Anyone got Travelspot beam adjusters with instructions I have somehow lost my instructions and need diagram for fitting to 011 Octavia VRS.

if you've got xenons I think you can alter them for continental driving via Maxidot.

 

If not FUBAR made a good 'how to' to adjust the beam angle.

You don't need them!

 

Whip the headlights out. Remove the bulb flick a the little leaver.

 

This flattens the beam without blocking light output with stickers.

 

Phil

Richardmy Mk II FL there was no need to remove the bulb. Just pop out the headlight and flick the lever next to the bulb. There is a very good guide on here with photos.

 

Ric

Anyone got Travelspot beam adjusters with instructions I have somehow lost my instructions and need diagram for fitting to 011 Octavia VRS.

 

Really easy to flatten beam, I did mine last year while waiting to board the ferry. Just unscrew the plastic nut, pull the locking level, disconnect the electrical cable and remove the headlight, then insert your finger move the little lever over.

 

Took about 5 mins to do both!

 

There is a really great photographic "how to " somewhere on the site ! 

Ta-da!!!

www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/203947-fl-headlights-eu-driving/page__hl__+eu%20+headlights#entry2867266

I've saved it on my offline page on my SIII as I will be needing it on Saturday whilst invading France and Spain!

Fin

Q - Does flattening the beam comply with French/Belgium & Germany rules ?

 

I'm driving to Frankfurt and Liepzig in September (through France, Belgium & in to Germany) I don't have Maxidot so could complete this en-route.

 

Looking at the AA the rules for each country with regards to what you need to carry varies a bit !!   

I see no reason why not.

 

The whole point is to take away the 'flick up' on the beam. Adjusting the lever works a trillion times better than sticking someting over the headlight and produces less scatter of the beam and a really crisp cut off.

 

I have driven to Germany a few times with the lights like this. Never been flashed once.

 

I even just leave them as they are driving around in the UK as I prefer it to having the 'flick'.

 

General rule for what to carry driving abroad:

 

First aid kit

Spare bulb kit

Warning triangle

High-vis vest for each of your passengers

 

Oh and check any of the citys you are driving into that they're not an "Umwelt Zone" as you will need an "Umweltplakette" to avoid a fine (6 euros from Berlin.de webiste). Looking at a map both Leipzig and Frankfurt have an green Umwelt Zone (you need a green plakette to enter the center).

 

Here is a map of the cities:

 

http://www.umwelt-plakette.de/umweltplakette/Karten%20Umweltzonen%20D/Deutschlandkarte/2013-05/Neue%20Karte%20Hintergrund%20Staedte%20und%20Plakette_neu%2015.05.2013_%20deutsch.pdf

 

But DO NOT buy your plakette from umwelt-plakette.de as they charge a fortune!

 

Phil

Q - Does flattening the beam comply with French/Belgium & Germany rules ?

 

I'm driving to Frankfurt and Liepzig in September (through France, Belgium & in to Germany) I don't have Maxidot so could complete this en-route.

 

Looking at the AA the rules for each country with regards to what you need to carry varies a bit !!   

 

Yes it's an EU thing you are allowed to use 'flat beam' for visits not exceeding 3 months at which point you would require to change the actual headlights themselves not even the useless stickers. 

 

If you have xeons and maxidot you can change to flat beam via the MFD on maxidot.

 

If you have the normal halogen lights see here: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/280456-european-headlight-adjustment-octy-ii-fl-halogen-lights/ They are designed to allow you to do this for your very circumstances 

 

 

 

I have driven to Germany a few times with the lights like this. Never been flashed once.

 

 

Despite what I say about ref the 3 months, 3 years has seen no problems here 

Oh and check any of the citys you are driving into that they're not an "Umwelt Zone" as you will need an "Umweltplakette" to avoid a fine (6 euros from Berlin.de webiste). Looking at a map both Leipzig and Frankfurt have an green Umwelt Zone (you need a green plakette to enter the center).

 

Here is a map of the cities:

 

http://www.umwelt-plakette.de/umweltplakette/Karten%20Umweltzonen%20D/Deutschlandkarte/2013-05/Neue%20Karte%20Hintergrund%20Staedte%20und%20Plakette_neu%2015.05.2013_%20deutsch.pdf

 

But DO NOT buy your plakette from umwelt-plakette.de as they charge a fortune!

 

Phil

 

What Phil says! Mine only cost €5 back in the day and they do not expire . They must be stuck on the inside of the windscreen itself (not stuffed into a Briski tax disc holder like I may have done  )

As far as Germany is concerned, you must have all your vehicle docs with you.  You and your passengers must have your personal documents at all times.  You must lock the car door.  You must give assistance should another road user be in trouble.  That includes having a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit - (in a recent-ish high profile case, non helpers were prosecuted and found guilty.)  There's probably a lot more too, like green card - not legally essential, but makes the clean up after a bump much more simple, and you usually have to inform your ins co anyway.

Unless you are planning on driving in to a city centre - not recommended or necessarily easy - you don't need an umweltplakette.   Someone posted a map of the affected areas.  Any TUV - official vehicle test centre place anywhere in Germany will sell you one for €5 if you take along your reg docs.  No testing involved, and as previously said, lasts the life of the car.

Both Frankfurt and Berlin have excellent puplic transport which works, is clean and wholesome & comes on time, is relatively inexpensive compared to inner city parking charges.  (Unless you are fluent and well off, don't risk being towed).  There are usually day tickets or group tickets.  The details are a bit convoluted in Frankfurt and likely different elsewhere, so maybe there is a guide online, but you can just buy a ticket and ride.  A ticket will take you to a destination, so usually you can swap modes.  I like trams, you get to see the world in all its richness, rather than the inside of a tunnel.  German trams have absolute priority, so no waiting.

The ticket inspectors are merciless though, you WILL pay the fine if you board without a valid Fahrschein.  You can't get one once on board.

Oh and buses, trams, S bahn (local trains) and U bahn (underground) work late into the night, Frankfurt is at least 1am.

When I get tickets for events like the opera, travel is included via public transport.  Lots of other things have similar perks.  Public transport is high status, unlike here.

Often, but not sure if always, a train ticket will include onward public transport from the station to the city centre.

Should you be carrying bikes around, Frankfurt is very much 2 wheeler orientated/friendly.  An ideal solution to your problem.

 

Never stuck anything to the lenses of my motor - too risky with polycarbonate.  I lower the beam adjusters and have never had a problem.  Where are you going to need supersonic lighting?  Autobahn are easy, built up areas are easy.  Countryside less so, but there tends to less traffic, so wind 'em up a notch.  Or try to plan for as little night driving as possible, which is my solution.

I don't even bother to flat beam mine anymore, but it is very easy.  

 

I rarely see any police when abroad.  If I see a couple of police vehicles in a normal month away, then that's heavy duty policing.  Well, maybe a few more in Frankfurt!

If you are just transiting Belgium and France, presumably using autoroutes, then there will be no problem.  If you are venturing into towns and cities at night, then the problem is more likely to be the natives dazzeling you.

Enjoy your trip.

The spare bulb kit requirement they have in some European countries is hilarious. They don't care if the bulbs in the kit fit your car or not, as long as you have it.

 

It would be so damn annoying to be fined for not having a spare bulb kit in, say, your brand spanking new S class where everything inside and out is LED. 

Been driving in France a few days now, at night as well as during the day. Had previously only used beam benders; one set blew off within days, another set took an age to remove.

Adjusted the Scouts headlights as per my earlier post and have had absolutely no problems whatsoever. Nice even beam, not been flashed once by oncoming traffic. If anything I'm getting dazzled by them!

However, the black bolt attached to the headlight that you tighten the white plastic screw to, just spins in the headlight housing. I cannot totally remove the headlight. I have to physically push the bolt down to screw it into the back of the headlight, then tighten the white nut. Is this an easy fix?

Fin

Yes it's an EU thing you are allowed to use 'flat beam' for visits not exceeding 3 months at which point you would require to change the actual headlights themselves not even the useless stickers. 

 

If you have xeons and maxidot you can change to flat beam via the MFD on maxidot.

 

If you have the normal halogen lights see here: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/280456-european-headlight-adjustment-octy-ii-fl-halogen-lights/ They are designed to allow you to do this for your very circumstances 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite what I say about ref the 3 months, 3 years has seen no problems here 

 

I had to put new head lights in as in Belgium for more than 3 months. Surprised that the huge head lights were only 100 quid before i moved. Considering tiny parts cost a fortune sometimes