HID Xenon lights and driving on the continent

GlenMH · 26th August 2006, 22:02

Hi all

A quick question: does anyone know how you can change the beam pattern of the Xenon lights for driving in France etc? Had a look at the manual and nothing in there....

Or is it a trip to the dealer?

Thanks

Glen

elfa7 · 27th August 2006, 07:52

Does it work the same as ordinary lights. Stick something on the lenses to divert the beam ?

Newboy · 27th August 2006, 10:27

elfa7 - I was thinking that as well. On my old Porsche which has xenons (they call it litronic !!) I noticed in the manual that on the back of each headlamp unit was a lever you could move depending on whether you were driving on the left or the right hand side of the road.

TTDegs · 27th August 2006, 10:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newboy

elfa7 - I was thinking that as well. On my old Porsche which has xenons (they call it litronic !!) I noticed in the manual that on the back of each headlamp unit was a lever you could move depending on whether you were driving on the left or the right hand side of the road.

yep - had exactly the same on my TT (with Xenons also).

haven't had a dig in the Civic yet, but would imagine it's the same

Charles_Harding · 27th August 2006, 20:31

As far as I am aware the rules across the ditch say that you should carry spare bulbs for your lights, indicator, side and head, - always.

Those HID things cost £100 a time!!!

GlenMH · 27th August 2006, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by elfa7

Does it work the same as ordinary lights. Stick something on the lenses to divert the beam ?

I don't think you can do this. The reason washers are fitted is to prevent overheating due to crap on the lens. This means that anything you stick on there will also get cooked!

I will have a shufty under the bonnet tomorrow to see what I can find.

Cheers

Glen

MC Hammer · 27th August 2006, 22:26

I did a run across the water a while back and used some beam diverters from Halfords. It worked fine just to take the left hand dip off, actually you don't need the full sticker to do this. I did leave mine on for months and months though and they became a pain to remove, so best take them off as soon as you return.
I never had any problems with overheating (first I've herd of this! ) I did most of my 12,000+ miles at night with those things on and no probs, or was it just the cool UK weather?

Roger Harris · 28th August 2006, 13:12

Hi,

Before my recent trip to France I checked this out with my dealer and he said that
the new headlights have a flat beam pattern anyway and so you don't need an adaptor.

I didn't bother and didn't get flashed once while driving over there.

Roger

MC Hammer · 28th August 2006, 16:15

Flat beam pattern? If so the lamps are set incorrectly!
Try facing the car about 3-5metres from a wall and switching the lamps on (best done when it's dark

).
You should see a 'kinked' line from each lamp, should be very defined you can cover each lamp in turn to see it's pattern. To blank off the left hand dip place a sticker close to the bumper on each lamp.

Pottsy · 28th August 2006, 16:55

Don't you just love dealers and their "nah, you'll be alright mate" comments! My lights have a very noticeable fan up to the left. Annoys people in the left lane on the motorway...

Newboy · 28th August 2006, 22:06

We'll know for sure when our cars start needing an MOT as I'm sure the lights are tested and to make sure the patterns fall within the rules.

elfa7 · 29th August 2006, 06:53

If the lights fail the MOT, then it will be up to Honda to modify.

Parky · 1st September 2006, 19:43

I think I have found the adjustment for the HID lights on my EX!

If you open the bonnet and look at the Black Plastic right above the lights there are markings with arrows.

There are 2 on each side.

Each has a semi circular arrow with 2 markings :-

One says U and D (Up and Down) with a Headlight symbol and a 10% marking. Seems to indicate you can adjust the headlight height by 10%. The adjustment is the rubber knob right by the marker.

The other marker says L and R and just behind the marker and down behind the grill is a white plastic hexagonal socket that looks like it move the reflector or bulb.

Ian

elfa7 · 2nd September 2006, 07:22

Hi Parky, I thought the EX had auto adjust for up and down ?.

Parky · 2nd September 2006, 07:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by elfa7

Hi Parky, I thought the EX had auto adjust for up and down ?.

It does. but you would still need some adjustment to get the start level right.

For instance to pass an MOT (In the future) lights have to be correct, with the adjusters they can be set if they happen to get out of the limits.

Ian

elfa7 · 2nd September 2006, 07:57

I haven't had any problems from other motorists, so I presume this adjustment was done with the PDI. I'll Phone the Dealer later.

Parky · 2nd September 2006, 08:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by elfa7

I haven't had any problems from other motorists, so I presume this adjustment was done with the PDI. I'll Phone the Dealer later.

Actually thinking about it again, the L and R adjustment will just be for slight movements left and right, not to change the beam pattern for the continent.

Ian

Mad4amanda · 14th December 2006, 08:12

Hi off to france for christmas and new year, do we just buy the usual deflectors from halfords or do we need to do something special? Take it the 3 door lights are identical to the 5 door ?
Dealer did the usual dont know routine !
thanks
Steve

MC Hammer · 14th December 2006, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad4amanda

Hi off to france for christmas and new year, do we just buy the usual deflectors from halfords or do we need to do something special? Take it the 3 door lights are identical to the 5 door ?
Dealer did the usual dont know routine !
thanks
Steve

Steve,
You can do it with some tape as a cheaper option, roughly a 2" disc should be enough. Indeed the 3 door lamps are identical to the 5 door albeit without the HID

.

