C5 III, driving on European mainland, headlights

[Richard_C]

With the cars I have had in the past it has been reasonably easy to mask off a bit of the headlamp glass for driving on the right. I even have some old yellow pre-halogen bulbs which I used to pop in the 2CV & Dyanes.

With the C5 III the solution is far from obvious.

Trip to French Alps coming up, unlikely to travel much at night but you never know with delays and suchlike. Any ideas or experience, ideally avoiding disproportionate expense?

(Halogen, not Xenon)

[DickieG]

Do the lights actually have an upturn on the N/S?

I don't know if Citroen do this on C5's but on BMW's there is a lever on each headlight to direct the beam according to the legal requirements of the country you are in, worth a quick look to see if it's there on your car.

[Peter.N.]

Check this link from 'Honest John'

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/ ... tm?t=50366" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Timmo]

£900+vat Each for headlamps!!! £375+vat for the bumper! Deary me, just hope to god that you dont bump your 5 year old C5 on the front enough to damage both or it'll be a write off!!
contemplates a trip up the breakers to check what lights are on the C5 exlusive up there!!

[Peter.N.]

You can buy a Mk1 C5 for less than that!

Peter

[Citroenmad]

Since they are only halogen lights im sure you will be able to get the stick on headlamp converters?

[DickieG]

You can buy a Mk1 C5 for less than that!

A gallon of fuel is more valuable than a Mk1 C5

[charentejohn]

We used to go to France a lot over the last 20 years but only ever bought one lot of beam diverters. Take a look at a packet of beam diverters for a C5, I assume they can be found on ferry ports if not car parts places.

These show where the beam diverters need to be fitted, then just blank off that part of the headlight with black insulation tape. Last vehicle was a Transit and the part to blank out was a trapezoid shape easily seen on the lamp glass. No problem buying diverters as such but they only lasted one trip (wouldn't stick any more) so three trips a year was expensive, roll of insulation tape about £0.30.

[Estately]

Richard,
I really really really really would not bother with headlight deflectors – really.
a) You will never see a left hand drive vehicle in this country with them fitted.
b) I have never been flashed in France or Spain when driving at night. (C5 fitted with xenon)
c) The cut off therefore must be sufficient to prevent dazzle to oncoming drivers.
d) I have had occasion to converse with continental officers of the law and they have never mentioned headlights to me.
e) A French gentleman did come over to us years ago whilst in France and asked why British cars had those yellow things on their headlights. The look on his face when I explained about consideration to other road users was priceless.
f) Make sure that you have a spare bulb kit (not that you will be able to fit them) and at least one (maybe two now) red warning triangles – They can be hot on that if they want.

Hope that helps.

[chadders]

I have a 57 reg c5 with xenon lights, I spoke to our local main dealer about beam deflectors they said they wern't needed as the lights had a flat beam so the first of many over night trips to the Limousin I was flashed by nearly every car on the other side of the motorway so before the next trip I shone them against a wall found the area that shone up and got the gaffa tape out and no more problems after that and a bit of gaffa tape is a whole lot cheaper than thoughs rip off shops at the ferry port!!

[civvie]

When I had my C5 Mk1 I purchased one of those plastic headlamp covers for use abroad, it had the markings for fixing some tape on the cover to deflect the beam. It is now not needed, so if anyone needs one they can have mine. Cost of postage or pick up west London.

PM me

Steve

[JohnD]

I have a 57 reg c5 with xenon lights, I was flashed by nearly every car on the other side of the motorway

That's strange. Mine is a 2005 C5 with xenons and I'm just back from 3 months in Spain and France. Not once was I flashed because of dazzle to oncoming drivers. I too was told that beam benders weren't required.