Xenon lights: switching left to right

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Wed 2 May 2007 15:41
Xenon lights: switching left to right - Brian Tryzers
I've read various anecdotes concerning xenon lights and difficulties in switching them to dip right for continental driving. (A Seat Alhambra that required the front bumper to be removed was one - a dealer job at £150 each way.) Since I go to France once or twice a year, and have always managed with stick-on deflectors on my halogen lights (not an option with xenons, of course) this makes me rather wary of specifying xenon lights on a new car - £300 on the cost of my holiday and illegal lights on the journey from dealer to ferry port and back. Does anyone here have first-hand experience, good or bad, of taking a car with xenon lights abroad?
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Wed 2 May 2007 15:46
Xenon lights: switching left to right - PR {P}
Did it with my previous GTA (this one hasnt got them). I asked dealers who were vaig at best, so I did the following.....

Went to Halfords and bought a pair of those pricey round eurolight deflectors. Parked car up against garage door with lights on, and moved the sticky disc around on the headlight until it blocked the correct bit of light, and stuck it on. I found I didnt need to do the drivers side headlight as the light didnt go that fat across.
On returning I used hot soapy water to remove the glue from the sticker with no problems.
I drove quite a lot in the dark over in France/Italy and got zero flashes from cars coming the other way.
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Wed 2 May 2007 15:46
Xenon lights: switching left to right - OldHand
Good experience with an E46 BMW. Just turned the yellow knob from one setting to another. Approx 60 seconds work including lifting and closing the bonnet.

Check with the dealer before specifying- I know on some cars like the new A3 it's a pain in the rear but still possible to do yourself ie fiddly but no bumper removal required
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Wed 2 May 2007 19:59
Xenon lights: switching left to right - Hamsafar
Vauxhall Omega, you just move a lever on each light? Why can't everything in life be that simple?
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Wed 2 May 2007 21:48
Xenon lights: switching left to right - Brian Tryzers
Thanks everyone. Looks like the moral is to make the dealer show me how it's done before I place an order. There's still the question of £1000 replacements, of course...
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Wed 2 May 2007 22:52
Xenon lights: switching left to right - OldHand
Why would you need £1000 worth of replacements?

Bulbs can be had from specialist suppliers from £50 and the lamp units are available singly. It's also unlikely you'd need 2- unless you annoy someone with a big stick.
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