V50 Electrics : LHD lights for Spain

[Scourfield]

I am thinking of purchasing a used RHD 2005 v50 estate to take to Spain. I am told that the headlights may be switchable for LHD. Is this the case and how does one do it. If not what is cheapest option to achieve this?

[Welton]

Yes, the beam cut-off shield can be levered over for driving on the Right. The headlights pop out very quickly and inside the casing there's a small lever to adjust the beam. This is all covered in the car's manual too.

[Scourfield]

Would you know if this is sufficient to satisfy legals if you export vehicle to Spain?

[geoffco]

It should be, since the whole point of having the lever / changeover mechanism is there to allow the same light units to be used for LHD and RHD cars...

Geoff

[iainmd]

Legally you'll be fine but I suspect you will get fed up quickly of it if this is your permanent solution. The default RHD beam pattern looks like this:

\___ \___ shedding light up the vrge beyond the cutoff on the road.

The switch set in the RHD headlamps merely does this:

_____ _____ to avoid the beam lift dazzling drivers on the other side of the road when driving on the right.

Proper LHD headlamps would be like this:

____/ ____/ lighting up the verge on the right.

For short term use the switch is great to have. If it's for long term use I'd invest in a set of LHD headlamp units.

[jeffmasson]

Originally Posted by iainmd

Legally you'll be fine but I suspect you will get fed up quickly of it if this is your permanent solution. The default RHD beam pattern looks like this:

\___ \___ shedding light up the vrge beyond the cutoff on the road.

The switch set in the RHD headlamps merely does this:

_____ _____ to avoid the beam lift dazzling drivers on the other side of the road when driving on the right.

Proper LHD headlamps would be like this:

____/ ____/ lighting up the verge on the right.

For short term use the switch is great to have. If it's for long term use I'd invest in a set of LHD headlamp units.

Are you sure? In the manual it says it moves the beam over not just blocking it.


I hope your wrong as I was looking forward to trying them out next week when I go to france

[iainmd]

It really doesn't. Drive the car up against a garage wall at night and try it. If I remember I'll even do it this evening for you and post pictures.