I have read varying posts of how to convert the Superbs headlights for driving abroad but never fully worked out how to do it and have been applying stick on converters for years when going on holiday. Well I'm off to Germany next weekend - I was in the process of applying the usual Eurolites when I discovered I was a side light down. I removed the main beam to access cover to replace the offending bulb, however whilst there I spotted whilst looking through the headlight unit towards the dipped beam side of things a little shiny lever sticking out and hey presto if you flip i one way, flat ready for the continent beam - flip it back you get the angled up UK beam.

Wish I'd found this a few years ago - really easy to do.

P.S. A little bit harder OS as you have to remove the air intake pipe first - still easy though.

P.P.S. My Superb does seem to eat headlight/sidelight bulbs for some reason.

I went through this angst while waiting to pick up my new Passat in Holland back in May/June 2000, the car was ordered with factory fit HIDs, so I asked VW dealer for advice - then did not know but would get back to me after contacting VW UK - they never did get back to me, phoned AA for advice - they could not help, so when it started to rain while crossing Belgium, I panicked and stopped and fitted a Lucas blanking kit - don't know if that worked as it was daylight and the idea was to avoid getting stopped for causing dazzle. About two months later, I was taking the car to France, I asked VW dealer again, same story, they did not get back to me after talking to VW UK - and it was only a few years later that I found out about these little levers, access to them on my car (2.8 30V petrol) is not too good and I was not confidant that I could carry out this change while waiting in a ferry queue so the Lucas kit was once again put into use and no night time driving done while in France.

Edited 27 May, 201214 yr by rum4mo

I have read varying posts of how to convert the Superbs headlights for driving abroad but never fully worked out how to do it and have been applying stick on converters for years when going on holiday. Well I'm off to Germany next weekend - I was in the process of applying the usual Eurolites when I discovered I was a side light down. I removed the main beam to access cover to replace the offending bulb, however whilst there I spotted whilst looking through the headlight unit towards the dipped beam side of things a little shiny lever sticking out and hey presto if you flip i one way, flat ready for the continent beam - flip it back you get the angled up UK beam.

Wish I'd found this a few years ago - really easy to do.

P.S. A little bit harder OS as you have to remove the air intake pipe first - still easy though.

P.P.S. My Superb does seem to eat headlight/sidelight bulbs for some reason.

Is this just for Xenons or normal bulbs too?

Can you provide a rough guide please? I've never found the stickers work properly and I'm always getting flashed by irate French drivers.

Cheers

It will work on the lights that have the projector lenses which I think all the superbs are.

Phil

do a forum search for "bent screwdriver"

Should have been my trade mark...

rotodiesel.

Is this just for Xenons or normal bulbs too?

Can you provide a rough guide please? I've never found the stickers work properly and I'm always getting flashed by irate French drivers.

Cheers

My headlights were just the ordinary bulbs (now Osram Silverstar +50's)

1) Park in front of a fence or wall where you can see the headlight beam pattern.

2) Remove the headlight unit access hatch for the "main" beam/side light bulbs (N.S. easy , OS remove air intake pipe at front of car - three screws)

3) On each side look internally through headlight unit towards "dipped" beam bulb you should see a small horizontal lever standing proud - Turn lights on and slide the lever to one side - you will see the beam pattern for that side flatten.

N.B.The OS & NS levers move in opposite directions.

Only took me a few minutes once I had sussed it.

I went through this angst while waiting to pick up my new Passat in Holland back in May/June 2000, the car was ordered with factory fit HIDs, so I asked VW dealer for advice - then did not know but would get back to me after contacting VW UK - they never did get back to me, phoned AA for advice - they could not help, so when it started to rain while crossing Belgium, I panicked and stopped and fitted a Lucas blanking kit - don't know if that worked as it was daylight and the idea was to avoid getting stopped for causing dazzle. About two months later, I was taking the car to France, I asked VW dealer again, same story, they did not get back to me after talking to VW UK - and it was only a few years later that I found out about these little levers, access to them on my car (2.8 30V petrol) is not too good and I was not confidant that I could carry out this change while waiting in a ferry queue so the Lucas kit was once again put into use and no night time driving done while in France.

As fas as I know the levers just flatten the beam and not modify it to LHD. I.e. modify at home.

As fas as I know the levers just flatten the beam and not modify it to LHD. I.e. modify at home.

True, it only flattens the beam but until tried I did not want to take the plunge and need to drive 500+miles to the chunnel with lights that were "less good" than they had been for driving on the lefthand side of the road originally, once across the channel I would have only used them in rain and not initentionally drive in hours of darkness.

If you retrofit HIDs, flat beam is enough at night, also in the UK. In fact I prefer it as it removes false sense of security. Pedestrians and deer/game can enter the road from either side of the road, not just the left one,

As long as the beam is aimed at -0.2deg to -0.5deg rather than the -1.0deg. Easy to do as you have in-cabin adjustment and cutoff is razor sharp and visible on the road.

You could probably pass MOT with flat beam, though I do change mine for this.

I found it pretty easy: with standard (not HID) lights on an SE (Nov 2010):

= turn the dipped beam on to check which lamp housing it is - then turn them off as they get v.hot.

= remove the flexible black rubber covers off the rear of each lamp unit, and gently feel inside for the levers somewhere around the lower part of each assembly, below and a bit to the side of the bulb.

= The lever needs pushing out (away from the lamp) a little before it will then be able to move in a circular direction. DON'T FORCE IT!! It goes easily with a definite movement once pushed correctly, but it does feel fairly flimsy.

= Took a few minutes each side I suppose. Granted, would be harder with big hands - mine are pretty average bloke sized, so there's reasonable space in there!

= As described above, it lops the top off the beam making a cleanly clipped flatter beam. It didn't really seem any different in terms of illuminating the road ahead - no problems seeing - maybe the 'clipped' bit of the beam is actually reflected back down/out, so not lost?

Woops - think this is in the wrong forum - should be Superb 2...

Pete

Edited 27 December, 201213 yr by peted

Here's a late tail-end comment that late readers might find useful. If your model has the HID units, the ones with the transformers seemingly welded to the back of the bulbs and which cannot be accessed except by people with double jointed crab claw fingers you will find there are no little levers to change the dip direction. Instead, you might find that Skoda have a polycarbonate type headlight shield that easily clips in place over the entire headlamp unit and has a beam deflector pattern cast into the surface thereby not only bending the beam in an approved manner but also protecting the headlamp from stone impact. I say you might find skoda sell these because when I bought mine, probably 3 years ago, the parts computer indicated I was buying the last pair in the UK so maybe they went off list. However there are afterpart equivalents if you have a look about. So much easier than the stick ons.

Here's a late tail-end comment that late readers might find useful. If your model has the HID units, the ones with the transformers seemingly welded to the back of the bulbs and which cannot be accessed except by people with double jointed crab claw fingers you will find there are no little levers to change the dip direction. Instead, you might find that Skoda have a polycarbonate type headlight shield that easily clips in place over the entire headlamp unit and has a beam deflector pattern cast into the surface thereby not only bending the beam in an approved manner but also protecting the headlamp from stone impact. I say you might find skoda sell these because when I bought mine, probably 3 years ago, the parts computer indicated I was buying the last pair in the UK so maybe they went off list. However there are afterpart equivalents if you have a look about. So much easier than the stick ons.

I'm afraid incorrect statement: I have HID headlights and they DO have levers accessible from the main beam opening. I am yet to find a way to activate them though without removing the headlights without breaking my wrists...