Head Lamp Conversion For European Driving

[merliauds]

Does any one know if it's possible to change the beam direction on my 2003 Berlingo for European driving, rather than changing the whole headlamp uint? I know it can be done with certain cars (our Seat Alhambra for instance). Or, if not, is it possible to change just the lenses?

[Johndouglas]

Unless the car is going to stay in Europe indefinately why not do what everyone else does and use beam benders.

[merliauds]

Unless the car is going to stay in Europe indefinately why not do what everyone else does and use beam benders.

Thanks for you reply - I should have said that I live in France and have make a permanent change to register it here. I just don't want to spend more than I need to!

[Johndouglas]

Ah - then in that case, I would go to a French car breaker and buy two suitable headlamps and change them over. If you look at your existing headlight lens you should see a Circle with E4 in the centre. Above the circle will be an arrow. If the arrow is double pointed the light can be converted. If the arrow points to the right, then the light is designed for UK only. Presumable any breaker lights you buy in France will be arrowed to the left.

[merliauds]

Ah - then in that case, I would go to a French car breaker and buy two suitable headlamps and change them over. If you look at your existing headlight lens you should see a Circle with E4 in the centre. Above the circle will be an arrow. If the arrow is double pointed the light can be converted. If the arrow points to the right, then the light is designed for UK only. Presumable any breaker lights you buy in France will be arrowed to the left.

Thanks. That's the sort of information I've been after. I've got a pair of headlights lined up to buy on ebay.fr but I wanted to check out the options first. Much appreciated, and such swift replies. Have a good weekend and a virtual drink on me!!

[merliauds]

Thanks. That's the sort of information I've been after. I've got a pair of headlights lined up to buy on ebay.fr but I wanted to check out the options first. Much appreciated, and such swift replies. Have a good weekend and a virtual drink on me!!

Hi

I've just had a look in the light of day, and there are no markings at all! I know what you're talking about, because I've seen them on other headlamps. Could this be good news?!

[techbod]

useless info :) since I found the proper answer in the next post <_<

[techbod]

02/10/08

0601 05 5410 01A HEADLIGHT - GLASS - LAMP

 

HALOGEN BULB

01

 

6208 43

 

01 HEADLAMP ASSY

LEFT

- LEFT HAND DRIVE AND HALOGEN BULB

6206 43 01 RIGHT

- LEFT HAND DRIVE AND HALOGEN BULB

6208 44 01 LEFT

- RIGHT HAND DRIVE AND HALOGEN BULB

6206 44 01 RIGHT

- RIGHT HAND DRIVE AND HALOGEN BULB

10

 

6215 46

 

02 BULB-HOLDER

PY21W

11

 

6215 57

 

02 BULB-HOLDER

20

 

6216 97

 

02 HEADLIGHT LAMP

H7 12V-55W

21

 

6216 98

 

02 HEADLIGHT LAMP

H1 12V-55W

22

 

6216 31

RP 6216 A0

 

02

01 BULB

PY21W-12V

OR - ORANGE

23

 

6216 94

 

02 BULB

12V-H6W

70

 

6922 54

 

12 SELF-TAP SCREWS

DIAM 6X100-20

75

 

6941 93

 

04 CAGED NUT

DIAM 6X100

 

 

apparently the do a left hand drive bulb

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/techbod/c5headlight.jpg

[merliauds]

02/10/08

0601 05 5410 01A HEADLIGHT - GLASS - LAMP

 

HALOGEN BULB

01

 

6208 43

 

01 HEADLAMP ASSY

LEFT

- LEFT HAND DRIVE AND HALOGEN BULB

6206 43 01 RIGHT

- LEFT HAND DRIVE AND HALOGEN BULB

6208 44 01 LEFT

- RIGHT HAND DRIVE AND HALOGEN BULB

6206 44 01 RIGHT

- RIGHT HAND DRIVE AND HALOGEN BULB

10

 

6215 46

 

02 BULB-HOLDER

PY21W

11

 

