heapster
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Sussex
Posts: 257
  
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| Changing Xenon headlights for the Continent |
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Just looking at the handbook on how to change the Xenon headlights for travelling on the continent. It appears to involve removing the front grille and the headlights, fiddling with some levers then putting the whole thing back together. The chances of me performing this on the 30-minute Eurostar is low....
Anyone tried to do this - is it possible to reach the levers without dismantling the whole car? Even with grownup sized fingers?
Or do I do the usual thing and ignore the problem and risk Le Plod noticing?
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 13th Nov 2007 6:25 pm |
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SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
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this has been mentioned before....
I for one am hard pushed to tell the difference.............now don't bother  end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
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| 13th Nov 2007 6:29 pm |
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al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10297
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yep, but Spotter has French blood in the family, and you know how the french like to stick two fingers up at authority. 
Al Volvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
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| 13th Nov 2007 6:40 pm |
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Simon T
Member Since: 24 Oct 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 6
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I went to Spain for two months and didn't change my lights over. Never got "flashed" once 
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| 13th Nov 2007 6:41 pm |
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heapster
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Sussex
Posts: 257
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I can sense a consensus forming.......
If they stop me I can always shrug my shoulders French-style and that should do the trick.
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| 13th Nov 2007 6:48 pm |
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SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
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al cope wrote:yep, but Spotter has French blood in the family, and you know how the french like to stick two fingers up at authority.
Al
you are right, compared to them I am an absolute angel of a citizen:wink: end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
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| 13th Nov 2007 6:51 pm |
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AndrewW
Member Since: 06 Aug 2007
Location: Saddleworth
Posts: 2302
 
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I bought a pack of "stick-ons " on the ferry, complete with instructions on how to fit to scores (literally) of different headlight configurations.
Found them in the boot on the way back  - not much night driving, but no flashes / aggro etc.
Wanna buy a pair of stickies? 
Andy 2006 D3 finally swapped for a 2016 D4 Graphite in Graphite grey. No mods
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| 13th Nov 2007 6:53 pm |
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simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
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Did France too this year and didn't bother... no one flashed and the road was lit up plenty good.
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| 13th Nov 2007 7:52 pm |
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90BHP
Member Since: 18 Oct 2006
Location: Half way along the road on the right
Posts: 3706
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I bought my Xenons, took the grill off, removed the Halogens and fitted Xenons + all back together in less than 20 Mins. didn't even have to get the book out. If you choose to do it, you could do it easy in 30 mins or even in the line waiting to board . .
Have driven cars and bikes in France and only bothered once. Never had a problem.
HTH "To finish first, one first has to finish ...."
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| 13th Nov 2007 7:57 pm |
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NoDo$h
Member Since: 02 May 2006
Location: Finding new and exciting ways to milk badgers.
Posts: 19689
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Just DON'T do it on the train as opening the bonnet and revealing the nice hot engine shows up as a possible fire on the fire detection system and causes the four horsemen of the apocalypse to descend upon you.
20 minutes is about right, but again, don't bother. Not been flashed when I've been over there as the change in beam pattern is absolutely negligible. I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
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| 13th Nov 2007 8:32 pm |
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JPW
Member Since: 19 Mar 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 217
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I changed my headlights over in the summer when I went to France - doing so did seem to light the righthand side kerb better.
In the end I managed to change them in the tunnel carpark (without removing the grill or the lights) but I had taken one of the lights out at home first just to work out exactly what I needed to move. There isn't much room (there's more room on one side than the other) but it is possible.
The post at http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic849.html?highlight=headlights gives instructions and some helpful pictures.
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| 13th Nov 2007 9:06 pm |
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Alex08
Member Since: 09 Nov 2006
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 1600
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The road illumination is not a problem but I found that withoug adjusting the lights the roadsigns weren't illuminated. Venturing out of the Sat Nav area this became important. And it took 10mins to do whilst waiting for the ferry. Worth it in my opinion.
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| 14th Nov 2007 10:04 am |
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heapster
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Sussex
Posts: 257
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Thanks all - I'll have a practice fiddle around and see if my (man-sized) hands can reach down and change the levers without removal. On the other hand I could always stop on the other side and take my time to do the job properly.
We're driving through the night so on refelction it may be prudent to change them over.
Cheers
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| 14th Nov 2007 12:52 pm |
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Alicatt
Member Since: 10 Jul 2007
Location: Eating in Eksel or Working in Wick
Posts: 320
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Not tried it on the D3 but on the RRS, it is a 5 minute job, pull the grill off, unclip the lights, open the back of the lights and flick the lever and then put it all back together again. The beam pattern does change and does illuminate the verge/ signs much better after changing. I got the technician to show me how to do it when I picked up the car lucky I did as the lights were set for driving on the right from new
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| 14th Nov 2007 1:02 pm |
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NoDo$h
Member Since: 02 May 2006
Location: Finding new and exciting ways to milk badgers.
Posts: 19689
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Takes a bit longer if you have headlamp protectors as you have to remove these to get the headlight out  I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
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| 14th Nov 2007 7:51 pm |
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