Hi

Am off to france next week and was wondering if anyone has had any issues with headlamp beam deflectors. Have only ever used them on glass lenses in the past and was just a little worried about using them on polycarbonate ones.

I've never used beam deflectors, but theres a good article here describing how to setup your lights for use abroad:

Converting Headlights For Europeon Use

This makes the light pattern 'flat beamed', removing the bit that would blind oncoming traffic when driving on the right (the bit of your headlight that lights up road signs over here).

Using this method, there isn't a need for deflectors. Hope that helps

Edited 14 July, 201015 yr by rossm

I used that guide myself when we went to Europe last year. I also printed off a colour copy and took it with my. My thinking was that it may help to explain to a local policeman what I had done to explain absence of deflectors. Never needed it as it happens and a smooth journey was had.

Thanks for that, I saw the guide for changing the headlamp beam on another post a few months ago but decided it looked a bit of a complex operation to perform at the docks. I would prefer to use the stick on deflectors but dont want to end up with damaged lenses.

I go to France several timesa year & have never used them, I also drive enthusiastically & have had a few good Look ats by the French Plod but never been pulled up on it. I keep a set in the glove box ready to fix in case theres a problem. I have used them in the past but prefer to take a chance & have decent lights

Biggest thing to watch these days is your speed. The French are really clamping down on it & the on the spot fines can be significant even if you are not a huge amount over. At 50 kph over the limit they now have the power to impound your car. If they choose to most are kept for 3 months but they have the right & on occasions will confescate the vehicle & sell it at auction, this is usually reserved for people well over the limit or on organised runs like the Cannonball where they want to make a point.

Be especially careful when returning to the port as they "seem" to target cars heading back to the port, often setting up traps a few miles before the toll booths.

I go to France several timesa year & have never used them, I also drive enthusiastically & have had a few good Look ats by the French Plod but never been pulled up on it. I keep a set in the glove box ready to fix in case theres a problem. I have used them in the past but prefer to take a chance & have decent lights

Biggest thing to watch these days is your speed. The French are really clamping down on it & the on the spot fines can be significant even if you are not a huge amount over. At 50 kph over the limit they now have the power to impound your car. If they choose to most are kept for 3 months but they have the right & on occasions will confescate the vehicle & sell it at auction, this is usually reserved for people well over the limit or on organised runs like the Cannonball where they want to make a point.

Be especially careful when returning to the port as they "seem" to target cars heading back to the port, often setting up traps a few miles before the toll booths.

I go to France several timesa year & have never used them, I also drive enthusiastically & have had a few good Look ats by the French Plod but never been pulled up on it. I keep a set in the glove box ready to fix in case theres a problem. I have used them in the past but prefer to take a chance & have decent lights

Biggest thing to watch these days is your speed. The French are really clamping down on it & the on the spot fines can be significant even if you are not a huge amount over. At 50 kph over the limit they now have the power to impound your car. If they choose to most are kept for 3 months but they have the right & on occasions will confescate the vehicle & sell it at auction, this is usually reserved for people well over the limit or on organised runs like the Cannonball where they want to make a point.

Be especially careful when returning to the port as they "seem" to target cars heading back to the port, often setting up traps a few miles before the toll booths.

Is there any truth in the rumours of checking your average speed between toll booths?

Is there any truth in the rumours of checking your average speed between toll booths?

I didnt see any average cameras on my trip only 2 weeks ago, but there were plenty of police with speed guns on the run up to the final toll booth.

Is there any truth in the rumours of checking your average speed between toll booths?

I believe its only a rumour but not 101% certain, I have never had a problem & dont know anyone who has. I think it comes from the traps before the toll booths, There was one near Calais a couple of weeks ago, we had a group of 6 cars running in pairs to keep the profile down & had set the cruise on 90 (10 over) as we were about 50 Miles from the port. None of us saw the trap but plod were sat at the Toll booth pulling many of those who had shot past us, mostly Beemers & Audis . I use the Telepaiage to avoid delays at the toll both & the bills use to show times so they do have the technology available, if it was used I should have made a few donations.

The Police can also take your licence off of you & without carrying a licence you cant drive. A friend was pulled last year doing 130 in an 80 (mph), he was in an old Audi so they didnt take the car but fined him 750 Euros & took his licence, It then cost a few hundred Euros to get a taxi driver to take his car to the border. He was banned from driving in France for 6 months & they duly posted his licence back to him. As well as taking it they record it should you be stopped again so carying another licence wont work but you will have one for your next country

Another thing to watch, As many know radar detectors are illegal in France, The fine if caught was around 400 euros last year & you also loose the detector, often destroyed at the roadside. Tom Tom with speed camera warnings is also classed as the same & you will if caught potentially suffer the same treatment.

Its fair to add that the apparent heavy handed rules that the french police have are normally only used against foreigners who are obviously pushing the rules heavily or taking part in Cannonball type events. Overall they are very fair decent bunch just doing a job & its usually just a fine & on your way, be polite, respectful & I have found all to be OK. Even on some of the runs I have done as long as its only speeding its usually just a fine although some can be hefty.

