I have a 2012 Elegance TDi estate and about to take it to France. No objection to buying a set of headlight deflectors, but I've been told that I might actually be able to achieve the same via a setting: My manual even mentions this as if it's not an optional feature, but I cannot access these settings: is this a Skoda-dealer adjustment?

If you have xenon headlights and a maxidot it should be possible through the settings menu.

 

If you have xenon headlights and no maxidot, you'll need diagnostic tools such as VCDS or a dealer to do it.

 

If you have halogen headlights, you'll need to flip a lever inside each headlight

In my experience the Xenons will automatically adjust as soon as the GPS knows you are in France - at the same time that it warns you of the local speed limits. Be warned the sat nav has not caught up with the recent changes to the 90kmh limit.

This now 80kmh, despite all the road signs still showing 90!

Don't know about the Elegance, but the Ambient ,you have to remove the headlight and switch a lever,a bit involved to DIY, but if you do set the beam to flat, saves having to switch it back for our roads.

Search the forum on how to do this.

Posher Skuds ,either do this automatically or you can adjust by maxidot.

my Elegance is the "remove headlight and engage shutter" job.  I actually did this adjustment 7 years ago when i fitted HIDs in order to flatten the beam and not annoy people (it had a strange beam shape) and have never  put it back.

Hi RobGoch - this probably too late to be of help - and has been overtaken by events.

It's simple job to release headlight cluster from each side - remove rubber cover, move a 'clicky' lever at the back of the dipped bulb mounting (can't remember the details as I type - but an illustration is available on-line if you Google around) ; then replace headlight assembly.

It might sound a faff - but as a regular continental visitor it's a standard routine for me whilst queuing for ferry either side of the channel.

 

All Skodas (VAG too?) seem come out of the factory with headlights needing setting up using these 'clicky levers' as part of dealer prep prior to customer delivery depending on what country the vehicle is being sold in.

 

A quick way to check your headlight settings (for up/down and side to side adjustment is at evening time (use Allen Key to adjust - again info on-line is available) park car on flat surface about 20/25 feet away from a wall, switch on headlights - first of all you should see the right hand drive/left throw of the beam - plus it's 'kick-up which is the problem for continental driving.

As is said above some drivers set their 'clicky' setting to be flat permanently - such that they don't have to bother about it again when driving abroad.