I have a Nissan Terrano which I intend to travel to Rome with. The clear glass headlamps make it difficult to know where to place the legally required beam benders. Does anyone have any ideas as to the correct positioning of them?
Nissan Terrano abd Beam Benders
- Thread starter Philip_5073260
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This would probably be quite difficult to describe in text alone. Have you asked your Nissan dealer? They probably supply kits for such a purpose and should be able to tell you how to fit them.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Beam 'benders' are not a legal requirement. One is only legally required not to dazzle oncoming traffic. If this can be achieved by readjusting the aim of the headlamps, then this is sufficient. But, as Mick says, your Nissan dealer should be able to say what, if anything, needs to be done.
I have a similar problem with my Skoda Octavia. It has the high powered Xenon headlights which are self adjusting. The handbook refers me to my Skoda dealer to have the lights switched over for continental driving. This will be no good because when we return from the continent we land at midnight and I shall obviously require my headlights readjusted.
The only other options I have come up with are:
1. Use my foglights when I go out at night. These are mounted in the headlight unit and do not dazzle but are not particularly bright for night time driving. That was my solution last year.
2. By shining lights on my garage door, try to make a template to mark which part of the headlight I have to blank out to prevent them shining over to the left. I can then stick something on as a temporary measure when I go out at night. I am loathed to stick something on at the beginning of the holiday because the headlight covers are plastic and get quite warm, and after a fortnight they could become quite difficult to remove without using a solvent.
The only other options I have come up with are:
1. Use my foglights when I go out at night. These are mounted in the headlight unit and do not dazzle but are not particularly bright for night time driving. That was my solution last year.
2. By shining lights on my garage door, try to make a template to mark which part of the headlight I have to blank out to prevent them shining over to the left. I can then stick something on as a temporary measure when I go out at night. I am loathed to stick something on at the beginning of the holiday because the headlight covers are plastic and get quite warm, and after a fortnight they could become quite difficult to remove without using a solvent.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Yes, xenon headlamps are a problem. Although they are self adjusting, the dealer should, however, still be able to adjust the nominal position temporarily to a lower beam setting. You'd just have to put up with a slightly poorer beam pattern than usual before you leave the UK and again after your return until you've had a chance to get the headlights adjusted back again by the dealer.
Hi Philip,
I had the same prob with my C5. Clear glass and the dealer wanted something ridiculous to put a shatterproof cover over the lights that shows where to put the beam deflectors.
All you have to remember is that from the drivers position the right or offside of the headlight sends beams to the left and the bottom of the headlight sends beams the furthest. These are the part of a British cars headlights that dazzle on the continent.
So all you have to do is cover that part of the headlamp that is likeliest to dazzle. Get down on your knees and with a felt tip pen mark the exact spot on the glass that coincides with the position of the bulb. Now draw a line horizontily from that point to the offside of the headlamp. Now draw a line vertically from that first spot you did down about 2cms. From there, draw another line again towards the offside but at an angle of 15 degrees down from horizontal.
I hope this is making sense. Now, fill in the area you have marked with black insulating tape trimming neatly. Wait 'til it gets dark and try it out on the garage door. There will be a slight reduction in the amount of light from the headlights but not so you would notice. In addition the gendarmerie will note that you have prevented any of the natives from being dazzled and leave you alone. Hope this helps and have a good trip.
I had the same prob with my C5. Clear glass and the dealer wanted something ridiculous to put a shatterproof cover over the lights that shows where to put the beam deflectors.
All you have to remember is that from the drivers position the right or offside of the headlight sends beams to the left and the bottom of the headlight sends beams the furthest. These are the part of a British cars headlights that dazzle on the continent.
So all you have to do is cover that part of the headlamp that is likeliest to dazzle. Get down on your knees and with a felt tip pen mark the exact spot on the glass that coincides with the position of the bulb. Now draw a line horizontily from that point to the offside of the headlamp. Now draw a line vertically from that first spot you did down about 2cms. From there, draw another line again towards the offside but at an angle of 15 degrees down from horizontal.
I hope this is making sense. Now, fill in the area you have marked with black insulating tape trimming neatly. Wait 'til it gets dark and try it out on the garage door. There will be a slight reduction in the amount of light from the headlights but not so you would notice. In addition the gendarmerie will note that you have prevented any of the natives from being dazzled and leave you alone. Hope this helps and have a good trip.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Your suggestion makes sense but it only really applies to cars with regular headlamps. As soon as you have self adjusting xenon ones, especially when main beam and dipped beam are separate light sources inside the same headlamp unit, there's no bulb to align against and it's going to be difficult to mark the field which you want to blackout. And the method doesn't work at all if you've got one of those new high-tech cars with adaptive forward lighting because the light source moves to the left and right as you steer. In such cases you really have to go to the dealer to get him to readjust the headlamps.
Thanks Lutz, but two visits to the nearest dealer (which isn't very close), waiting time, cost, etc., just for a few evening trips whilst away, I don't think I'll bother!!!
Dear Lutz
I note your comments but, with respect, my original remark still stands. The part of the reflective surface that causes problems when driving a UK car on the continent are those parts on the offside bottom of the lens. I did not answer in regard to the 'new' cars with swivel lens because I was answering a prob from someone with a Terrano.
- Mar 14, 2005
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It still going to be a problem, though, if main and dipped beam are separate but behind the same lens. The main beam bulb is usually located inboard of the dipped beam so if you apply the method that you suggest, one would probably blank out most of the main beam on the right hand side of the vehicle.
As i work for a motor dealer i would not advice you to stick anything over a xenon h/lamp as the lens could melt which is why they all have inbuilt manual adjusters to convert to continental driving. Also they are all self adjusting with vehicle movement so as not to dazzle with the aid of a sensor attached to the suspension , hope this is of some help.
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