|
I am sure Bob is right! How many continental cars do you see over here, with whatever sort of headlights and beam deflectors or bits of black tape? Zero would be my best guess.
|
Although it might be a token gesture, black tape will not modify the xenon beams at all because the focussing is done at the lamp, not at the headlamp glass.
Frankly I wouldn't bother, as others have said, just how much driving will you be doing at night on your hols?
|
|
If its a simple operation then I would do it but if its a pig then just dont bother.
|
|
|
The French police WILL stop you if you do not adjust your beams and are blinding other drivers - I know this from experience!
I you think you won't drive at night, then fair enough.
|
|
If we knew what car it was then we might be able to help a little more.
|
|
|
Not just at night, depending on wher you are going what about tunnels?, aside from the Alps/Massif/Vosges etc etc urban cut and cover is much more common than in the UK.
Time for a campaign to name and shame the companies who sell cars in the UK without the means to make the change quickly and outwith a dealers workshop.
|
I agree, it just shows how easy it is to stitch up the British public.
Even my Merc can be done in two minutes by a trained monkey.
|
|
Thanks for the replies guys, sorry I was away from the computer! The car is an Alfa 156 GTA. I dont think I'll be doing that much night driving, but in Italy, you have to have your headlights on on the motorways at all times, also there are plenty of tunnels. Ive looked at the back of the headlight fittings, one side seems easy enough to remove, the other a complete dog! PS My father has a Renault Espace with xenons, REnault UK told him it doesnt matter!!
|
|
Well, I may be wrong of course ! But I've been driving on Italian motorways since 1979 (yes) and either (a) there's no law that states you have to have your headlights on, or (b) millions of Italians (and me) drive without lights on motorways and are breaking the law.
|
|
I think they introduced the law at the back end of last year sometime.
|
|
Well, Neil, forgive me for being pernickity but a search of the AA's European motoring advice for Italy & San Marino for 2003 gives no mention of this "new" law . Perhaps you could point me in the right direction of verifying its existence (or not) as the case may be. Thanks.
|
|
I drove from Rome to Naples then onto Ancona via Foggia in October and the only time you needed the lights on were when you go through tunnels.
306 2.0 SE Cabriolet
|
Yes, SK, thanks & just what I thought. That's just as it always has been.
Where do all these myths come from ?
|
I have a funny feeling that this is the same as they do in Spain.
There is no law regarding using your lights on motorways it is just a recomendation.
|
|
Sorry Bob The Builder, I drove from the Swiss border down to Frosinone last august, and back again, and 99% of the motorway traffic had their headlights on.
|
Well they would at night wouldnt they.
He he he
|
|
Haha, very good, it was bright sunshine!
|
|
Forgive me being sceptical PR ! As previously posted I've been driving Italian motorways for nearly 25 yrs. Only two weeks ago I was plying the motorways between Milan and Bologna. The only headlights to be seen were in tunnels, in rain and at night. I'm happy to beieve new legislation has been introduced (if that's the case), I just want someone to show me some proof it exists. Perhaps we'll get a native Italian B/R er who can give it to us straight.
|
tinyurl.com/elzi
Its in Italian, you can prob get the gist though!
Sorry its a long link!
Not anymore it\'s not. REMEMBER, for long links use tinyurl.com It\'s not as if it\'s not been mentioned often enough! DD.
|
I am half Italian if this qualifies!
|
IMHO I think its safer to drive with lights on. Unless you are driving around in a bright yellow car or something that is garishly so bright you can't miss it.
306 2.0 SE Cabriolet
|
|
My opinions were mixed. It was a bit of a pain because it was very busy, with close packed traffic moving at speed, and you werent sure if anyone was braking further up! On the other hand, in rain / bad light, everyone already has their lights on, which is better.
|
|
PR. Sorry to be pedantic, but is it law or merely recommended practice? (Like it's law to drive at not more than 70mph on our motorways) I've searched the autostrade.it website, no mention of lights, ditto RAC and AA, ditto Italian Tourist information advice for motorists. I'm not lying when I said Italian motorway users do not usually have headlights on in broad sunny daylight. Sorry to be an anorak on this one.
|
|
I believe it is law, but that in Italy means less than it does here! When I went last Aug nearly everyone had them on, I remember being surprised that they were actually obeying it. This was however only 3 or 4 weeks after it came into being, perhaps they slowly stopped?? I'll let you know when I get back if they still are!
|
Sorry to bring this thread back to its original question but like PR I'm off to France for a couple of days and my Nissan Primera SE plus handbook says "If driving in continental Europe visit dealer to have arm and leg removed - er I mean to adjust xenons for continental driving" Looks like it's buy a couple of beam benders (phenarr! phenarr!) and hope for the best or don't bother and run the risk of the Gendarmes. Does anybody know of a way (in words of two or less syllables) how to adjust or do I have to follow the handbook.
