Hi all, I'm hoping that someone can give me a definitive answer to the following question, as it's critical for the importation process for France.

"Do the Xenon projector lights on the S-type have the facility for flattening the dipped beam, when driving on the right hand side of the road in Europe?"

I believe I'm right in saying that within the rear compartment of the dipped beam part of the headlight assembly - there is a small lever that when used draws a mask across part of the light source to alter the shape of the beam.


Cheers
Dave

 

I think it's been said before that (even if it does that) it wouldn't be enough to pass the French (MoT thing). Just wondering if that's so and if so why you ask?

 

Yes, when I shine my lights against a blank wall the beam pattern from the driver's side light shows a "cut out" at the top relevant to the pattern from the passenger side light.

But whether that meets French criteria, who knows
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Jaguar - it's not an automobile, it's a Motorcar

 

Much the same as an MOT tester, a Contrôle Technique guy in France dispenses the rules as he interprets them.

So re dipped beam patterns, so some CT guys accept that a 'flat' beam is good enough and it is not shaped in such a way as to blind on-coming drivers.

As it happens there is a local Brit X-type owner owner who got a pass just by using this adjustment and I know which CT centre he goes to !!!!

If I have to buy some LHD headlights it could cost £5-600 for the pair, so you can understand why I would like to avoid that if I could.

Cheers
Dave

 

Ah, yes. The French.

 

Depends on the viewpoint.

How happy would you be to encounter a RHD vehicle with RHD xenon projector headlights
coming at you in the US at night?

 

With respect Mr Plums, I think you've missed my point entirely so I'll try to illustrate.

Standard RHD (driving on the lhs of the road) dipped beam gives this shape \___ and a LHD (driving on the rhs) dipped beam has this shape ___/. The idea of the flare is to light up the 'curb' side of the road, whichever side you drive on.

Now, if you have RHD dipped beams and you drive on the rhs of the road, you will indeed blind on-coming drivers.

However, with this facility that is offered by many upmarket cars, namely this 'continental driving' lever, you change the shape of the beam, so the std RHD dipped beam pattern changes from \___ to ____, ie a flat, dipped beam so no blinding of on-coming drivers.

The majority of new motorcycles throughout the world are supplied as standard with this flat dipped beam pattern.

I hope that makes the position more clear.

Dave