I am driving in france in my octy vRS at the end of the week and need to sort out the headlights, i have some beam diverter stick on pad things but have no idea where to put them, the instructions say to put them on the lense following some markings, but there are no markings on the headlights at all, so where do i put them?? or is there something i am missing!

I assume its still required to carry a spare bulb kit and warning triangle?? Where is the best place to get these??

Help much appreciated .

Things have changed a little in france for requirements.

You need, first aid kit, warning triangle, hi-vis jacket for at least the driver and recommended for each passenger to, spare bulb kit, and the headlights converted.

For non xenon projector headlights, the beam adapters are circular and not angled like the mk1 octy. If you look head on into the headlight, the round stiker is placed so that it blocks ot the top right hand 1/4 of the projector lens. If your beam convertor is not circular you have the wrong ones. I bought mine for a couple of quid on the ferry with full instructions on placement.

Mine are indeed not circular, i will need to get some round ones!

I am driving in france in my octy vRS at the end of the week and need to sort out the headlights, i have some beam diverter stick on pad things but have no idea where to put them, the instructions say to put them on the lense following some markings, but there are no markings on the headlights at all, so where do i put them?? or is there something i am missing!

I assume its still required to carry a spare bulb kit and warning triangle?? Where is the best place to get these??

Help much appreciated .

I presume you are travelling to le-mans as im doing a similar journey next week but last year we didnt bother with any of what u have mentioned,the lights issue really didnt come into it as we travelled during the day,but we didnt have a bulb kit or a high res jacket or anything like that ,oops wasnt aware that we needed it!

I am actually going mountain biking in Les Gets!

We holiday in France every year and have done so for the last twelve years without exception, the last five of which I have not bothered with headlight convertors. I'm guessing that most of your driving will be done in daylight hours and those at night are most likely to be motorway miles which therefore on most stretches you won't need them anyway! You can always use the internal headlight height adjuster to lower them a little should it concern you but I have experienced no problems whatsoeverl.

Makefish, I'm with you on this one....................I've travelled abroad in the car a few times every year for at least the past 10 years and have never bothered with the headlight thingys and too have had no problems.

To be totally honest, I've never bothered with the GB sticker, the bulbs, the triangle or the hi vi vest either.

To be totally honest, I've never bothered with the GB sticker, the bulbs, the triangle or the hi vi vest either.

Likewise, although I do carry a first aid kit

I'm quite glad this thread has appeared. I would be asking these questions myself in september time, as my wife and I are hoping to drive to the south of France in october. So thanks Ian. Thanks also to everyone else for the useful info.

If none of you are aware you dont need beam converters there is one built into the headlight unit already. I will take some pics and do a tutorial tomorrow if i gat chance. It may seem like a pain in the **** but once you know how it takes just 5 minutes. All you need is a small screwdriver.

I know this works as im a soldier who lives in germany and as my car is uk spec i had to alter the beam to enable the car to pass the german equivalent of an SVA test. The converter just flattens the beam so that it doesnt kick up to the left. this is all that is required by EU law

So at the moment your headlight beam looks like this

\____ \____

and when you flick the converter it will look like this

_____ _____

Like i said i will take some pics an do a tutorial with them tomorrow when it gets light

Carl

If none of you are aware you dont need beam converters there is one built into the headlight unit already. I will take some pics and do a tutorial tomorrow if i gat chance. It may seem like a pain in the **** but once you know how it takes just 5 minutes. All you need is a small screwdriver.

I know this works as im a soldier who lives in germany and as my car is uk spec i had to alter the beam to enable the car to pass the german equivalent of an SVA test. The converter just flattens the beam so that it doesnt kick up to the left. this is all that is required by EU law

So at the moment your headlight beam looks like this

\____ \____

and when you flick the converter it will look like this

_____ _____

Like i said i will take some pics an do a tutorial with them tomorrow when it gets light

Carl

I thought i had heard that this was possible and this would be ideal, i hate the idea of sticking something to the lenses as you cant always get the sticky stuff off!! :thumbdwn:

If you get time to do this Carl, it would be very much appreciated, and i am sure the others will say the same :thumbup: !