Cameras also in my experience having triggered a few are to date not followed up. A friend went through one at high speed in a Ferrari a few years ago on a run & under the Police co operation thingy the british Police came to ask him was it him etc, he declined to comment & nothing else has happened, I think that was around 5 years ago so guess its OK now

They are also very hard on drink driving these days & in rural areas you often see random stops set up in towns at lunch time, they tend as far as I can tell only target French cars but theres no guarantee of that. If your someone who enjoys afew glasses of wine with dinner when on holiday remember its no different to the UK, drunk drivers can kill anywhere so dont do it.

Sorry to dig this thread back up... but we're off to Holland in the Summer and the link above in this thread doesn't seem to be working. Can the beam be 'flipped' for the VRS too, with the xenon lights? And if so, is there another link anywhere? Thanks

Sorry to dig this thread back up... but we're off to Holland in the Summer and the link above in this thread doesn't seem to be working. Can the beam be 'flipped' for the VRS too, with the xenon lights? And if so, is there another link anywhere? Thanks

Do you have Maxi-Dot as well as Xenon's?

If so, go into the "Lighting" menu and select Contenental (I think it is) driving and your lights are automatically flat-beamed.

Done this three times now, all works well. Just remember to change it back once your back in the UK for better lighting.

Do you have Maxi-Dot as well as Xenon's?

If so, go into the "Lighting" menu and select Contenental (I think it is) driving and your lights are automatically flat-beamed.

Done this three times now, all works well. Just remember to change it back once your back in the UK for better lighting.

Yes we do! Just looked in the manual... had no idea that this could be done! We will try it out first though. Thank you!

Must say i use Beam deflectors, just a feeling that if you are unlucky to get pulled for being slighty over the limit, and show that you try and conform to there rules they will be less hard on you. I also have a magnetic " GB " sticker which i just pop on the hatch aswell.

Oh and one more thing, it's not best practise to beat the Gandarrme's away from the toll booths as they get a little upset

Oh and one more thing, it's not best practise to beat the Gandarrme's away from the toll booths as they get a little upset

Or when you have been through the speedtrap before the toll head for the right hand booth & leave it late before cutting across to the left & going through the Liber T lane, they cant run fast enough to get to you before you drive away in a sensible "ish" manner, just Dont let them see you looking right whilst they "wave" at you

Do you have Maxi-Dot as well as Xenon's?

If so, go into the "Lighting" menu and select Contenental (I think it is) driving and your lights are automatically flat-beamed.

Done this three times now, all works well. Just remember to change it back once your back in the UK for better lighting.

Can this be done with xenons but without maxidot ?

Yes we do! Just looked in the manual... had no idea that this could be done! We will try it out first though. Thank you!

Sorry but it can't. It only works on FL Octys, and mine (like yours) doesn't have this function.

I've never used beam deflectors, but theres a good article here describing how to setup your lights for use abroad:

Converting Headlights For Europeon Use

This makes the light pattern 'flat beamed', removing the bit that would blind oncoming traffic when driving on the right (the bit of your headlight that lights up road signs over here).

Using this method, there isn't a need for deflectors. Hope that helps

That guide is for the Pre FL models and its a lil different in the FL Octavias as they are different lights says CR in profile so I assume its a FL I did a guide a while ago for FL EU Headlight conversion Octavia FL

Sorry but it can't. It only works on FL Octys, and mine (like yours) doesn't have this function.

Oh. Makes you wonder why they list it in the owner's manual as being an available function in Maxi-Dot! Bizarre.

Back to square one then... is the only other option beam deflectors? And if so is it just a means of applying beam deflectors by visual guesswork?!...

And if so is it just a means of applying beam deflectors by visual guesswork?!...

I wondered this too because on older cars the headlamps had marked areas on the glass where you blacked it out.On the pre FL theres nothing on the lense.

Sorry but it can't. It only works on FL Octys, and mine (like yours) doesn't have this function.

Oh is that the case?

I honestly didn't know that.

I knew I had that feature, but I assumed it was a carry-over from the pre-FL with factory Xenon's.

Sorry I gave duff advice on this one.

If you buy dedflectors make sure they are suitable for Xenons, some I believe arwent, these seem OK for the Octy http://www.care4car.com/productdisplay/modelfinder/36/Skoda_Octavia_2004_onwards_Headlight_Beam_Deflectors.html

Edited 15 February, 201214 yr by Stuart_J

Oh is that the case?

I honestly didn't know that.

I knew I had that feature, but I assumed it was a carry-over from the pre-FL with factory Xenon's.

Sorry I gave duff advice on this one.

No worries! The manual is naughtier on that front haha!

Oh is that the case?

I honestly didn't know that.

I knew I had that feature, but I assumed it was a carry-over from the pre-FL with factory Xenon's.

Sorry I gave duff advice on this one.

It's alright - it's because the new one has cornering and moves side to side, but the old ones just go up and down I believe.