Headlamp Deflectors

[maxi77]

Just getting ready for our trip to the Algarve and thoughts moved to headlamp deflectors, though we lived i Portugal for a couple of years and I have driven all over the world it is over 30 years since I took a UK car on to the continent, so what are the best deflectors to buy, the van is an 05 Ducato.

Thanks

 

[Kontiki]

I used to use ones like this Super Beam Benders For Driving in Europe [HG128] Headlamp Beam Converters | eBay but there are lots on ebay not too expensive. You can get away with a bit of black tape & there are a few sites explaining where you need to stick it.

I don't have to bother now with mine as the headlights are round Hella ones & there are 2 positions (1 for UK use & the other for use in Europe)

 

[Deleted member 8180]

I use the cunning beam benders with the prism lens. These actually do deflect the light and with carefully peeling and reapplication of double sided tape, can be used several times. Most 'beam benders' are amazingly expensive bits of black tape equivalent and do nothing but mask part of the lens.

 

[Captain Biggles]

Or being totally irresponsible, you could do what all our Continental Cousins appear to do at night as soon as they get ready to disembark from their vessel/Eurostar ...... bugger all.

I have never seen any UK bound drivers adjusting headlamps or adding beam masks and with all the mis-alighned headlights and vehicles with only one headlight illuminated on our roads and those of Europe, I don't think that you would be adding too much to the already sizeable problem, thanks to the likes of Renault & other car manufacturers who produce cars that required major surgery and 1-2 man hours in order to change a headlamp bulb.

Just as a passing note, I can change my Volvo S80 headlights or sidelights in ~30 seconds with no specialist tools, spanners, torque wrenches, scaffolding, block and tackle or other tools. Possibly a point worth remembering when it's time to buy your next car?....

Enjoy the Algarve! :have fun:

 

[dave and mary]

Depending on what vehicle you have but

on ebay a couple of years ago I managed to find a set of the plastic ones that clip over your existing lights, they have the deflectors marked on them, really great and of course you only have to buy them once, ours is a 04 Peugeot boxer, worth a look may be.



:drive: :drive:

 

[RSD7a]

Hi there, I bought mine for under £3 from amazon. Universal fit with instructions. Mines an 04 Ducato. If the link below doesn't work just search amazon for headlight deflectors. Brand name is Eurolights.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eurolites-H...81186800&sr=8-1&keywords=headlight+deflectors.

So that's me, finally out of the closet after many months of silently enjoying your wonderful community. Hello one and all.

 

[big tom]

Does any one know if reusable beam benders are available?

 

[Deleted member 8180]

(null)

Yep. Those are the ones- black tape with a cool pattern. Well done for not paying £7. And of course, welcome

 

[dave and mary]

Just getting ready for our trip to the Algarve and thoughts moved to headlamp deflectors, though we lived i Portugal for a couple of years and I have driven all over the world it is over 30 years since I took a UK car on to the continent, so what are the best deflectors to buy, the van is an 05 Ducato.

Thanks

There are new ones on ebay a bit pricey but it is worth keeping an eye on there .





1 of 3 images


FIAT DUCATO HEADLAMP,HEADLIGHT PROTECTORS 2002to2006,c/w ...


Member ID 4drive6365 | Feedback score of 5409 | 99.7%


Quantity available

 

[Seannachie]

Or being totally irresponsible, you could do what all our Continental Cousins appear to do at night as soon as they get ready to disembark from their vessel/Eurostar ...... bugger all.

I have never seen any UK bound drivers adjusting headlamps or adding beam masks and with all the mis-alighned headlights and vehicles with only one headlight illuminated on our roads and those of Europe, I don't think that you would be adding too much to the already sizeable problem, thanks to the likes of Renault & other car manufacturers who produce cars that required major surgery and 1-2 man hours in order to change a headlamp bulb.

Yes, but you have to remember that our police apparently do nothing regarding foreign drivers/vehicles breaking the law over here but it is different on mainland Europe. I always go over at night and many a time there has been a gendarme checking us as we roll off the ferry to see if we have beam-deflectors fitted and I have even seen a couple of vehicles pulled over where these were absent. Ridiculous, really, as there is no way that anyone can tell by a casual glance whether the deflectors are correctly placed. Still, I'd rather pay a few quid for deflectors than have to pay a much larger on-the-spot fine (whether at the ferry terminal or elsewhere) for not having them fitted. Still, one would think that Sevel vans would have an easy way to change their beam pattern for continental driving but then that is not the only criticism I have of those vehicles, nevertheless, it is difficult to find anything built on other base vehicles at an affordable price.

;-)

 

[maxi77]

Yes, but you have to remember that our police apparently do nothing regarding foreign drivers/vehicles breaking the law over here but it is different on mainland Europe. I always go over at night and many a time there has been a gendarme checking us as we roll off the ferry to see if we have beam-deflectors fitted and I have even seen a couple of vehicles pulled over where these were absent. Ridiculous, really, as there is no way that anyone can tell by a casual glance whether the deflectors are correctly placed. Still, I'd rather pay a few quid for deflectors than have to pay a much larger on-the-spot fine (whether at the ferry terminal or elsewhere) for not having them fitted. Still, one would think that Sevel vans would have an easy way to change their beam pattern for continental driving but then that is not the only criticism I have of those vehicles, nevertheless, it is difficult to find anything built on other base vehicles at an affordable price.

;-)

Certainly in Portugal most road policing is done by ordinary plods rather than specialists so during the forenoon when other things are quiet almost every station sends out a few officers to do vehicle checks. Equally the French are only too aware where to catch nasty foreigners to bump up the fine/arrest figures

 

[Covey]

I have a Vauxhall Omega in the UK which has a lever on each headlamp unit to convert to continental use. The car was sold as an Opel in Germany and this arrangement saves the hassle of beam converters.

When I last had an MOT I had forgotten to change the beams back to UK config, so suddenly thought it would fail the MOT. It did not because the lever converts the beam to asymmetric beam which conforms to MOT regs so it passed its UK MOT with the beams set up for continental use.

My Hymer is also set to asymmetric beam.

 

[BrianG]

I have a Vauxhall Omega in the UK which has a lever on each headlamp unit to convert to continental use. The car was sold as an Opel in Germany and this arrangement saves the hassle of beam converters.

When I last had an MOT I had forgotten to change the beams back to UK config, so suddenly thought it would fail the MOT. It did not because the lever converts the beam to asymmetric beam which conforms to MOT regs so it passed its UK MOT with the beams set up for continental use.

My Hymer is also set to asymmetric beam.

Hi could you explain to this thicky exactly what an asymmetric beam is?

 

[Talbot]

Does any one know if reusable beam benders are available?

Beware of beam benders. I damaged the glass on my headlights when I removed them, as the adhesive they use is so strong. Won't ever use them again for that reason. I now use a small piece of black tape on each headlamp and simply remove it when I get back on UK soil. It's perfectly adequate.

 

[regent]

Continental Driving

Continental Driving I carry the following as the French police look for UK plates and on the spot fines are much more expensive than these items.
Breathalyser kit
Spare spectacles
Set of bulbs
first aid kit
warning triangle (2 for Spain)
Beam deflectors

All above available at Amazon quite cheap.

 

[spigot]

Does any one know if reusable beam benders are available?

The answer is yes, as someone has already mentioned, use double-sided tape.

Carefully peel off when returning to UK, wash sticky $hit off lens with petrol, next trip to Europe re-apply with CLEAR double-sided tape. This can be done many times.

I did find though, after 3 months in the Spanish heat that there was slight crazing in the headlamp lenses.

I now use headlamp protectors with tape already applied that I just clip on at the ferryport.

 

[spigot]

Continental Driving I carry the following as the French police look for UK plates and on the spot fines are much more expensive than these items.
Breathalyser kit
Spare spectacles
Set of bulbs
first aid kit
warning triangle (2 for Spain)
Beam deflectors

All above available at Amazon quite cheap.

Don't forget Hi-Viz vests!

 

[dave and mary]

Don't forget Hi-Viz vests!

X2 and to hand from the driving seat.



:drive: :drive:

 

[Covey]

According to the book, asymmetric beams are where both beams dip and main beam the same amount and on parallel track. This means that a RHD vehicle can drive on the left without one beam shining in the eyes of an oncoming LHD vehicle.

 

[maxi77]

Beware of beam benders. I damaged the glass on my headlights when I removed them, as the adhesive they use is so strong. Won't ever use them again for that reason. I now use a small piece of black tape on each headlamp and simply remove it when I get back on UK soil. It's perfectly adequate.

Most adhesives can be taken of with care, I removed a set of permanent deflectors from my Portuguese Bongo with the gentle application of heat. The chap who bought them from me was delighted.