Guinness · 26th April 2007, 18:53

My pilot and co-pilot want to take me on a booze flight soon and are concerned about my eyes - want to make sure they point in the right direction and don't annoy any of those continental cruisers. has anyone come up with a definitive answer yet for eye divertion or is it a choice between Halfords, Duck Tape or chancing it. My pilot says his old Accord craft had neat clip ons - but I guess my eyes are just too big.

26th August 2006, 22:02	#1 (permalink)
GlenMH Valve Cap Join Date: 13th June 2006 Location: Bristol Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Xenon lights and driving on the continent Hi all A quick question: does anyone know how you can change the beam pattern of the Xenon lights for driving in France etc? Had a look at the manual and nothing in there.... Or is it a trip to the dealer? Thanks Glen

14th December 2006, 08:12	#18 (permalink)
Mad4amanda Valve Cap Join Date: 13th December 2006 Posts: 40 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (1)	What about standard lights? Hi off to france for christmas and new year, do we just buy the usual deflectors from halfords or do we need to do something special? Take it the 3 door lights are identical to the 5 door ? Dealer did the usual dont know routine ! thanks Steve

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This thread is about: Xenon lights and driving on the continent, it's in Lights at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Hi all A quick question: does anyone know how you can change the beam pattern of the Xenon lights for driving in France etc? Had ...

27th August 2006, 07:52	#2 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,703 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Does it work the same as ordinary lights. Stick something on the lenses to divert the beam ?

27th August 2006, 10:27	#3 (permalink)
Newboy Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 27th July 2006 Location: NE Surrey, UK Posts: 277 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	elfa7 - I was thinking that as well. On my old Porsche which has xenons (they call it litronic !!) I noticed in the manual that on the back of each headlamp unit was a lever you could move depending on whether you were driving on the left or the right hand side of the road.

27th August 2006, 20:31	#5 (permalink)
Charles_Harding Civinfo guru Join Date: 14th August 2006 Location: S.E. London Posts: 3,303 Thanks: 113 Thanked 27 Times in 26 Posts iTrader: (0)	As far as I am aware the rules across the ditch say that you should carry spare bulbs for your lights, indicator, side and head, - always. Those HID things cost £100 a time!!!

27th August 2006, 22:26	#7 (permalink)
MC Hammer Kids use a lot of space Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 16th June 2006 Location: UK Posts: 622 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	I did a run across the water a while back and used some beam diverters from Halfords. It worked fine just to take the left hand dip off, actually you don't need the full sticker to do this. I did leave mine on for months and months though and they became a pain to remove, so best take them off as soon as you return. I never had any problems with overheating (first I've herd of this! ) I did most of my 12,000+ miles at night with those things on and no probs, or was it just the cool UK weather?

28th August 2006, 13:12	#8 (permalink)
Roger Harris Wheelnut Join Date: 23rd May 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 50 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Hi, Before my recent trip to France I checked this out with my dealer and he said that the new headlights have a flat beam pattern anyway and so you don't need an adaptor. I didn't bother and didn't get flashed once while driving over there. Roger

28th August 2006, 16:15	#9 (permalink)
MC Hammer Kids use a lot of space Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 16th June 2006 Location: UK Posts: 622 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Flat beam pattern? If so the lamps are set incorrectly! Try facing the car about 3-5metres from a wall and switching the lamps on (best done when it's dark ). You should see a 'kinked' line from each lamp, should be very defined you can cover each lamp in turn to see it's pattern. To blank off the left hand dip place a sticker close to the bumper on each lamp.

28th August 2006, 16:55	#10 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,484 Thanks: 22 Thanked 168 Times in 99 Posts iTrader: (0)	Don't you just love dealers and their "nah, you'll be alright mate" comments! My lights have a very noticeable fan up to the left. Annoys people in the left lane on the motorway...

28th August 2006, 22:06	#11 (permalink)
Newboy Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 27th July 2006 Location: NE Surrey, UK Posts: 277 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	We'll know for sure when our cars start needing an MOT as I'm sure the lights are tested and to make sure the patterns fall within the rules.

29th August 2006, 06:53	#12 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,703 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	If the lights fail the MOT, then it will be up to Honda to modify.

1st September 2006, 19:43	#13 (permalink)
Parky Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 4th July 2006 Posts: 327 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I think I have found the adjustment for the HID lights on my EX! If you open the bonnet and look at the Black Plastic right above the lights there are markings with arrows. There are 2 on each side. Each has a semi circular arrow with 2 markings :- One says U and D (Up and Down) with a Headlight symbol and a 10% marking. Seems to indicate you can adjust the headlight height by 10%. The adjustment is the rubber knob right by the marker. The other marker says L and R and just behind the marker and down behind the grill is a white plastic hexagonal socket that looks like it move the reflector or bulb. Ian

2nd September 2006, 07:22	#14 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,703 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Hi Parky, I thought the EX had auto adjust for up and down ?.

2nd September 2006, 07:57	#16 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,703 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I haven't had any problems from other motorists, so I presume this adjustment was done with the PDI. I'll Phone the Dealer later.

26th April 2007, 18:53	#20 (permalink)
Guinness Valve Cap Join Date: 23rd April 2007 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	My pilot and co-pilot want to take me on a booze flight soon and are concerned about my eyes - want to make sure they point in the right direction and don't annoy any of those continental cruisers. has anyone come up with a definitive answer yet for eye divertion or is it a choice between Halfords, Duck Tape or chancing it. My pilot says his old Accord craft had neat clip ons - but I guess my eyes are just too big.