6215 57

 

02 BULB-HOLDER

20

 

6216 97

 

02 HEADLIGHT LAMP

H7 12V-55W

21

 

6216 98

 

02 HEADLIGHT LAMP

H1 12V-55W

22

 

6216 31

RP 6216 A0

 

02

01 BULB

PY21W-12V

OR - ORANGE

23

 

6216 94

 

02 BULB

12V-H6W

70

 

6922 54

 

12 SELF-TAP SCREWS

DIAM 6X100-20

75

 

6941 93

 

04 CAGED NUT

DIAM 6X100

 

 

apparently the do a left hand drive bulb

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/techbod/c5headlight.jpg

Thanks very much for your trouble. Wish me luck!

[techbod]

no problem mate my photo bucket is getting some very useful information so i'm doing it for me as well

[Johndouglas]

Trying to work out what a C5 headlamp has to do with a Berlingo

[techbod]

ahhh im glad you noticed that :rolleyes: but still they have left and right hand bulbs ;) now for the berlingo

 

21/08/08

0401 05 5410 01A HEADLIGHT - GLASS - LAMP

 

 

 

01

 

6204 AX

 

01 HEADLIGHT ASSY

LEFT

- LEFT HAND DRIVE

6205 AW 01 RIGHT

- LEFT HAND DRIVE

6204 AY 01 LEFT

- RIGHT HAND DRIVE

6205 AX 01 RIGHT

- RIGHT HAND DRIVE

05

 

6215 47

 

02 BULB-HOLDER

10

 

6216 99

 

02 HEADLIGHT LAMP

H4 12V-60/55W

11

 

6216 A0

 

02 BULB

12V-PY21W

12

 

6216 A1

 

02 BULB

12V-W5W

70

 

7427 23

 

08 SCREW

DIAM 6X100-20

 

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/techbod/berlingoheadlight.jpg

[Johndouglas]

but still they have left and right hand bulbs

 

I disagree! There are four different headlamp assemblies listed. A left and a right for UK vehicles and a left and right for Euro vehicles. Headlamp bulbs are universal. They fit either assembly. When I'm in France I often buy Carrefaure's own brand of H7 because they are cheaper than UK.

 

Merliauds go for the French headlights on ebay. They will solve your problem.

[techbod]

01 HEADLIGHT ASSY LEFT

 

didn't notice that bit :rolleyes: but at least a try ;)

 

mind you I cant believe you have to change the complete unit just to take a short trip to France when standard headlights only need a sticker to alter the aim? I'm sure Ive seen something about how to do it with xenons and hids so ill keep looking

[Billy]

Just had a look at mine, with bonnet up there are several arrows on a sticker & some on the top edge of the plastic lens, most towards the(UK)kerb. I find with mine tho that it has symetrical beam pattern on dip with 2 points of light to the UK nearside. But I find I dont need beam benders on the continent. I drive on unlit French N roads regularly & nobody flashes me up at all so presumabley I'm not dazling anybody.

 

Maybe the headlights on a UK spec Berlingo would past the French CT.

[Johndouglas]

Are your light HID? I have them on my C5 and they have a flat beam, they don't need beam benders, they don't dazzle French drivers but they won't pass the Controle Technique.

[techbod]

Headlights

If you're driving to the Continent then you must adjust the headlamp beam pattern to suit driving on the right so that the dipped beam doesn't dazzle oncoming drivers.

 

Never go without adjusting the headlamp pattern as it is a compulsory requirement in most countries.

 

Headlamp beam converter kits are widely available but don't leave headlamp conversion to the last minute, as a dealer may need to make the adjustment.

 

Modern high-intensity discharge (HID) or xenon headlights

These can't be adapted by applying an external mask. Fortunately, many feature an internal 'shutter' that can be moved into place by a screw or lever adjustment at the back of the headlamp unit. But some designs are less convenient and the dealer will need to make the adjustment.

