Headlamp conversion for driving in Europe - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

ShereKhan · 10-03-2006, 08:25 AM

What is the best method for adjusting my headlight beams so that I can drive safely in mainland europe?

BTW I have standard headlights as opposed to Xenon.

Thanks in advance

oneshare325 · 10-03-2006, 10:50 AM

What do you mean adjust them? Why would you need to change anything?

xrrr · 10-03-2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneshare325

What do you mean adjust them? Why would you need to change anything?

We drive on the left, France drives on the right. If you don't adjust them you blind the cars in front because headlights shine into the pavement side of the car more.

ShereKhan, have you looked in the manual? I am sure on my E46 (non-xenon) you can slide a switch under the bonnet to change the direction. A bit like an Eagle Eye's action man

SoYank · 10-03-2006, 01:18 PM

Possibly the easiest way is to use gaffer tape or black electrician's tape to cover the part of the beam that shines to the left. To be most accurate you would need to take it to a garage with the light adjusting meter. However, you may still dazzle oncoming cars and the light output is diminished by nearly 20%.

The more expensive option is to buy a continental set of headlamps and change them over just before you leave and then back when you return.

Oh, for the days of sealed beams.

Those silly orange or white fresnel lenses that stick to the headlamp are good only for taking your £ from your wallet and have absolutely no benefit for the first three or four miles that they are stuck on the light before falling off. Of course, if you really want them you can go to Coquelles and pull off onto the verge of the A16 about five miles from the Chunnel. There are bound to be numerous examples laying about. Damn, am I cynical or what?

mjh93sa · 10-03-2006, 04:20 PM

... or what

ShereKhan · 10-03-2006, 07:13 PM

I've had a look at the manual and can't seem to find any reference to this procedure that was done with its predecessor.

I know you shouldn't use gaffer tape as it will leave a heat spot on the plastic lense which will be in the form of a brown mark. So the lights will look dirty all the time and give a bad beam

I've had a scour through the forum and can't find any reference to the procedure. I went to see the local dealer who informed me that I need to put the bits plastic on the headlight lense. The service chap said I didn't really need to buy the BMW accessory and generic brand will do.

This begs the question how do I know where to place the patch/beam bender.
As the plastic lense doesn't have any markings on it.

Is it possible to scratch the lenses? How easy is it to remove these beam benders?

ES-Jet · 10-04-2006, 02:39 AM

A colleague of mine spends a few weeks every year in France so I asked him what he does.

He has an E46 and uses black insulation tape to cut off the beam. I asked him how he knows where to put the tape, and he told me that he drives up to a wall and works it out from there!

Make of that what you will

. I'll be interested to hear how it should be done, as I may be driving to DisneyLand Paris next year.

Dante · 10-04-2006, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShereKhan

What is the best method for adjusting my headlight beams so that I can drive safely in mainland europe?

BTW I have standard headlights as opposed to Xenon.

Thanks in advance

Give your SA at BMW a call. I think the direction switch only comes with the Xenons.

ES-Jet · 10-04-2006, 07:37 AM

Yes - I'd heard that too.

SoYank · 10-04-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante

Give your SA at BMW a call. I think the direction switch only comes with the Xenons.

If there's a switch on the Xenons then I'm going to a bit cross since I had to change my Xenons (Adaptive) from North American to UK at a pretty hefty price.

Dante · 10-05-2006, 01:58 AM

Just checked the german manual for e90:

Page 106: There is no switch (neither hologen nor xenon), but you can get some black sticker from BMW to cover the headlight partial.

I have the direction switch on my e46 compact (Xenon), don't know why they got rid of this handy feature.

carl_d · 10-06-2006, 02:06 AM

I got special stickers from my dealer for my E46. Came with a template and instructions on how to fit them. Came off easily when I got back. Cost a few pounds - cheap. Well worth it. I assume there is the same for the E90?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShereKhan

What is the best method for adjusting my headlight beams so that I can drive safely in mainland europe?

BTW I have standard headlights as opposed to Xenon.

Thanks in advance

ShereKhan · 10-06-2006, 01:47 PM

Just checked with my local dealer and BMW customer service.

The stickers are £14+VAT - Quite expensive for a few stickers in my opinion.

