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[henri]

Help I'm confused
having recently taken my new miggy 03 2.6 cdx auto to france where we now live i am faced with putting it through the french control technique process,very much like our MOT but more red tape.My concerns feature the xenon headlights.
a) as the lights are changeable from LHD to RHD am I right in assuming the beam is different some one said ,flat.
b) Is the feature only meant as a temporary fix when visiting  europe
c) What is the legal position do the lights form part of the certificate of conformity for UK and european use
any information would be very helpful

[TheBoy]

levers do not convert from rhd to lhd, just converts to a flat, low beam.

Not sure on french rules, but I'd be looking at putting the correct ones on...

[henri]

       Thanks for that. From what ive read here and other sites replacing xenons would be very very costly. Would I be able to replace with a cheaper substitute    

[feeutfo]

yes, but i cant really recommend them. During a recent repair my insurance company fitted a made in taiwan copy. During my complaint it was mentioned they cost £80 ish for the the pass side. So defo not genuine as they are 500 odd a pair. The actual beam on the road was very good and the lever does give both beam patterns not just a flat beam BUT as you can imagine the build is rubbish, the adjuster broke first time i used it, as the beam is too low and i had to space the bottom bracket out to raise the beam up even when fully adjusted in the up position. The bracket for balast pack means it has to be glued on. And the lever to adjust the beam is behind the Hid electrics on the dipped beam side not on the easily accessible high beam side. Oh, and the weather seal on the hid cover didnt fit, but a mod with a knife would sort that out. So as they say, you get what you pay for.
Hth.

Ps, i would imagine if a vehicle is "as designed" they would be hard pressed to insist a change from oe spec. But then this is the French we are talking about i suppose, are they as bloody minded as we think they are?

Pps German or French ebay for a genuine second hand pair?

[Gaffers]

I have been through importing a British Car to France so I know what you're going through.  I didn't have xenons though.....

The CT is a pita to get through wrt headlight conversion.  The best option is to go to a place that does free re-tests within a month.  I would flick the beam over if you havent already and put it through.  If it fails then you will have to get new headlamps, try the breakers in france though they are very good.

I dont know if it applies to France but here in Germany the law was recently changed.  Before you could go through with a flat beam which is what you get when flicking the beam over.  Now you cant and need the standard European pattern with the double kick to the right.

If you need any help with the language drop me a PM.