Ok here it is. Hope this helps its available as a .pdf at a bargain price of

Mater i doth my cap to you....... an electronic pint for you me thinks!! :thumbup:

Your welcome.

A couple of other things. The following list is kit that YOU MUST HAVE in your car when driving on mainland europe just incase people are unsure.

A Full Valid Driving Licence

Valid Insurance

Proof of Ownership (or rental agreement if Hire Car)

1 x Hi - Visibility Vest

1 x 5Ltr Fuel Can (Full)

1 x Warning Triangle. The correct distance to place this out is 75 meters to the rear of the car and each side of the triangle must be about 30cm long again these are sold in halfords for about

For info, at Partco you can get a warning triangle for

Id be very wary about travelling in France now without having the legally required kit and altering the headlamps with the lever. Only takes a few minutes when you get the hang of it.

We go a lot to France and the gendarmes WILL check if you have the right stuff and can fine you on the spot.

I have heard tales of them stopping foreigners (thats us) and not the locals possibly because they know that a lot of people ignore the requirements.

For what it costs its not worth the hassle of nor doing it.

The following list is kit that YOU MUST HAVE in your car when driving on mainland europe just incase people are unsure.

1 x Hi - Visibility Vest

1 x 5Ltr Fuel Can (Full)

1 x Warning Triangle.

1 x First Aid Kit

1 x Bulb Replacement kit

This is the legal minimum requirement for travelling on dual carriageways and motorways in Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Portuagal & Spain and you can be fined upto 1000 Euros for not having any of above if you break down.

Have you got websites that backup this list? Although I agree with most of it, there are a couple of items I've never heard of as compulsory (many maybe recommended, but are not compulsory), and one or two additional items I would expect for certain European countries (eg carrying original registration document)

Having looked into the compulsory equipment needed just to visit a single European country last year, I'm amazed at how many websites give conflicting information...

Have you got websites that backup this list? Although I agree with most of it, there are a couple of items I've never heard of as compulsory (many maybe recommended, but are not compulsory), and one or two additional items I would expect for certain European countries (eg carrying original registration document)

Having looked into the compulsory equipment needed just to visit a single European country last year, I'm amazed at how many websites give conflicting information...

I dont have a website but im sure ive got the paperwork round here somewhere that states what you must be in possession of. The list i put was for equipment not paperwork. Obviously you also need to have on you a Valid Driving licence, Insurance and proof of vehicle ownership or rental agreement. I will update the list accordingly. I will also try and find the paperwork and scan it so you can see the legal requirements

Carl:thumbup:

Thanks for that Carl

Thanks for this. I've been searching for this sort of info, as I'm off to France next month. Again, I agree with the majority, but would have thought the fuel canister is a recommended rather than compulsory? At least in France? I know other places are more strict (Spain?)

I'm still searching for the definite answer re headlight adjustment and a factory-Xenon equipped Fabia though (do I buy beam convertors or not??) - and I refuse to make a dealer visit part of my pre-holiday regime

Cheers,

Steve

Well i have just got back from france and i have to say how easy the headlight conversion was, i had done 1 practice run before i went and at the ferry terminal it took me less time to do it than it did the guy next door to me trying to work out were to put the beam deflectors ( he got it wrong first time ) so its definatly the way to go. :thumbup:

I have an Octy 2 with xenon headlight and have removed a headlight to adjust the bean shield but can see no way of getting into the guts of the headlamp

The owners handbook recommends that main and dip beam bulbs are only changed by a dealer,

There is no mention of being able to "flat beam"the light by a lever.

Anyone carried out this work on Xenon light or is it a masking off kit that is called for

ive too had a look cannot see how to get in or change them, anyone want to do them for me ?

It is recommended you carry the equipment (as required) for each country visited.

Also headlamp deflectors/adjusted for driving on the left.

If you unfortunately have an accident your insurance company may be able to reduce or not pay your claim as you in effect driving illegally.

As said previously the kit is relatively inexpensive compared with fares/holiday costs.

anyone else down this? secondly anyone wanna give me a hand as im getting peed off with people flashing me when i go past them cos they think im on full beam.