Beam Benders for Xantia 94

Rivendell · Unread post by **Rivendell** » 20 Nov 2004, 15:36

Where is the best place to obtain beam benders for driving in Europe ? The ones I've seen so far in Halfords seem to be universal ones and I'm not too sure how they would fit on a Xantia. Help and advice greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Phil

JohnD · Unread post by **JohnD** » 20 Nov 2004, 16:21

Look at the Lucas kits in Halfords. They are of the type where you cut black plastic to a given template design. The shape for the Xantia is complicated, consisting of a rectangle in the top right corner and another rectangle in the lower left corner of each headlamp. Having frequently driven overnight in Europe, both with and without the beam masks, I know they do work - but not without quite a reduction in available light.

beezer · Unread post by **beezer** » 20 Nov 2004, 16:29

That's right. LSUK branches have them too. You even get a knife with the kit. Either fit them on the ferry or when you disembark!

MW · Unread post by MW » 20 Nov 2004, 16:37

I can't speak for the 94 Xantia, but on my August 95 model (pre-facelift) the universal converters actually work perfectly, and they give me a much better light level than the old two-rectangle thingummies.
I must admit that I was sceptical when I first fitted the universals - not least because my holidays in France always start with an all-night blast down straight down to the Med - but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I didn't get flashed once. (And I never have been since.) Mind you, you do have to mount the universal beam converters at an absolutely crazy angle, and they do look a bit stupid on the car.
Of course, I never go on holiday anyway without a roll of silver gaffer tape in the car, so I'm covered both ways in case the frogs should take a sudden dislike to the universals. Can't really see myself switching back to the double rectangles, though.

Unread post by **user_3150** » 20 Nov 2004, 16:43

I used black insulation tape and just parked the car close to the garage door. All I did then was to mask of the high bits. The lights were still bright and the loss of the high side was overcome by switching on the foglights. I don't know if it's illegal in france but they all seemed to do it and I didn't get pulled. I have also seen someone fit beam benders to a set of headlight protectors so they are easily removed but they did a lot of continental driving.

dnsey · Unread post by **dnsey** » 20 Nov 2004, 20:45

While you're there, why not search out a pair of continental lenses for future use? Fortunately, the Xantia doesn't need the whole headlight units changing, so they're relatively cheap (especially second-hand).

JohnD · Unread post by **JohnD** » 20 Nov 2004, 21:47

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by dnsey</i>

While you're there, why not search out a pair of continental lenses for future use?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
But to pass an MOT they would need changing back again.

bpwood · Unread post by **bpwood** » 21 Nov 2004, 23:25

Some friends with a Renault Laguna were told that they couldn't fit any sort of universal beam bender. The dealer then sold them what was basically a set of headlamp protectors with a bit blacked out on each one. £45 - ouch! My stick on beam benders cost £5 & I've used them twice so far! I have noticed that a lot of people don't seem to bother at all.