Head light beam deflectors - Driving in France

[Snatch1]

Reading up in regards to fitting beam deflectors and there are 2 options that require different fitting - Projector + Xenon headlights or Adaptive LED headlights. How do I establish which I have? My car is a 2014 X5 F15 xDrive 3.0 MSport

I think I have Projector + Xenon but am not sure

Don't want to be dazzling our French friends this weekend!

[pvr]

Neither are an issue though, I have never touched my lights in 30 years of driving through Europe and never been flashed or blinded anyone (as far as I am aware  ) )

[Snatch1]

Lol! I'm driving through the night so feel I should make the effort!

I've just been and had a look at the xDrive Lights setting and there's 'Headlight Adaption' which looks like it changes the lights from LHD to RHD. I'll go with that and keep the beam deflectors in the glove box in case I'm getting flashed!

[pvr]

Driving through the night in France is a delight as the French are in their (or someone elses) bed at that time, which makes it great for good progress.

Also not many people about to blind then 

100 MPH is only a 90 Euro fine if caught, so it is very relaxing to drive there as well.

[MarkG_M3CP]

My X5 (2016) with LEDs had an option in the iDrive for Left/Right hand driving - I assume you've checked it's not there?

For Xenons you don't need to do anything other that put the switch into the ON position. This deactivates the adaptive element and makes the beam flat - so no dazzle.

[X5Sport]

Most HID equipped cars in Europe (inc us for now) use a flat beam pattern with the near side pattern stepped only slightly above the offside.  This is why you don’t need beam deflectors.

My Škoda uses GPS to determine when it’s outside the UK and automatically changes the headlight pattern over.

[pvr]

[quote="X5Sport"]


My Škoda uses GPS to determine when it’s outside the UK and automatically changes the headlight pattern over.
[/quote]

Now that is impressive.

Next step - limiting your car's max speed based on GPS position ... 

[Dogzyboy]

I’m sure there’s an option on the f15 in the idrive settings for xenons to switch to European driving?

[Rassi]

[quote="pvr"]


100 MPH is only a 90 Euro fine if caught, so it is very relaxing to drive there as well.
[/quote]

Just be careful not to go more than 35 kph over the speed limit, so 165 kph on the autoroutes, as all of a sudden the fine jumps from 90 to 800 Euro and a 4 week driving ban.

[pvr]

[quote="Rassi"]
[quote="pvr"]


100 MPH is only a 90 Euro fine if caught, so it is very relaxing to drive there as well.
[/quote]

Just be careful not to go more than 35 kph over the speed limit, so 165 kph on the autoroutes, as all of a sudden the fine jumps from 90 to 800 Euro and a 4 week driving ban.
[/quote]

Thought that was at 50 km/h over the limit, so 180?

[Rassi]

[quote="pvr"]
[quote="Rassi"]
[quote="pvr"]


100 MPH is only a 90 Euro fine if caught, so it is very relaxing to drive there as well.
[/quote]

Just be careful not to go more than 35 kph over the speed limit, so 165 kph on the autoroutes, as all of a sudden the fine jumps from 90 to 800 Euro and a 4 week driving ban.
[/quote]

Thought that was at 50 km/h over the limit, so 180?
[/quote]

It appears you are right. I have driven once a month on the autoroutes for the last 18 years and have been stopped a few times, just after the tolls, and been relieved of 90 Euro while being lectured sternly that if I had done more than 165 kph I would have payed the aforementioned 800 euro.

However, it appears to be 135 Euro if over 35 kph over and 750 Euro if 50 kph over.

160 kph is in any case a good cruising fired.