Sorting out headlights for France

[Semnoz]

My 2008 SE LUX has the self-levelling bi-xenon lights.

Do I need to stick those awful lamp deflectors on to drive in France, or can I adjust something to setup the lamps for driving on the RHS ?

[I-S]

can I adjust something to setup the lamps for driving on the RHS ?

Yes.

There's a book in the glovebox.

[tt82]

Or read the online manual.

[GrantA]

If you open the links in this Thread you will find some useful info on adjusting your headlights and there is even a picture in one of the links:

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...ean+headlights

Also some more info on driving in France which you probably already know:

https://www.theaa.com/european-break...ving-in-france

Watch out for the Gendarme, unlike the UK police they do not routinely wear hi-vis jackets and tend to hide when doing speed checks - the first you will know is when a motorcycle cop gets on your tail and flags you down - been there done that

[Semnoz]

Thanks for the link Grant.

My manual has the following on page 77:


It does seem to suggest it's possible to do this without the need for those annoying stickers.

That seems to follow what others have mentioned in that link. I will have a go.

[GrantA]

As your car has "the self-levelling bi-xenon lights" then they can be adjusted using the lever. As you say "without the need for those annoying stickers", not only can they be hit and miss sometimes but they can also give you problems when you try and remove the "sticky" backing from the plastic headlight lens cover.

[apersson850]

Stickers don't work with Xenon lamps, due to the shape of light rays. That's why you have to use the selector thing inside the lamp housing. It's fairly simple, when you look at it. I did it last year, when going to the UK for some time.

[Semnoz]

Originally Posted by GrantA

As your car has "the self-levelling bi-xenon lights" then they can be adjusted using the lever. As you say "without the need for those annoying stickers", not only can they be hit and miss sometimes but they can also give you problems when you try and remove the "sticky" backing from the plastic headlight lens cover.

I agree, always hated those stickers.

My previous car came from France (not a Volvo) and after converting it for the UK, I kept the French lamp assemblies, and used to swap them round to drive there !

[Semnoz]

Originally Posted by apersson850

Stickers don't work with Xenon lamps, due to the shape of light rays. That's why you have to use the selector thing inside the lamp housing. It's fairly simple, when you look at it. I did it last year, when going to the UK for some time.

Very interesting fact

Normally the English language edition of a user's manual is for the UK, and therefore you'd expect 'Example 1' of page 77 (above) to describe the scenario of taking a UK-spec car abroad. Instead, 'Example 1' describes the scenario of bringing a Swedish spec car to the UK.

Obviously, most people in Norway/Sweden speak better English than people in the UK, so perhaps the English version of the manual isn't actually for the UK - how biased is that

[Simon Jones]

I've used the 'beam bender' type of stickers on xenon lights before (non-Volvo) & if fitted correctly they will work fine.