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shropshiredefender

Member Since: 05 Jun 2017
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 834

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black

LED headlight continental converters

Thinking of fitting LED headlights.
BUT I do roughly 5k. miles on the continent and 10k miles in the UK every year.
Can anyone tell me how easy(?) it is to change the dipped beam on an LED headlight from UK to Continental use.

Thanks

7th Dec 2017 3:24pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

There are no commercially available beam convertors as available for standard halogen bulb headlights.

Conventional halogen bulb headlights have glass lenses which also control the shape of the beam pattern. Very straightforward to block off the part of the beam which might dazzle on coming traffic.

LED headlights have a much sharper cut off then halogen lights and the beam pattern is controlled by the reflector rather then the lens.

It is not possible to buy beam convertors for LED headlights.

If you want to try and adjust the headlights, find a decent wall, park 3 metres away and put dipped beam on. Look for the 'kick up' on LHS. Now it is trial and error to find the part of the lens where this comes through the lens and what to block off with tape.

My understanding of the law is twofold. Illegal to dazzle on coming traffic. Headlights must be 'handed' for the country of vehicle registration.

LED headlights with their sharp cutoff tends not to dazzle oncoming traffic.

HTH

Brendan

10th Dec 2017 3:02pm

shropshiredefender

Member Since: 05 Jun 2017
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 834

Thanks Brendan - given the political situation and vagaries of individual traffic cops I think I'll leave that mod.

I'll just wonder where all the light from main + 2 x Lazer RS8 has gone when I go to dip

10th Dec 2017 5:10pm

nicks

Member Since: 21 Aug 2008
Location: south coast
Posts: 469

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Alaska White

i looked on to this also, like Brendan has said you cant buy convertors. If you look at the beam pattern they are not higher on the right like halogen headlights.
i did a lot of night driving in France and didn't get flashed once

14th Dec 2017 4:14pm

meeerrrk

Member Since: 12 Feb 2017
Location: Surrey
Posts: 548

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Stornoway Grey

buy two pairs, one RHD and the other LHD, and swap them when you need to

My 90 Project : http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic52774.html

14th Dec 2017 4:31pm

Morepower

Member Since: 08 Jan 2013
Location: Fife, Scotland
Posts: 630

I'm Sure Brendan could help with that...

It doesn't matter how bad it is, It can always get worse...

2013 Bowler 110 (Sold)
2016 Bowler 90 Rally Spec (Sold)

14th Dec 2017 4:54pm

shropshiredefender

Member Since: 05 Jun 2017
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 834

Yep I'm sure Brendan could supply.
Only 1 problem - how to distract SHMBO (how much are you spending on that Land Rover now!!!!!) whilst I change headlamps in the Channel Tunnel car park?

14th Dec 2017 5:43pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

meeerrrk wrote:
buy two pairs, one RHD and the other LHD, and swap them when you need to

Well there is an auction for a set of Noldens here currently below normal retail price. Yes we can supply LHD or RHD units.

Please do not forget the justgiving page for those Christmas time donations here

Brendan

14th Dec 2017 8:01pm

strang

Member Since: 16 May 2012
Location: Happy Valley
Posts: 1380

2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green

nicks wrote:

i did a lot of night driving in France and didn't get flashed once

Blimey you were lucky. I went to an event in France last year in my series one, with standard very dim head lights, and when driving at night on dual carriageways (so well away from oncoming traffic), I was continually getting flashed by trucks and buses, yet I could barely see the road my lights are so poor! Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond.....

14th Dec 2017 8:09pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

Well Strang, were they flashing you to tell you to switch your headlights on?

Brendan

14th Dec 2017 8:28pm

proloForêt

Member Since: 16 Mar 2017
Location: Montereau
Posts: 248

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

Hello it may be helpful to mention that in France you can use the flat style beams. These are not handed in the fashion that the area off the side of the road gets more light. Previously you must have this to illuminate pedestrian on the side but not for many years do you fail CT without this. Of course handed from UK would not be acceptable.

14th Dec 2017 8:43pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

Shropshire, it was always my understanding that you had to have the headlights suitable for the LHD or RHD of the country of registration when in the country of registration especially come MOT time.

Now I stated that to a brake company earlier today and then went to check the MOT bible. The 'problem' with the MOT is that it is really difficult to keep up todate with all the little tweaks to the MOT unless that is your main trade.

MOT 'bible' HERE and section 1.8

Quote:

This inspection applies to all obligatory
headlamps and any optional (additional) dipped
beam headlamps.
.
.
.
.
.
A flat top or other alternative headlamp dipped
beam pattern (not being one of the examples) is
acceptable providing all of the beam upper edge,
including any â€œpeakâ€ is contained within the
appropriate tolerance band.

These methods of inspection involve the use of
beam checking equipment with a collecting lens.
Masks or converter kits may be fitted to right
hand dip headlamps to temporarily alter the lamp for
use in the UK by removing the beam â€˜kick-upâ€™ to the
right.

A headlamp altered in this way is not a reason for
rejection, if:

a. the headlamp aim is not rejected for the
reasons listed under diagram 1 (except that
the top of the beam image will be a straight
line)

b. the light output is not unduly reduced - not
usually a problem with commercially
produced kits

c. the mask or converter is securely attached.

I am not aware of any 7" LED headlights which have a flat top beam. Nor am I aware of any commercial kit to remove the kick up. However a good garage with light measuring kit should be able to mask the upkick be it for RHD when you go onto the continent or get LHD continental lights and get them masked to pass the UK MOT.

HTH

Now what is the saying that every day is a school day??

Brendan

PS that auction is still running for the next 3 days

14th Dec 2017 11:22pm

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4209

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

Brendan, do American market headlights have a flat beam? They certainly donâ€™t have the kick up to the right but not sure if they would be considered flat in the MOT sense. I was looking at the patterns in this video 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

15th Dec 2017 8:09am

nakatanenga

Member Since: 12 Nov 2010
Location: Neumarkt
Posts: 546

The DOT beam pattern is flat, but NOT road legal in the EU WANTED:

SII or SIII in max 1.5k

15th Dec 2017 8:14am

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

As Nakatanenga has stated a headlight which is DOT compliant is not road legal in Europe.

The expression DOT approved is a false misleading one. DOT stands for the USA Department of Transport and they sent the standards for vehicles in North America. They do not actually test and approve items.

In Europe it is the technical committees of the UN ECE which set the requirements and standards for vehicles. They do not test or approve items for use in motor vehicles.

By law obligatory vehicle lights must carry an APPROVAL mark.

Headlights marked SAE, DOT and E+number in a circle are NOT approved for road use in Europe despite what the sellers may claim.

Most if not all cheap LED headlights are not approved, are not road legal and there are serious potential consequences.

Brendan

15th Dec 2017 8:34am

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