211 Bi-xenon headlights

[rmr2075]

I am told there is a switch behind the headlights which allows the headlight alignment to be changed for driving abroad in mainland Europe. Does anyone know where this 'switch/knob/button/lever' is please.

 

[Brian WH]

Remove cover, screw-on. Ensure engine is switched off FIRST.
Feel inside and on the inner side of the housing, towards the radiator, you will feel a lever. Move this lever up/down and it changes the headlight for European lighting. Be gentle as they can break.

 

[Satch]

They do break

 

[corned]

Going to Belgium in the morning.

I have located what I believe are the little tabs inside the headlamp unit. Are they little flat blades that move vertically up and down? There is an inboard one in the n/s unit and an outboard one in the o/s unit, i.e. they are both to the left of the ballast as viewed from the front.

I have moved them but didn't see much change when I put the headlamps on. I am fairly close to my garage door, so do I need to back off quite a bit to see the effect better?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mr E]

Sounds like they are the right thing.

The main difference is that the beam cutoff will be flat, and not kicked up on the nearside (left side).

 

[Chas]

Your dipped beam normally looks like this

When the levers are moved the beam will either be horizontal or the opposite of the picture. i.e. kick up 15 degrees to the right

 

[corned]

Having gone to the trouble of providing levers to remove the kerb 'flicks', you would have thought that, rather than removing the 'flick' entirely, they would have moved it to the other side - so you could still see the nearside on the continent...

Is there a specific reason for not having done it this way?

 

[Brian WH]

Having gone to the trouble of providing levers to remove the kerb 'flicks', you would have thought that, rather than removing the 'flick' entirely, they would have moved it to the other side - so you could still see the nearside on the continent...

Is there a specific reason for not having done it this way?

I agree, puts us at a disadvantage abroad.

Fortunately I don't do a lot of night driving abroad, but still would make sense to just convert properly eh?

 

[Shude]

Having gone to the trouble of providing levers to remove the kerb 'flicks', you would have thought that, rather than removing the 'flick' entirely, they would have moved it to the other side - so you could still see the nearside on the continent...

Is there a specific reason for not having done it this way?

It might have been cheaper to design one headlamp to do the job for LHD/RHD with the deflector used to block the kick-up on one side or the other as required.

Once you've fitted motors into the headlamp that control the levelling and point the lens into a corner while steering you might as well fit another motor to operate the deflector so it could be switched from the cabin either by manual override or GPS!

 

[Druk]

I did mine a couple of years ago and just left them when I got home. Passed two Mot's since without comment and the beam pattern is fine.

 

[Chas]

Having gone to the trouble of providing levers to remove the kerb 'flicks', you would have thought that, rather than removing the 'flick' entirely, they would have moved it to the other side - so you could still see the nearside on the continent...

Is there a specific reason for not having done it this way?

The lever cuts off the part of the shield which kicks up the beam, but you can modify your own like some USA anorak types. All you need is a coke can to make the aluminium shield and cut to shape and size. Horizontal cut offs will pass the MOT but you wont be able to see road signs soon enough as there is no left kick up. They make two different types of headlamp (LHD/RHD) because the optics in the lamp and the design are different and throw a different beam and light intensity. Headlamps with modified shields or with a lever converting the beam by modifying the shields will never be as good as unmodified ones. They will still pass the MOT though

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[corned]

Thanks, chaps.

Maybe the 'flat' option is for countries where oncoming traffic could be on either side...

 

[Shude]

Maybe the 'flat' option is for countries where oncoming traffic could be on either side...

Malta, from what I've heard!

 

[Brian WH]

Malta, from what I've heard!

Yup been there, they drive "In the Shade".