Lights abroad

[david_5129164]

Has anyone any info on new legislation re side lights on caravans in France Please.

David 121

 

[Lutz]

Vehicle lighting equipment is covered by ECE Directive 48. As far as I know, no country makes any exceptions to these requirements.

 

[Gafferbill]

Lutz..I think David is referring to a requirement to have illuminated amber side marker lights to certain length new French caravans. ... and indeed German is there not?

We are only required to have amber reflectors here in the UK

 

[joeby]

Iam about to cross to France tonight , and i begrudge paying

 

[Gafferbill]

Joby..I have done this for many years using layers of parcel tape as it lets some light through the blanked off area. I use more than one layer of this type of tape to achieve the required shading.

It is important to note that your headlight lenses should be marked to show the area to be shaded.

Standing in front of the car, you should see on the left of each lens, triangular shaped markings.

Tape these areas only.

Take care when removing as some modern lenses can be scratched.

 

[SteveW77]

Be aware, that some modern plastic headlamps can crack or even melt because of the heat build up when using non transparent masks, as opposed to transparent beam benders. The cracked lens could cause an M.O.T. failure as it spoils the image on the beam checker. The cost of replacing a headlamp unit can be as high as

 

[Lutz]

ECE Directive 48 requires amber side marker lights on all vehicles over 6m overall length (including the drawbar in the case of trailers). As far as I know, ECE 48 applies in the UK, too, but I don't know when it came into effect.

 

[Lutz]

If the car has xenon headlamps, the lenses must not be blanked off.

Many modern cars do not have any marking on the headlamp covers anyway which would tell you where to apply blanking tape.

 

[joeby]

thanks very much for the replies ,its not that i am trying to save a few pounds , i have bought these converters before ,and when you open the packet and look at the 2 pieces of cardboard which must cost a few pence , the feeling of i have been done comes over me , i dont mind paying any thing if its value for money these coverters are not

 

[MikeA]

Whilst I appreciate that generally it is not sensible to mask xenon headlights, it can't be universal since my Volvo XC90 manual advises me to tape them; and provides a template.

So check with your manufacturer/dealer.

Mike A

 

[Lutz]

Whilst I appreciate that generally it is not sensible to mask xenon headlights, it can't be universal since my Volvo XC90 manual advises me to tape them; and provides a template.

So check with your manufacturer/dealer.

Mike A

Do all XC90's have xenon headlights? If not, I suspect that the manual was written for those without and someone forget to cater for the xenon variety. Blanking off xenons can cause more dazzle than one is trying to avoid.

 

[KitsGranddad]

If you are running a car with xenon headlights, just check in your handbook for a lever which alters their setting for continental use. My last two cars have had this.

 

[Jaydug]

Some xenon headlights don't require anything. My Citroen is one such - and I carry a letter stating that fact from Citroen UK just in case a French plod gets to officious.

 

[Woody3]

Ask yourself two questions:-

1. Will you be travelling much at night?

2. Do you headlights have a manual height adjustment?

If you have height adjustment simply put them down to the lowest position and don't bother with the beam benders.

If you are only very occasionally travelling at night don't bother at all.

We might like to think that we are being kind to our European neighbours, but in practice if your lights are low then won't give a flying fig about your headlights. There's enough of them badly adjusted to start with!!