to be on the left rear, not the right rear as in UK.

Have you considered keeping the car UK registered? It would mean an annual trip to the UK to get a Mot test (and many ex-pats do this trip anyway to see family etc), but against that you could offset the CT cost, which is dearer than the UK Mot - plus a possible contra visite if your car fails first time around - not 'gratuit' any more now the tougher CT regulations are in place.

If you are resident in France your car should be registered in France and the CT is only every two years and the tougher CT regulations should apply to all EU countries, even UK for the moment anyway!

 

[LostKiwi]

If the lever adjusts the beam pattern to a flat line ie no flick ups at the side it will pass the CT no problem. If you do go to the trouble to buy new units make sure they have the EU markings as a lot of cheap ones don't and they won't pass the CT.

Even the slightest flick up is a fail. We've seen this already recently with a W204 in the Cognac region. The kick was barely visible but still ended up a fail.

 

[EmilysDad]

Just asking ..... what is it that actually makes a headlamp LHD or RHD? I would imagine that any manufacturer of headlamps would make it as easy as possible to make a housing one or the other eg a Smart Roadster's head lights are easily swapped from RHD to LHD ie not just remove the UK kerbside kick up.

I've never really looked when I've had a headlamp off a car

 

[LostKiwi]

Just asking ..... what is it that actually makes a headlamp LHD or RHD? I would imagine that any manufacturer of headlamps would make it as easy as possible to make a housing one or the other eg a Smart Roadster's head lights are easily swapped from RHD to LHD ie not just remove the UK kerbside kick up.

I've never really looked when I've had a headlamp off a car

It can be any or all of the following:
1. Internal mask for beam shape (projectors)
2. Front lens design
3. Internal reflector design

The housing will generally be the same with either different internals or different front glass.

 

[EmilysDad]

It can be any or all of the following:
1. Internal mask for beam shape (projectors)
2. Front lens design
3. Internal reflector design

The housing will generally be the same with either different internals or different front glass.

The 'glass' on modern headlamps is almost always clear these days so will be the same for LHD & RHD .... I bet it wouldn't take much to convert. Where's Craig when you want him? lol

 

[Oldspanners]

Even the slightest flick up is a fail. We've seen this already recently with a W204 in the Cognac region. The kick was barely visible but still ended up a fail.

If the mask is working properly it will of course avoid that. A friend has an E class and has passed for the last 4 CT's with no problem. I had to change the complete units on my C class because it didn't have this facility.

 

[umblecumbuz]

If you are resident in France your car should be registered in France and the CT is only every two years and the tougher CT regulations should apply to all EU countries, even UK for the moment anyway!

True - but culture seems to play a big part.
Obviously for parity across the EU, the annual road test should be standard - but it ain't. Two year intervals in France as opposed to an annual test in the UK, two months to fix a failed vehicle instead of two weeks, etc.

And one tester will say 'Non', while the next will say 'Oui'. The French seem to be a lot like the Italians - they play to their own music and ignore the rules whenever it suits them. Brits, on the other hand, stick to the rules and seem surprised when others don't.

 

[Oldspanners]

True - but culture seems to play a big part.
Obviously for parity across the EU, the annual road test should be standard - but it ain't. Two year intervals in France as opposed to an annual test in the UK, two months to fix a failed vehicle instead of two weeks, etc.

And one tester will say 'Non', while the next will say 'Oui'. The French seem to be a lot like the Italians - they play to their own music and ignore the rules whenever it suits them. Brits, on the other hand, stick to the rules and seem surprised when others don't.

Haven't really found that, had many cars through different CT centres in over 20 years and they have all been unfailingly helpful and professional. Any car with a major fault will now only leave the CT centre on a trailer and be repaired by a professional. I've also had a car with a new (one week old) UK MoT that when presented to the CT had a failure list of a page.
As for Brits sticking to the rules I've seen and known many residents who don't re-register their UK cars.
All in all I've found people will be people wherever they are!

 

[mimile]

True - but culture seems to play a big part.
Obviously for parity across the EU, the annual road test should be standard - but it ain't. Two year intervals in France as opposed to an annual test in the UK, two months to fix a failed vehicle instead of two weeks, etc.

And one tester will say 'Non', while the next will say 'Oui'. The French seem to be a lot like the Italians - they play to their own music and ignore the rules whenever it suits them. Brits, on the other hand, stick to the rules and seem surprised when others don't.

I totally agree with that. Contrôle technique every two years, (and no MOT for motorbikes) no road tax, speed cameras wrapped by the yellow vests (!!!), France is one of the best country in E.U. for cars enthousiasts. Not convinced it's going to last long anyway.