Recognise what others are saying about avoiding the need for driving at night and given a fondness for a glass or two of the vin rouge I won't be anyway - however, I always use headlights in the rain and knowing my luck it will. I guess unadjusted xenons will be less noticeable in the reduced visibility of rain in the daytime than at night though.
Probably should have asked the question when I bought it !! Nothing like being blessed with 20 / 20 hindsight though as SWMBO keeps reminding me.
|
pp,
the Ford handbook says the same ie visit dealer.
I phoned up to ask what was involved and how much and rather than book me in they took great trouble to tell me exactly how to do it. see post No2 this thread. I call that customer service.
Maybe your Nissan dealer will do the same. Worth the cost of a phone call n'est ce pas?
|
Im going to my dealer tomorrow to pick up girlfriends new car, so I`ll find out then. If it is anything slightly difficult Im not going to bother. If le plod say anything, I`ll tell them its been done!
Apparantly the xenon beams are flat anyway, and dont "kick" light up at the edges like conventional lights. If you wanted to appear to have them done, stick a small amount of black tape on them (mine dont get red hot!). Anyway, I`ll let you know what they say
|
|
Just in the same vein, does anyone know if the French still have to have yellow headlights any longer? When I went last year I didn't see many (if at all) and wondered if they've all gone over to tinted bulbs rather than tinted headlight glass, or if they've finally come into line with us Brits and begun using headlight beams au naturel.
|
|
As far as I know, yellow lights are no longer needed. I think the only cars in France with them now are the older ones.
|
|
Update, Dealer says just to use the headlamp covers/beam deflectors from the normal 156 headlights, so result as Ive already got these from my last one! Beats having a £100 bill to remove bumper to adjust the lights ala VW Golf, and of course back again!
|
FiF
Did as you said - call to Nissan dealer - "People have asked us to do that before but we just advise them to use beam deflectors"
Merci Beaucoup
|
|
Out of date I know, but if it's any interest VW Passat Xenons have a small lever moved by an Allen key on each headlamp behind a rubber bung. Unfortunately on the offside you have to remove some air cleaner trunking to get at it but it's not a problem, just a few cross head screws.
|
|
Well ! Please will somebody cut me very large slices of humble pie ? Just back from 3 weeks in Italy and nearly everyone is now driving with headlights on, not only on motorways but everywhere else as well ! The only people not driving lights on seemed to be foreigners. (Still used insulation tape though !! ) Well done for your research PR !! Regards Bob
|
|
Thanks Bob, I appreciate the post! Im staggered they've introduced a law that people actually observe! Apparantly they've now introduced a kind of points system on their licences aswell!! I'll have to be careful, Im off over there a week on sunday.
|
|
Yes indeed PR ! There is a new points system for traffic offences in Italy and the papers were full of it last week ! Watch out also for a rash of grey speed cameras which have appeared everywhere. Grey boxes about 4 ft high with only red & white flashing down the side to warn you. Generally set in 50 kph limits in villages, near schools etc.. White signposts about 300yds before warning "velocidad controllata electronico". Take care, have a great trip. Regards.
|
"velocidad controllata electronico".
Only the italians can make a thing like a speed camera sound like its exciting
a ferarri quatrovalvole velocidad controllata electronico
Mind you the French are not bad
"Train à Grande Vitesse" sounds so much nicer than "intercity 125" (sorry intercity 70 in hot weather)
|
Mind you the French are not bad "Train à Grande Vitesse" sounds so much nicer than "intercity 125" (sorry intercity 70 in hot weather)
>>
Sadly, love them or hate them, they are actually bang on with the TGV, it really is Grande Vitesse compared to our trains, even when they are running at full speed.
IIRC TGV runs at about twice the speed of our 125/225's.
Cockle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
