Morning all,
The police in Calais were checking vehicles this weekend.
As well as checking for deflectors they also asked to see that you have all the correct safety equipment.
Headlight deflectors. Are there any info sites, links etc., available that shows you how to make these deflectors yourself and where to correctly place them on the headlight?
I saw several MG cars with plain black tape applied to the headlight units and this is why I am asking.
Thanks,
Tron.
Edited by Pugugly on 04/08/2008 at 18:27
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If your car has old fashioned lights with patterns on the glass it is possible to work out where to apply some masking tape. Put the car close to a wall at night, look at the beam pattern and work it out! If you have the ones with totally clear unpatterned polycarbonate lenses it is a bit more difficult. On my 307 I bought the polycarbonate lens protectors and they came with two stick on masks and black marks on them to show where the black plastic should be stuck. I can say that the markings were nowhere near where I would have thought to have put them! Totally illogical. H*fords and AA shops sell Universal Deflectors which may not do much but, if stuck on the lens, at least demonstrate willingness to Les Flics Francais!
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AS - thanks for the reply.
Got it sorted as per you suggestion.
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I tend to buy a set of masks from Halfords for the instructions.
I then use black masking tape and never had it melt, come off in the rain or fail to come off on return.
Now the Skoda can be adjusted , I am told in 10 minutes, but have not plucked up the courage to try yet.
With Projector lenses there tends to be a spot or small circle on the lens in the centre of the beam, you mask one qwuarter of the circle with this spot at the centre with a patch about for about 40mm square stood on one corner.
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Point your car at a wall or garage door,turn on the dipped headlights and play-you need to get rid of the beam that goes to the left(from driver's sat).Some manufacturers have included blanking diagrams in their w/shop manuals and with modern h/lights the blanked areas are frequently not where you would expect them to be.
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Don't bother with black tape. Use the lens-type deflectors.
www.care4car.com/productdisplay/productid/36/Headl...l
If you use black masking tape then the light is obstructed. If you use these lens-type deflectors then the light is deflected. If you ever have to drive in the dark it is like the difference between being able to see, and not.
£5.99 - a bargain. (And posters here know that I'm one of the stingiest people about, but it's money well spent.)
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Yes but, if they are like the ones I have seen, they are too rigid to be stuck to a very curved suraface, ie a modern headlight and what guidance is there as to where to attach them. The marked masking my positions on my 307 are nowhere near where one would put bits of masking tape by logic.
Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 05/08/2008 at 13:01
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Yes but if they are like the ones I have seen they are too rigid to be stuck to a very curved suraface ie a modern headlight and what guidance is there as to where to attach them.
They come with a list of cars and comprehensive illustrations on where/how to fit them on most cars - loads of pictures! Once you take the backing off, they aren't as rigid as you might think. Also, worth looking on ebay if you need them regularly as I do, I picked up 3 for £13 on fleabay (cleaned out the sellers stock!).
Edited by Mike H on 05/08/2008 at 14:32
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These are the ones that left a nice burnt outline on the headlights of my 206 after two weeks use touring around France.
Not sure what the implications were for the MOT, got rid of the car before it elapsed.
I use OE headlight protectors with the deflector painted on by the manufacturer. Not much more expensive and the headlight protector saves any chips or cracks which can occur from flying debris. You'd have to be very unlucky to suffer a broken headlight while abroad but trying to source RHD headlights in Europe would be a real pain.
Edited by gmac on 05/08/2008 at 14:47
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flying debris. You'd have to be very unlucky to suffer a broken headlight while abroad but trying to source RHD headlights in Europe would be a real pain.
Happened to us, travelling behind a lorry loaded with stone on the autobahn. Ended up with a LHD lens from the local Opel dealer. In retrospect, hitting the headlight lens was the least damage that could have happened, we considered ourselves very lucky.
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Ended up with a LHD lens from the local Opel dealer.
So you were driving the automotive equivalent of Marty Feldman ? :)
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I have been told but can't prove that using black masking tape on polycarbonate lenses can cause permanent damage due to heat buildup - the black material in Lucas packs are silvered on the back to avoid this.
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In our Fiat handbooks there are diagrams showing where to stick the tape. Have used gaffer tape many times now and a little white spirit followed by washing up liquid to get the residue off on return.
No damage visible on the polycarbonate and best thing about the gaffer tape is that you are sure it will not drop off. Gaffer tape is also white of course on the back, unlike electrical tape.
Never thought about that though until just now, reading Mike H`s post above re the silvering.
Edited by oilrag on 05/08/2008 at 15:31
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wierd ptoblem here , owned a moto morini dart (motorcycle) for 18 yrs , and just used a bit of silver (gaffer) tape to make the h/lamp usable for british roads , no probs and has passed MOT for the last 15 yrs , sold the bike to a guy in the IOM , and as he had to re-reg it , compulsary new No plate after 6 mths , it had to undergo a IOM mot, they will NOT accept the tape, the problem is that moto-morini never made a bike suited (h/light) for the UK market ,
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I have used the Eurolites on many occasions. The glue can take some shifting but hot soapy water sorts it (from polycarbonate lense). The other thing of note, I always position them using the garage door, and move the sticker around to find where it cuts out the offending part of the beam, and I have found that the drivers side headlight doesnt need one at all. (And never been flashed using this one light approach). Then you have another sticker for next time.
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I have used the Halfords cut-your-own-patteren type for the last 8 years (the plastic is silvered on the back).
The deflectors are to go on my Motorcaravan and usually stay on for over 3 years at a time (and no, I have never had any MOT probelms at all).
Just come back from 5000 mile tour of Norway and it is mandatory over there to have headlights on all the time. No problems of any kind with the plastic of the headlight lens crazing under the masks.
Never, ever done this business of shining the lights on a wall as the kits come with comprehensive instructions.
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Interestingly, how many European cars driving over here have you ever seen with deflectors. Think of a number smaller than 1.
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I raised this on the forum some time ago and a reply was posted to the effect that Continental cars have a flat top beam, rather than our 'Up a bit on the left side' ones. Perhaps some continental resident could comment, please?
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Rubbish!just drive on the A2 or A20 at night!!!
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"Just come back from 5000 mile tour of Norway"
Spospe, Would be great to read a write up of that if you have time. At some point I need to visit Kvam (the one north of lillehammer) a relative is buried in the communal grave in Kvam Churchyard. He was in the KOYLI and was machine gunned in April 1940, during the British attempts to assist Norway. No one from the family has visited yet. Want to go by car.
(Apologies to all for taking the thread off topic)
Edited by oilrag on 05/08/2008 at 19:01
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Oilrag
If you write to me at:
michael@www.oradour.info
I will let you have all the information and photos that you want
Michael
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Is this really still required? My car has a switch for continental usage - is this not sufficient for the French police?
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Lights have to be set in such a way as not to dazzle oncoming road users. This can be done either by means of a mechanical adjustment, electronically, or by using some form of mask or beam bender. How it is done does not matter, as long as it is done.
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Oilrag
My apologies for the duff email address in my previous message, my ISP has been 'down' and it has takem me this long to get back to you.
My correct email address for Norway data is: michael@oradour.info
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My French bought dayglo vest has the velcro strip to hold it together on the front right hand side.
Can anyone confirm it safe to use it in the UK?
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Cheers Michael, Would you feel like contributing if i started a thread on Norway by car? I`m just thinking others may be interested in your travels and my war issue? Rather than email?
Cheers ;)
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Oilrag
Go ahead if you wish and I will join in, the only downside is that it will not be possible to illustrate the subject with photographs.
Michael
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Cheers Michael. It`s here, look forward reading of your trip.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=65...4
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