driving in europe

brinor · 18th February 2007, 14:39

Hi,
Ive owned my civic since last March I now wish to drive it in France on Hols coming from the UK. Does anyone Know if I need to adjust the headlights to suit?

l-noel · 18th February 2007, 15:37

hello Brinor,

I suppose you're coming from UK.

Usualy you need to adjust the lights for the safety of the other drivers on the continent. Some of the UK Driver put a bit of black adhesive on the upper to part of the right headlight. But check with your dealer.

And be welcome in France.

If you need servicing in the area of Lyon / St Etienne, go to my dealer TLA Honda in St Etienne one of the best in France.

Regards

jayt43 · 18th February 2007, 17:58

In the old days you had to paint your lights orange to drive in France, though nowadays you just need self-adhesive headlamp deflectors.

Having had experience of this sort of thing, basically you need to:

i) ensure that your headlamps are dry and clean. If not, some lens cleaning solution is usually supplied with the deflectors;

ii) apply the deflectors to the headlamps when they're warm i.e. having turned them on, so as to help the adhesive form a good bond.

That's all well and good, but the quality of some deflectors isn't that great. And they end up falling off after limited use.

So basically, I'd recommend the ones Halfords make (not too expensive and have very strong adhesive). Unlike others I've tried (including expensive AA branded ones) they really do work well.

Also, just in case, take some black insulating tape with you. It's not a proper substitute for deflectors, but if one (or both) fall off, then at least you can still avoid blinding other drivers (saying this, with each set of deflectors you should get an applicator guide which tell you where, for your particularly model, to affix them on the headlamp. If one does fall off, you can still tape up using an approximation from the guide).

On return to the UK be sure to remove them. Otherwise, not only will your beams deflect the wrong way, but they'll be a bugger to get off after a few weeks!!!

caz1562 · 19th February 2007, 11:36

brinor - You'll be able to buy beam deflectors from Halfords & other car accessory shops plus either on ferry or at ferry terminals. Easy to do, I had small disc's when I went to Holland in 2005, they also peel off rather easy, helped with hot water & keeping the lights on for a period to heat the adhesive up

tomtank62 · 4th April 2007, 12:49

Hi Brinor,
How did you go on with this? I am possibly going to France next month and will need to do domething with my lights. I have the 4 sided orange deflectors but it is knowing where to put them, normally there are marks moulded into the lenses to give some guidance, but there is nothing on the Civic.

brinor · 6th April 2007, 10:27

Hi Sorry for the delay,

I after a lot of trawling the internet have opted for Eurolite headlight adaptors (Travelspot) as recommended by the AA and Honda Cust Serv,
To be honest I havent fitted them yet as they are stick on ( I go to france in June), but the instuctions that came with them seem reasonably helpful.
Its just two Discs to stick on.
Sorry not to be more helpful with your problem best of luck and have a good tme in France, bon voyage
Brinor

18th February 2007, 14:39	#1 (permalink)
brinor Valve Cap Join Date: 18th February 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	driving in europe Hi, Ive owned my civic since last March I now wish to drive it in France on Hols coming from the UK. Does anyone Know if I need to adjust the headlights to suit? Last edited by brinor; 18th February 2007 at 16:52.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads for: driving in europe
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Head headlight adjustments for Europe Driving	Raldanash	Lights	57	27th September 2008 18:07
Driving around europe in Civic	djm	User Reviews	34	13th October 2007 20:50
Europe actually might not be a bad place after all	richierich	Any non Civic chat here please!	2	9th May 2007 00:13
A Vision For Europe	andischatz	Any non Civic chat here please!	0	20th April 2007 13:02
Tom Tom One Europe	smb09_1999	For sale and Wanted	12	1st March 2007 10:47


This thread is about: driving in europe, it's in Introduce yourself at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Hi, Ive owned my civic since last March I now wish to drive it in France on Hols coming from the UK. Does anyone Know ...

18th February 2007, 15:37	#2 (permalink)
l-noel Wine and cooking ! Rocketship door handle Join Date: 5th December 2006 Location: Roanne-France Posts: 1,316 Thanks: 4 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts iTrader: (0)	hello Brinor, I suppose you're coming from UK. Usualy you need to adjust the lights for the safety of the other drivers on the continent. Some of the UK Driver put a bit of black adhesive on the upper to part of the right headlight. But check with your dealer. And be welcome in France. If you need servicing in the area of Lyon / St Etienne, go to my dealer TLA Honda in St Etienne one of the best in France. Regards

18th February 2007, 17:58	#3 (permalink)
jayt43 Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 27th June 2006 Location: Budapest Posts: 520 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	In the old days you had to paint your lights orange to drive in France, though nowadays you just need self-adhesive headlamp deflectors. Having had experience of this sort of thing, basically you need to: i) ensure that your headlamps are dry and clean. If not, some lens cleaning solution is usually supplied with the deflectors; ii) apply the deflectors to the headlamps when they're warm i.e. having turned them on, so as to help the adhesive form a good bond. That's all well and good, but the quality of some deflectors isn't that great. And they end up falling off after limited use. So basically, I'd recommend the ones Halfords make (not too expensive and have very strong adhesive). Unlike others I've tried (including expensive AA branded ones) they really do work well. Also, just in case, take some black insulating tape with you. It's not a proper substitute for deflectors, but if one (or both) fall off, then at least you can still avoid blinding other drivers (saying this, with each set of deflectors you should get an applicator guide which tell you where, for your particularly model, to affix them on the headlamp. If one does fall off, you can still tape up using an approximation from the guide). On return to the UK be sure to remove them. Otherwise, not only will your beams deflect the wrong way, but they'll be a bugger to get off after a few weeks!!!

19th February 2007, 11:36	#4 (permalink)
caz1562 Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 23rd January 2007 Location: Central Scotland Posts: 135 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	brinor - You'll be able to buy beam deflectors from Halfords & other car accessory shops plus either on ferry or at ferry terminals. Easy to do, I had small disc's when I went to Holland in 2005, they also peel off rather easy, helped with hot water & keeping the lights on for a period to heat the adhesive up

4th April 2007, 12:49	#5 (permalink)
tomtank62 Supporter Wheelnut Join Date: 21st December 2006 Location: Harrogate. North Yorks Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Hi Brinor, How did you go on with this? I am possibly going to France next month and will need to do domething with my lights. I have the 4 sided orange deflectors but it is knowing where to put them, normally there are marks moulded into the lenses to give some guidance, but there is nothing on the Civic.

6th April 2007, 10:27	#6 (permalink)
brinor Valve Cap Join Date: 18th February 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Hi Sorry for the delay, I after a lot of trawling the internet have opted for Eurolite headlight adaptors (Travelspot) as recommended by the AA and Honda Cust Serv, To be honest I havent fitted them yet as they are stick on ( I go to france in June), but the instuctions that came with them seem reasonably helpful. Its just two Discs to stick on. Sorry not to be more helpful with your problem best of luck and have a good tme in France, bon voyage Brinor