ES-Jet · 10-06-2006, 04:16 PM

£14+VAT? Looks like it's insulation tape and a brick wall for me

10-03-2006, 08:25 AM	#1
ShereKhan Captain Drives: 2010 Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDi SE Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 995 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E90 320si [0.00]	Headlamp conversion for driving in Europe What is the best method for adjusting my headlight beams so that I can drive safely in mainland europe? BTW I have standard headlights as opposed to Xenon. Thanks in advance
	Tweet

10-03-2006, 10:50 AM	#2
oneshare325 Brigadier General Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia, NoVA Posts: 4,164 iTrader: (11) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	What do you mean adjust them? Why would you need to change anything? __________________ Arctic/Gray/Alum/Step/ZPP/ZCW/Xenon Mods: Interior Xenon/Xenesis Fogs/330 Chrome Exhaust Tips/Rear fog light switch/Blacklines/Charcoal filter removal/K&N Drop in Filter/Smoked Vinyl Overlays/Blackout grill/Pearlescent Hand-Brake/Happy Robot Mod/CF Door Pillars/OEM style Trunk spoiler/CF Splitters/Smoked LED Turn Signal

10-03-2006, 01:18 PM	#4
SoYank Major General Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brighton, Colorado Posts: 7,432 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 Jeep JK Wrangl ... [0.00] 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [4.00]	Possibly the easiest way is to use gaffer tape or black electrician's tape to cover the part of the beam that shines to the left. To be most accurate you would need to take it to a garage with the light adjusting meter. However, you may still dazzle oncoming cars and the light output is diminished by nearly 20%. The more expensive option is to buy a continental set of headlamps and change them over just before you leave and then back when you return. Oh, for the days of sealed beams. Those silly orange or white fresnel lenses that stick to the headlamp are good only for taking your £ from your wallet and have absolutely no benefit for the first three or four miles that they are stuck on the light before falling off. Of course, if you really want them you can go to Coquelles and pull off onto the verge of the A16 about five miles from the Chunnel. There are bound to be numerous examples laying about. Damn, am I cynical or what? __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269

10-03-2006, 04:20 PM	#5
mjh93sa Major General Drives: M135i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 5,072 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [5.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [2.75]	... or what __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman Now: M135i with lots of toys

10-04-2006, 02:39 AM	#7
ES-Jet Second Lieutenant Drives: 320d ES Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 227 iTrader: (0)	A colleague of mine spends a few weeks every year in France so I asked him what he does. He has an E46 and uses black insulation tape to cut off the beam. I asked him how he knows where to put the tape, and he told me that he drives up to a wall and works it out from there! Make of that what you will . I'll be interested to hear how it should be done, as I may be driving to DisneyLand Paris next year. __________________ 320d ES - SG - 156 alloys, sunroof, PDC -GONE 320D SE on order

10-03-2006, 07:13 PM	#6
ShereKhan Captain Drives: 2010 Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDi SE Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 995 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E90 320si [0.00]	I've had a look at the manual and can't seem to find any reference to this procedure that was done with its predecessor. I know you shouldn't use gaffer tape as it will leave a heat spot on the plastic lense which will be in the form of a brown mark. So the lights will look dirty all the time and give a bad beam I've had a scour through the forum and can't find any reference to the procedure. I went to see the local dealer who informed me that I need to put the bits plastic on the headlight lense. The service chap said I didn't really need to buy the BMW accessory and generic brand will do. This begs the question how do I know where to place the patch/beam bender. As the plastic lense doesn't have any markings on it. Is it possible to scratch the lenses? How easy is it to remove these beam benders?

10-04-2006, 07:37 AM	#9
ES-Jet Second Lieutenant Drives: 320d ES Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 227 iTrader: (0)	Yes - I'd heard that too. __________________ 320d ES - SG - 156 alloys, sunroof, PDC -GONE 320D SE on order

10-05-2006, 01:58 AM	#11
Dante Major Drives: E91 330d / E89 Z4 Sdrive 30i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bavaria Posts: 1,431 iTrader: (0) Garage List 1986 E28 M535i [4.50] 1989 E30 320is 2-door [5.00] 2009 E89 Z4 Sdrive 30i [5.00] 2010 E91 330d Touring [5.00] 1970 MGB GT [0.00]	Just checked the german manual for e90: Page 106: There is no switch (neither hologen nor xenon), but you can get some black sticker from BMW to cover the headlight partial. I have the direction switch on my e46 compact (Xenon), don't know why they got rid of this handy feature. __________________ 2013 F31 330d Touring, ///M-Sport, Alpine White, Alcantara/Cloth, Piano Black Trim, 19" Style M403, 8AT On Order! 2009 E89 Z4 SDrive 30i, TiAg, Leather Coral Red, Alu Trim, 19" Style 296, 6MT 1989 E30 320is, ///M-Technik II, S14 Engine, Sterling Silver, Leather Black, 16" BBS RS 003, 5MT 1986 E28 ///M535i, Achat Green, Pine Green Cloth, 16" ALPINA, 5MT New pics

10-06-2006, 01:47 PM	#13
ShereKhan Captain Drives: 2010 Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDi SE Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 995 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E90 320si [0.00]	Just checked with my local dealer and BMW customer service. The stickers are £14+VAT - Quite expensive for a few stickers in my opinion.

10-06-2006, 04:16 PM	#14
ES-Jet Second Lieutenant Drives: 320d ES Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 227 iTrader: (0)	£14+VAT? Looks like it's insulation tape and a brick wall for me __________________ 320d ES - SG - 156 alloys, sunroof, PDC -GONE 320D SE on order

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search