Matthew, you get the 50% off for ten years but even so it was cheap.
I'd guess they got the Chevaux Fiscale wrong - but that's their problem.

 

I'm new to the forum so I apologise in advance if I make mistakes. I have a small collection of cars and I am planning to add an XK8 (2001-2006). I plan to buy it in the USA and import it to France. Having imported 5 other cars (Jeep, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Corvette & VW Polo) to France you would think I would learn. It took typically about 2 years to get them matriculated. But the problem is that LHD XK8s are thin on the ground in Europe, overpriced and most importantly too high mileage. The problem with US headlights is that they dip straight down. French headlights dip down to the right. Has anyone yet got experience of making the conversion. It would be very helpful to know what has to be done and where to buy the kit, if it works.

 

There is a simple plate in the headlight assembly. I have not converted mine but have trimmed the plate to improve the lighting. It would be a simple job to modify the existing plate to adjust the beam pattern.

 

Hi, An old thread but still looking for the answer. Proper conversion needed for French MOT (controle technique) RH drive to LH drive so wondering if it is possible to remove metal plates (beam adjuster) from inside and simply reverse?
Will this work.
It has a slight V shape dent but don't know what this does?
I have Xenon headlights with no lever attached just a metal shaped plate on a 2004 XKR 4.2 and I removed plate from one easily (see pic)





Thanks in advance.

My XKR Xenon beam converter.

 

That looks completely different from the plates in the earlier headlamps. I don't see how reversing it would alter the beam deflection from L to R.

Here's a photo of the early converters:



One option was to cut the original RHD metal plate to match this shape.

Hopefully someone can post a photo of the later plate from a LHD headlamp........

Graham

 

Same plate that mine has. Reversing them does work, I had to flip one of mine as the PO had put a US headlight in a RH drive car. Don't overthink it, just flip them.

 

The beam is dipped Left or right by the lower cut in metal plate so I believe it would change direction of dip if reversed? The plates in your pic are same I just received from Black Country Jag on ebay and they don't match my XKR 2004 but were supposed to. They are going back hence looking for another solution.

 

Thanks for that it makes sense but just wanted to double check. Do you know what the small V shape indent does when reversed?

 

Make sure you also adjust the high beams to French standard before the Controle Technique inspection. That's one pointing up to the sky and the other blinding approaching drivers.

I drive through the night north to south across France a couple of times a year and it's the exception to find approaching traffic with correctly adjusted headlamps.

Graham

 

No, don't know what the V stamp does. Your photo looks as though someone has put tape on the plate too, mine didn't have that so you may want to take that off. The small step-down on the plate cut-out is what makes the lights kick up to the left for LH drive or to the right when you flip it for RH drive.

 

Have you read through this post too?
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-change-68469/

 

Brilliant and true!

 

Thanks. I originally put metal tape to lower/cutoff top of beam for France and this got through CT but made dipped useless as it was also dipped on side I needed higher beam (away from oncoming traffic). I wanted to do this properly hence reason for post.

I have now reversed plate so hopefully will pass CTech next time.

 

Thanks I didn't see this post but thankfully it confirms what I have done.

 

Members contributing to that thread (https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-change-68469/) who have moved on for various reasons and are missed here - steveinfrance, Frog and jamjax.

Frog assured me it only took a couple of bottles of wine on the counter and they didn't even look at his XKR!

Please post the result back here when you've had it tested.

Graham

 

I purchased a set of the beam converters shown in your photo. Unfortunately the instructions that were sent are extremely poor photocopies and the supplier is less than helpful. Has any one actually fitted these and was it necessary to remove the headlight assy in order to do so? Many thanks in advance.

 

I fitted a set of those to my RHD 2001 to make the beam patters suitable for driving on the right - my headlights should be the same as yours. Access is through the plastic access cover in the wheel arch - there is no need to remove the headlight assembly. If you search you will find instructions on the forums.

I think if I was doing it again, I would just cut the original deflectors down (to mirror the cut out), rather than buying new ones.

Here are the instructions I posted before:-

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...1/#post1237600