 

Modern halogen-type headlamps

Some of these now require external masks of such complex design that motorists struggle to follow the instructions and work out exactly how and where the mask should be applied.

 

Check with the dealer or the car's handbook for advice – especially if your car has HID or XENON headlamps. Remember to remove the converters as soon as you return to the UK.

 

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overs...ral_advice.html

 

^{very interesting}

[Johndouglas]

Modern high-intensity discharge (HID) or xenon headlights

Fortunately, many feature an internal 'shutter' that can be moved into place by a screw or lever adjustment at the back of the headlamp unit. But some designs are less convenient and the dealer will need to make the adjustment.

 

But not with Citroen HID's. They require no adjustment either by owner or dealer for temporary driving in Europe. Although they don't dazzle to the left, if you want to re-register your car in France, you would still need to find local replacement lights.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Sorry for stating the obvious, but if you're planning to stay in France, wouldn't it be better to sell your Brit spec RHD car and buy an LHD continental spec one? I had one continental driving holiday in a RHD car in the 70s and I don't think I'd like to repeat the experience! I Absolutely hated being on the wrong side of the car. I think we should take a tip from Aussie and ban LHD Vehicles from UK roads and Vice Versa in the interests of road safety!

 

Cheers :rolleyes:

[Johndouglas]

Sorry for stating the obvious, but if you're planning to stay in France, wouldn't it be better to sell your Brit spec RHD car and buy an LHD continental spec one?

 

You would think so - but apparently not. When I advertised my 2.1 Xantia on ebay, it was an English guy who lived in France but worked in north Africa that persuaded me to pull it off ebay and let him have it. His offer price was so good! Without seeing the car, I picked him up at Heathrow, drove him to my home, gave him a coffee and the paperwork and off he went to the Dover ferry. I offered him the templates for cutting his own beam benders but he didn't want them because he was changing the headlights.

 

But look at this. A French Xantia for £5200 on French ebay. Maybe there's your answer.

 

http://cgi.ebay.fr/CITROEN-XANTIA-BREAK-2-...A1%7C240%3A1318

[techbod]

:rolleyes: now that's a price it just shows they hold their value and just a pity the UK doesn't see it that way

[Billy]

Secondhand cars hold their value for much longer in France, a mid 90s car here is worth only £100s here with a full mot, but in France the same car would be worth £2k at least, the price of new Citroens is higher in France as well & they only have 1yrs warranty not 3.

 

As for headlamps, modern plastic lenses should not have tape or benders stuck directly to them. It causes the lenses to overheat around the tape & hairline cracks will appear in time. If you must have benders get some plastic headlamp protectors from your main dealer & stick the benders on them.

 

I would have thought the proof is in the eating. if you can drive on a busy unlit French N road & nobody flashes you up then your headlamps are ok(& legal)without benders.

[Jeremy]

Second hand Citroens are not cheap here in France (especially at the current exchange rate) but it is worth looking at neighbouring countries such as Germany and Spain. Germany, in particular, can offer some very tempting prices - if you buy from a dealer you will pay Mehrwehrsteuer (Mwst or VAT) and will not have to pay again when the vehicle is registered in France. If you buy privately you do not pay Mwst but you MUST have the original sales invoice of the car when new to show that Mwst (VAT) has, at some point, been paid on the car.

 

Indeed, registering any car in France from another EU country requires proof that VAT or the equivalent was paid on the car originally - if not you will be charged TVA on the estimated value of the car when you register it.

 

So........if you buy privately in Germany you get a good price and avoid VAT - just make sure you get the original sales invoice!

[Guest Colin Hunter]

YE GODS!

 

Had a look at John Ds link to French Ebay and the E7,500 '99 Xantia. I could only manage £600 for my '98 2.0 HDi with 75K on the clock! Mind you, I only paid £6,500 for it at 3 years old so it's still a reasonable return for 6 years motoring! Don't think I'll be buying a Xantia in France!!!!!!!!

 

Cheers! :lol: