We'll be holidaying in Germany this year. I was wondering what we should do about the lights? I understand that one can't put those anti-dazzle strips on xenon headlamps, but that's OK as I didn't go for xenon.

It's worth asking the dealer about adjusting non bi-xenon headlights they should have this buried in their workshop manuals. 

 

I struggled with my facelift Superb II to start with as the levers weren't where I expected (totally different to pre-facelift ones). The dealer eventually found out where they were for me after studying the workshop manual - a tiny lever buried at the front of the headlight reflector on the front wing side of each unit.  The mechanic struggled to reach it - but I eventually succeeded back at home with an inspection camera (Aldi!) and a small screwdriver.  The resultant headlight beam is topped with a very flat line

 

Now I've done it once - only takes 5 minutes a side

 

Try to avoid the stickers if you can as they eventually damage the front surface of the headlight. This happened to my previous Superb I, I applied conversion stickers for years before spotting a silver lever in the headlight units when changing a side light bulb  - no mention of this in the manual.

Edited 8 February, 201610 yr by bigjohn

Swap right hand driver to left hand driver in the lighting menu. Done, no need to afix anything to mthe light.You will get a warning on maxidot from time to time to remind you.

Interesting! I've heard that the electronic way of doing it is pretty much a bodge (at least on Audi's). I guess that we might be able to get away with it, though.

You may not need to do anything. I posted my experience about my winter trip to Germany in the 280 thread.

If the Halogen lamps can be switched from "Driving on the left" to "Driving on the right" through Columbus, then they may switch automatically.

 

The only thing I needed to manually switch was the clock (time zone to GMT+1) - it was the one thing I expected would have switched automatically.

Hi BillyJim, mine don't change automatically, but oddly I expected issues with ACC in France, Germany, such as overtaking. There were none but whether this is because it's detected different country, I don't know. Interesting comment above about 'bodge'. No, this is simply a (Skoda supplied) setting in the car menu...like return home lights, or dash illumination level.

Hi BillyJim, mine don't change automatically, but oddly I expected issues with ACC in France, Germany, such as overtaking. There were none but whether this is because it's detected different country, I don't know. Interesting comment above about 'bodge'. No, this is simply a (Skoda supplied) setting in the car menu...like return home lights, or dash illumination level.

Correct, the setting are for automatic country selection (confirmed with VCDS)

Hi BillyJim, mine don't change automatically, but oddly I expected issues with ACC in France, Germany, such as overtaking. There were none but whether this is because it's detected different country, I don't know. Interesting comment above about 'bodge'. No, this is simply a (Skoda supplied) setting in the car menu...like return home lights, or dash illumination level.

Strange, as you have Bi-Xenons. As I said in my other post I was pleasantly surprised that mine switched over of their own accord.

I have my doubts about Halogen which is why I put "If" and "May" in italics, but if Halogen equipped cars have the electronic option to switch in the Car menu, rather than relying on a manual lever, then logic dictates they should behave the same.

As for the Audi "bodge" it's probably because they demand the right kick-up beam and not just levelling. Still, if every Audi came with complimentary toilet paper they'd probably demand the turd to go with it. 

 

Correct, the setting are for automatic country selection (confirmed with VCDS)

Lights, ACC, or both?

ACC, sounds like the lights may be as well be I didn't check them.

OK, well I only have Amundsen - not Columbus - and there seemed to be no setting for "Driving on the left/right" under the lights menu. 

 

Now where did I leave my turd? ;-)

OK, well I only have Amundsen - not Columbus - and there seemed to be no setting for "Driving on the left/right" under the lights menu. 

 

Now where did I leave my turd? ;-)

If it was there, it would be in Car > Settings > Light > Travel Mode.

I suspect it will be like the Superb II in that it only applies to AFS equipped lamps, aka Bi-Xenons.

Time to hunt for those levers?

Levers are good. I like levers. With levers, you can move the world. But can I move my headlamps?!

 

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Driving abroad Read and observe on page 67 first.

 

When driving in countries with opposing traffic system (traffic on the left/right), your headlights may dazzle oncoming traffic. In order to avoid this, the headlights must be adjusted at a specialist garage. You can adjust the Xenon headlights yourself by setting the travel mode in Infotainment » Owner´s Manual Infotainment, chapter CARVehicle settings.

 

------

 

A specialist garage, no less! So not your run of the mill Skoda authorised service centre...

Edited 9 February, 201610 yr by thewinelake

OK, well I only have Amundsen - not Columbus - and there seemed to be no setting for "Driving on the left/right" under the lights menu. 

 

Now where did I leave my turd? ;-)

 

The electronic adjustment of headlights is usually just for the bi-xenon lights

 

My Superb II manual refers you to the dealer - fortunately mine informed me where the levers were FOC. Have a peek in your headlight unit with a small mirror- may be obvious

If the standard headlights are of the projector variety then they will normally have a lever inside each headlamp housing which when operated will change the "dipped beam" so that it does not dazzle oncoming traffic in Europe.

You normally have to remove the rubber cover on the back of the headlight housing to get to the lever, however they are notoriously difficult to find as they are normally in a position where you cannot see them and even feeling them can sometimes be difficult.

I speak from experience here as I had to do this on my current Mk2 Fabia Monte Carlo and it was a right pain in the backside.

If the standard headlights are of the projector variety then they will normally have a lever inside each headlamp housing which when operated will change the "dipped beam" so that it does not dazzle oncoming traffic in Europe.

 

The Superb III halogen headlights are std reflectors types not projectors.

Think I might just go with some "Eurolites" or similar. Will probably take seriously the concern that the use of black tape may damage the headlamp polycarbonate.

The Superb III halogen headlights are std reflectors types not projectors.

Thank you for this information Gizmo, in that case I don't know how/if you are able to do it, looks like the stick on jobbies then!

I've wasted loads of time doing this on motorcycles as many of them (in my case H-D's) do not have a clear guide as to where the beam deflector should go, so its trial and error in the dark pointing the head light at a flat surface and getting my brother to stick a bit of tape on to see if it cuts off the offending bit of light.

Eurolites have a guide - with videos showing how it's done.

Eurolites have a guide - with videos showing how it's done.

There you go then, job done

Buy a pack of eurolites for the glovebox, dont fit them though as they make a real mess of the plastic headlight lenses. Just dipp the beams down and get on with it.

Buy a pack of eurolites for the glovebox, dont fit them though as they make a real mess of the plastic headlight lenses. Just dipp the beams down and get on with it.

You mean have them to show any police?!

You mean have them to show any police?!

I don't know that I'd follow that advice as they may just laugh as they write you out a ticket, the French and German police are not known for turning a blind eye.

You mean have them to show any police?!

 

I don't know that I'd follow that advice as they may just laugh as they write you out a ticket, the French and German police are not known for turning a blind eye.

 

 

Exactly that. - believe you me, a ticket is less hassle and poss wrecking your plastic headlight from them for the risk if you ask me..  Took me ages to get it off my Audi A4. - plus i have never had an issue with around 10k miles over the years over on the EU but theres always a first.

 

The reason they are in the glove box is you forgot to put them on didnt you... . And you "may" be required to put them on before they let you leave. least if you have them it backs up your story.

 

http://www.motoring-into-europe.co.uk/removal.html

 

Plus.. if you do mange to get them fitted in the correct place on the headlight lenses, you restrict the heat displacement of the unit too....

 

If you want to make an attempt... use insulation tape.

Edited 11 February, 201610 yr by RickTT

I understand that the silvered back of the Eurolites is designed to avoid them allowing the heat to be absorbed into the headlamp cover.

The reason they are in the glove box is you forgot to put them on didnt you... . And you "may" be required to put them on before they let you leave. least if you have them it backs up your story.

That won't work in Germany. Unlike the UK they have far more draconian powers to deal with foreign motorists and things are pretty much black & white.

Either you broke the law or you didn't and the excuse "Look, I've got them, I just forgot" won't wash.***

The "ticket" is a spot fine. If you can't pay at the time or decide to have it heard in court you risk having your vehicle impounded until it is resolved (BTW not having enough money on you to pay a spot fine is an additional offence!).

 

Having previously chatted with my "colleagues in green" over there (although they're slowly switching to blue) the chances of actually being caught on the Autobahn are quite slim, with a patrol ratio of one vehicle per 2,000 km.

That said, they do have sporadic targeted "hits" on foreign vehicles, often in combination with Zoll (Customs).

 

*** As an example of how black and white they are in Germany (reported in the local newspaper):-

A first-time visitor from Berlin was using his SatNav to visit a friend in a small town near where my brother lives. It was a mid-winter Sunday morning and snow covered everything.

He was stopped by police in a street which had no motor vehicle access between certain times on Saturdays and Sundays.

He declined the spot fine and had the matter heard in court.

His defence was that the road signs were covered in snow and not being a local he could not have known about the restriction and also, being virtually the only person on the road other than the policeman, was presenting no danger.

He was found guilty on the grounds that as a non-local it was understandable that he wouldn't know, ergo it was down to him to stop and remove the snow from the sign to see what it said.