driving in Europe with Xenons

[crox]

I have the bi-xenon pack and read somewhere that it is advisable to not use the light re-directors on these type of lights.

Do VW change the lights around or do I just use the re-directors?

[Quatrelle]

Hi Crox

I was looking at the light pattern on mine last night (on the road and against the garage wall) prior to a trip to the UK in 10 days' time.

Mine are just the bog-standard lights, as far as I know, and although the dipped light is slightly biased to what will be the wrong side of the road, the actual pattern is very flat, as opposed to my Laguna, where the pattern has a distinct kick up to the right to illuminate the rh verge.

I'm guessing therefore, that although I'll lose some light nearside (I've got fogs as a back up), if I keep the beams adjusted low enough I won't dazzle anyone - I'm sure I'll find out if I do....

I don't like the idea of sticking anything on the headlamp plastic.

[onzarob]

Most Xenon packs have a switch on the light cluster to move to left or right hand drive look in the manual

[PNS2007]

I was under the impression this could be changed with VDS. (vagcom).

Have a look at this which I have found:-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/h5djr/e...an Driving.pdf

I haven't tried it, so make sure you save your original settings before making any changes

(Thanks to Dave on Audi-sport.net)

[gamichea]

I don't like the idea of sticking anything on the headlamp plastic.

Not been a problem over the four times I've done this for halogens.

[Quatrelle]

Not been a problem over the four times I've done this for halogens.

Presumably it comes off without leaving any residue? What do you use?

I have to confess I'm out of touch with this - it's years since I've been back to the UK, and the last time the car had glass headlamps and I used black electrician's tape.

As I said above, I don't anticipate using anything, but I don't want to cause problems and I'll have to see what's available when I get to the ferry. There's no chance of getting anything round here.

[gamichea]

For many years I used the sticky back plastic based kits marketed by Lucas. The sheets had outlines for many vehicles. From 2000-2005 I ran an A6 which had simple switches in the lamp housing to reorient the projector style dipped beam units.

Imagine my disappointment when my shiny new 2006 Passat had no such switching . Down to my friendly VW dealer who confirmed VW were prepared to sell me a pair of 'adapters' for £16. These turned out to be of similar material to the old Lucas kits .

The problem with the B6 headlamps is they have no moulded in markings in the key areas to position adapters against . VW dealt with this problem by extending the adapters so they can be confidently positioned against what markings there are, stuck down and the excess removed along precut lines together with the paper backing that holds it all together!

More than a little unwilling to part with £16 every time I go abroad I made some stiff cardboard copies of the VW things to use as templates. I position the templates and mark key corners with a fine marker pen. I then use the templates to cut adapters from stocks of old Lucas material and postion them within the markings which can then be wiped off with spit and a tissue. I then mentally raise two fingers to VWUK for the exhorbitant cost of the official adapters .

[garrad]

Hi Crox,

I'm in exactley the same boat as you with the dynamic bi-xenons.

Last year when I went to France I spoke to 3 dealers, one said go to Halfords and buy a mask pack, one said they could sell me a special mask pack and one said they could do it with the computer. I opted for the one with the computer and to be honest I saw no change in the light pattern and when I went back for them to un-do what they did they said they would show me what they did so I could do it next year - clearly they didn't use a computer then!

This year I booked into a different dealer a few weeks ago for a service and asked about booking the car in to have the lights changed and they said that they don't use the computer, they use a mask kit. They have double checked with VW and have now sold me a pair of Passat headlamp protectors with a pre marked area for the mask which they has applied. I've parked in front of the garage door and can see no real change in the shape of the top of the light pattern between when the covers are on or off. The only change is a small segment at the lower edge that dissapears. I'm convinced that these covers and masks are for cars with normal lights - VW customer services confirmed this and said the covers would melt, VW Technical denied this and now VW customer services have been told by VW technical to deny it.

I logged onto this site tonight to find out if anyone knows a number for a senior person in VW Technical services as I'm sure everyone I've emailed to so far is just typing off a script!

[onzarob]

Ignore VW look at this

Channel 016: Tourist Solution

When driving in countries where driving is performed on the opposite side as in the native country the headlights must be changed over to avoid blinding the oncoming traffic.

• 0 = Disabled
• 1 = Enabled

You need Vag-com and follow the instruction on the ross-tech site

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/...Xenon_with_AFS)

It say golf but applies to passat as well

[gingernut352000]

I have "normal" lights and bought the protectors with mask already applied. As we travel to france a lot I asked the dealer about bi-xenons when considering the purchase and was told they had to do it using the computer and would charge an hours labour per convert so 2 hours per holiday. Cant see why VW cant fit a switch.

I would ahev thought that plastic protectors with bi-xenons would melt or warp.

Adrian