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      06-09-2013, 12:05 PM   #1
arnsbrae
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Driving in Europe with Halogen Headlights

My handbook only refers to Xenon headlights and says nothing about adjusting halogen headlights for driving in Europe.

Does anyone know if they are adjustable or do I need to stick stuff on them to comply with regulations?

Thanks
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      06-09-2013, 01:21 PM   #2
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I don't believe you have to do anything other than make sure the light switch is in the dipped position as opposed to the automatic / adaptive position.
in dipped position, the light is flat. But in adaptive it may angle up towards to the left hence not to use it abroad.
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      06-09-2013, 02:47 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AP View Post
I don't believe you have to do anything other than make sure the light switch is in the dipped position as opposed to the automatic / adaptive position.
in dipped position, the light is flat. But in adaptive it may angle up towards to the left hence not to use it abroad.
Thanks for the quick reply - much appreciated.
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      06-09-2013, 02:53 PM   #4
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If you're not going to be in Europe for an extended period of time, I wouldn't worry about it. I travel back and forth quite a bit and never had issues.
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      06-11-2013, 03:08 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee View Post
If you're not going to be in Europe for an extended period of time, I wouldn't worry about it. I travel back and forth quite a bit and never had issues.
Thanks Lee - just a couple of weeks...
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      06-11-2013, 11:56 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arnsbrae View Post
Thanks Lee - just a couple of weeks...
Cool. I'm actually heading your way in July.

Have fun on the continent!
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      06-12-2013, 01:50 AM   #7
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The comments about adaptive lights, whilst true, do not apply to the OP who has halogen lights which cannot be adaptive by definition.

With halogen lights you need the old sticky-tape masks.
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      06-13-2013, 10:29 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xenon View Post
The comments about adaptive lights, whilst true, do not apply to the OP who has halogen lights which cannot be adaptive by definition.

With halogen lights you need the old sticky-tape masks.
While the word adaptive has mistakenly been substituted for automatic earlier in this thread, it does seem that situation re driving in Europe is the same whether the car has xenon or halogens - no action required (except for early F10 cars).

So no sticky-tape masks required after all for halogen headlights.

http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=418100

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/81267-...-2013-520d-ed/
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      07-01-2021, 02:52 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arnsbrae View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenon View Post
The comments about adaptive lights, whilst true, do not apply to the OP who has halogen lights which cannot be adaptive by definition.

With halogen lights you need the old sticky-tape masks.
While the word adaptive has mistakenly been substituted for automatic earlier in this thread, it does seem that situation re driving in Europe is the same whether the car has xenon or halogens - no action required (except for early F10 cars).

So no sticky-tape masks required after all for halogen headlights.

http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=418100

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/81267-...-2013-520d-ed/
Hi All ,

Mine is BMW F10 2011 UK Model and I am currently using it in Europe. Yesterday it was failed in technical control of Luxembourg due to Headlight Compliance. I took it to local BMW dealer and they says these lights does not come with adjusting option/lever. And they need to be changed. This model have standard Halogen lights. Need your help if I can adjust them anyhow rather then changing all assembly??

Thanks
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      07-02-2021, 07:53 AM   #10
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When I have driven on the continent, in numerous cars I have owned - including current 535D - I have never bothered. I have driven past the police in many places including France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Denmark and they never bothered me. Sure, you could get unlucky and stopped but I and many others never have been. And sure, if you have the equivalent of the MoT in those places your car will fail. But you are just over there temporarily right?
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      04-17-2023, 04:46 AM   #11
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Hi all I'm new to the forum with my 520 d GT - but had the same question about driving in Europe and headlight conversion for driving on the left.....

I found this old thread and a more recent answer from different forum and this works for my 2015 F07 (see below)

Get in the car and don't start the engine but switch it on by way of the button (i.e. don;t touch the brake with your foot) Note, this will not work either on the move or with the engine running.

Go into iDrive, settings and then into lights, headlights and finally headlight adaption you'll then see an option for changing the beam from left to right.



Just incase any one else has the same query - ymw
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