JRCWeedon Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 Help!!! Going on a trip to France next Thursday and taking the TR for the first time. Trying to be a good boy and comply with lighting regs so bought some stick on adaptors. The trouble is the instructions are indecipherable to me and do not list any Triumph. I have sealed beam units any idea where I stick them (on the headlights of course!) Regards John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John L Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 If you look at the headlight from the front of the car, on the right side of the lens just about from the centre to the outside you should see a portion of the glass that looks different. I believe that its this part of the glass that needs covering. You could do a trial test with some masking tape or insulation tape to block off this area. In the dark shine the dip lights at a wall or garage door, you should see from the driving seat that the light that you have covered will not have an upsloping angle to the curb that a normal light has for uk driving. Its this upsloping part that affects traffic in Europe, hope that helps its a bit difficult to describe. John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 (edited) Mid to lower on the right half of the light. Does this help see pic Edited May 12, 2018 by Hamish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
james christie Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 Why just France? The whole of Europe is responsable for all this confusion of driving on the right..... No wonder the instructions are so complicated. James Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rem18 Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 Hahah James, I drive wrong sode all the time, Only French are likely to give you any trouble. One thing European Bill do hate though is no GB sticker.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 You will be driving on the RHS of the road and you want to stop light straying onto the LHS of the road. The reflector on the RHS of the light unit directs light towards the LHS so it is that side of the light that you need to block. Hence put your masking tape or whatever on the RHS of the front glass (i.e. off side of the car for a UK vehicle). Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod1883 Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 (edited) As Ian says mask off a part of the 'drivers side/offside/left hand side (as you look at the headlight) of the lens. Traditional headlights with sloping patterns in the glass give you a guide where to mask - usually a line goes left (as you look) horizontally from near the centre point and below it a sloping line goes down to the edge of the lens. Mask this section. I must admit I'm not sure about masking the lens for the BPF bulb as there is no sloping section marked. Assuming the light pattern is similarly created by the way the reflector directs the light then mask a similar segment horizontally from the centre and from a point below on the centre line ~ a quarter of the way down at an angle of ~ 20 deg. I wish I could find a diagram! Edit - Lifted this picture off ebay - it shows the segment to the left of the centre point I was trying to describe: Edited May 12, 2018 by Rod1883 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Salisbury Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 This obviously depends on your usage of the car for foreign trips, but I find the easiest way is to buy a pair of right hand dipping headlamps and fit them just before you go. Cheers Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JRCWeedon Posted May 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 This obviously depends on your usage of the car for foreign trips, but I find the easiest way is to buy a pair of right hand dipping headlamps and fit them just before you go. Cheers Rob Thanks guys for all the advice the stickers are now on the headlights for good or bad. I am inclined to think another pair of headlights would be best but it is a bit late for that. Regards John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 Rather than spending money of fancy prisms, I just blank off that prism area of the headlight lens with tape. Here's a pic of Silverback, en route to CLM with the Spitfire Aces in 2006. JOhn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike3md Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 John, Isn't you headlight glass upside down and transposed, left to right??? Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graeme Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 Mine were the same as John's. Just cover the prism with tape. Cheers Graeme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 John, Isn't you headlight glass upside down and transposed, left to right??? Mike No! Big smiley! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ragtag Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 This obviously depends on your usage of the car for foreign trips, but I find the easiest way is to buy a pair of right hand dipping headlamps and fit them just before you go. Cheers Rob Ditto. Sealed Beam headlights are peanuts from aftermarket Landrover suppliers (or, at least they were)..........and the UK lights count as the mandatory spare 'bulb' Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 But of course if you are doing night-time running in the UK as part of the trip you need to swap the headlamp units over at the ferry port... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ragtag Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 But of course if you are doing night-time running in the UK as part of the trip you need to swap the headlamp units over at the ferry port... I didn't put it to the test but I read somewhere recently that European spec headlights don't dip to the side (apparently that is a uniquely British thing). If true, you could use unmasked 'French' lights in the UK without fear of blinding oncoming traffic. I've moved on to H4s now anyway but for the 'retro' look, have a pair of the old amber plastic covers, last used on my Dad's Mk111 Zodiac in 1970! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Ragtag, I think you're referring to "flat beam headlights", that are much less assymetric than conventional ones. But they are still not acceptable in Europe if not adjusted the other way. Many moderns can be adjusted to LHD or RHD, either by a lever behind the headlamp, electronically. Some BMWS are alleged to do so automatically! John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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