Beam Benders for holiday travel

[Dave Richardson]

I've bought a pair of Saxon "beam benders" to deflect the dip beam to the right whilst touring France.

The fitting instructions aren't up to much & neither is the web site, can sometime give me an idea as to wher they should be fitted on my W203 coupe headlights please

Dave

 

[MicB]

I've bought a pair of Saxon "beam benders" to deflect the dip beam to the right whilst touring France.

The fitting instructions aren't up to much & neither is the web site, can sometime give me an idea as to wher they should be fitted on my W203 coupe headlights please

Dave

I never bother these days......continentals don't bother here either. Just be sensible.

Mic

 

[Benzmanc]

^^ I agree, been dozens of times and never bothered fitting them. Off again next month and won't bother then either. Sorry officer they must have fell off

 

[GP801]

I think you would be very unlucky to get done by the police for not having them. However I have heard that they get VERY interested if there is an accident as do some insurers. I am one of the few that always fit them but then my 124 spends 9-10 months of the year in Italy.

 

[gIzzE]

Put your car 5ft from a wall, then with the lights on put it on the left hand lamp and move it around till you see it cut the beam at the top, so the beam is now flat.

Remove backing and attach.

Job done.

 

[rf065]

You should have bought the Eurolites Beam deflectors, they come with a diagram of your car showing exactly where to place them and start at around £4 on e-bay.

Eurolites Headlamp Beam Adaptors/ Beam Benders: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

In case of any police interest abroad, I prefer to have them fitted but noticed that almost everyone else on the ferry both going and coming back don't bother. I wonder if they carry spare bulb kits, warning triangles, spare spectacles or hi vis vests either?

Russ

 

[Dave Richardson]

You should have bought the Eurolites Beam deflectors, they come with a diagram of your car showing exactly where to place them and start at around £4 on e-bay.

Eurolites Headlamp Beam Adaptors/ Beam Benders: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

In case of any police interest abroad, I prefer to have them fitted but noticed that almost everyone else on the ferry both going and coming back don't bother. I wonder if they carry spare bulb kits, warning triangles, spare spectacles or hi vis vests either?

Russ

Cheers Russ, Have just bought a set from a dealer on e bay just £4.25.

I do have all the spare things mentioned above but hadn't thought of the spare spectacles, (just as well that I got mine from Specsavers with the spare set free deal )

Cheers Dave

 

[Benzster]

Put your car 5ft from a wall, then with the lights on put it on the left hand lamp and move it around till you see it cut the beam at the top, so the beam is now flat.

Remove backing and attach.

Job done.

Glad to have this tip, Iv'e always had to do it by guesswork.

 

[A210AMG]

I leave them in the door pocket with the high viz vests.

Not once have I been 'flashed'.... driving in the dark. It seems no one really bothers.

ooh yes I have all the spare stuff in the boot also somewhere...even spares of spares in case I need them

 

[whitenemesis]

If you have "projector" type headlights (xenon or halogen) there is a lever inside the headlight unit to place a shield in front of the bulb for 'continental' driving.

Some (few) models require STAR to set this.

 

[Benzster]

If you have "projector" type headlights (xenon or halogen) there is a lever inside the headlight unit to place a shield in front of the bulb for 'continental' driving.

Some (few) models require STAR to set this.

I knew about these switches but on a W219 you need extremely thin hands and !fingers to get to them! Hence, I have to date, used the stick on route.

 

[gIzzE]

Same here, can't get my hand in the W211 unit either.

 

[E55BOF]

Anybody know how to do this on a '98 W210 with xenons?

E55BOF

 

[GP801]

Seems the French are interested in beam benders now. Recently drove the 124 back to Italy and was subjected to a "random" check coming through the toll booths at Chambery. They were going to stop the car in front but I suspect they thought an old British registered car would provide better pickings. Very pleasant couple of gendarmes who checked the papers and the car. This included tyres, Hi Vis jackets, various other bits including beam benders on the headlights. Fortunately they found nothing amiss but it does appear they are now taking an interest.

 

[gIzzE]

Anybody know how to do this on a '98 W210 with xenons?

E55BOF

Park your car facing a wall, turn your lights on and move the circle thing around the left headlight until you see the pattern cut straight, matching the right light.
Stick it on.

Just do it before you leave.

 

[effbee584]

I tend not to drive after dark when in Europe, so I just cut some black electrical tape to what looks the right shape and size. Even if stopped, not likely to be tested for effectiveness.
On the Gendarmes/traffic police stopping UK cars at toll booths, last autumn, I was waived through in favour of a UK motorhome they did stop.
I also understand that they carry equipment that can interrogate the ECU for speed readings. Anyone else heard that?

 

[gIzzE]

No, they take your plate at the first toll and then again at the next and work your average speed out.
You have to going be a fair bit over though to break the 130kmph speed limit.

 

[E55BOF]

"move the circle thing around"

Thank you for that, but what is this circle thing of which you speak?

 

[gIzzE]

The circle bit is what you use on xenons.

 

[effbee584]

No, they take your plate at the first toll and then again at the next and work your average speed out.
You have to going be a fair bit over though to break the 130kmph speed limit.

With regard to checking ecu for speeding, I didn't mean especially at toll stations, but anywhere.

It's real easy to go over 130kph, after all it's only about 83mph.
Can't be bothered to work it out but allowing for acceleration into a toll road and braking at the end, it's probably OK to cruise at 140kph and average 130. Depends on distance covered of course.

Personally quite happy to cruise at 130 to 140, but a blast up to 200+ on a derestricted German autobahn is exhilarating when SWMBO allows.

All the above and 40ish mpg!