Driving in France

[Buddy]

Thinking of going over to France and Germany and knowing we're expected to carry spare bulbs but having Xenons I'm wondering what to carry.

Previously I've carried spares and still do for indicators and brake lights etc but the Xenons?

In 40,000 miles I've had one number plate bulb blow.

 

[jdpef356]

ORIGINAL: Buddy In 40,000 miles I've had one number plate bulb blow.

Dont speak to soon - you may wish to read the following http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=643057&mpage=1&key=&#643057 Enjoy your trip[]

 

[944s2]

[link=http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/france-monaco.pdf]http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/france-monaco.pdf[/link]

 

[BrianJ]

I've always worked on the basis that it is extremely unlikely that a Xenon will fail, and very expensive to carry a spare one. Much more likely to be stopped for something else and asked about bulbs as part of a more general check. Hence I carry a couple of impressively comprehensive boxes of general car bulbs in the hope that that this will convince if asked. Over many holidays on the continent I have only ever been stopped (twice) for a random illegal immigrant check on country roads - not many hiding places in a Cayman with 2 people and 3 weeks' luggage. No interest in bulbs or indeed anything else!

 

[garyw]

I was on the understanding that lamps that could easily be changed roadside etc.. was the idea of the lamps, which the HID is not... I've never taken one with me abroad, nor even had the need to change one.. garyw

 

[Buddy]

Thanks all, Brian, your assessment is the same as I was thinking but your being stopped for illegal immigrant smuggling! They just wanted a look at the car. Especially if you had a woman and her luggage for 3 weeks. John, a sad tale about the 944 Turbo SE, just where can I buy one for £3K? RAC way out on that one. I had a 220 Turbo and it was terrific. Dougie, interesting link thanks, has anyone told Parisians about not using there horns except in emergency?

 

[Robin]

Today you may more likely get stopped to check if you have High Visibility vests for every person in your car, accessible from inside the car, in case of a breakdown.

 

[marlin]

Just take an impressive selection of bulbs, plod will not try and make them fit [] Bear in mind plod is much thinner on the ground than UK I have spent may weeks driving in France and only seen a couple of Police officers on my visit, the chance of a pull is small, unless you are driving a warp factor []

 

[Buddy]

I haven't driven over there in the past 3 years and have only seen one car pulled over, a 911 on the way back from Le Mans after the last Porsche 1-2 in'98 but the last time I was over I did see a cop checking the box behind the toll booth I'm told for average speed.

 

[graham.webb]

Just got back...we go over 4 or 5 times a year. It's true that les flics are not quite as numerous and visible as here, but please note the following: Speeding Less tolerant than a few years ago. France's apalling fatality rate has promoted more speed awareness, and you will notice far fewer people speeding/tailgating. There are fixed speed cameras (grey box with yellow/black stripes) preceded by a warning sign. Earlier this year they legislated to remove the signs but after a lot of fuss they were re instated. Plenty of mobile cameras, though. A favourite place is a few km before motorway peage, where they can then pull you in for payment. Best to keep to the limits. Detectors are illegal in France. Drink The French lunch tradition continues. Good news is that while they're all stopped for 2 hours eating is a great time to pile on the miles. Bad news, les flics are very hot on l'alcootest and are out in force early afternoon pulling over likely customers. Stick to the Badoit with your lunch! Agree with the other comments about bulbs, high viz jackets etc. The bulb thing is so silly now that on many cars bulb replacement is no longer a roadside affair. We don't usually use headlamp diverters (when did you last see a French car in UK with them?!), but I sometimes just put a bit of black insulting tape on a useful-ish part of the lamp to make it look as if I'm bothered....

 

[Dylan1]

definately best to keep to the limit in my experience over the past 4 years - though on two occasions we were pulled over and fined even though we were not breaking the limit-i was so hacked off that i actually pointed this out in fluent french and les flics were taken aback but then even more arrogant ,and unpleasantly fondled their guns.my wife was so unimpressed that we now travel everywhere in europe via belgium and germany rather than spend time in the country whose police are so unpleasant towards us when we came back to uk last time from france 2 yrs ago we saw a clio in st albans with gb number plates with a big visible sticker on back screen"le voiture est anglais mais je suis francais"-if that doesnt confirm that they are out purely to get brits i dont know what is!!

 

[Buddy]

Actually Dylian we once went to Brussels and had our passports lifted, we didn't find out until we went to book in at the hotel but luckily I had my driving licence so booked in then went to the local police station and they wouldn't even speak to me. I walked out and met two cops outside one of who spoke english and was quite a pleasant type, I asked him to speak to his colleagues on the desk and he looked through the door grinned at me and said not them, obviously some cops are anti brit in brussels too, so from his advice I went back to the Eurostar station and got a crime number there. The cop there was most helpful but I was glad I met the one outside the police station otherwise I'd have been lost as to what to do. Got two new passports in one day but what a lot of messing about! Took one day out of a three night trip! Now each time we go through passport control they comment on ours! We often wonder if anyone has been pulled for using them! Sometimes wondered about using the ferry to Cuxhaven as my work has taken me to Berlin a few times and I'd like to take a look around that area.

 

[Black80XSA]

My only other advice would be to get familiar with changing the beam pattern for your headlamps (assuming you have to for xenons) - especially if you are travelling by chunnel, there's not a lot of time to whip out two headlamp units, move the internal switch and refit (especially when the front boot is full of lugagge !).

 

[Buddy]

I'd change the Xenons before leaving as they don't ( I'm told ) kick up to the right when changed over. While I'm online, my earlier reference to one bulb in 40,000 miles was only reference to the bulb replacements, got an irritating squeak from the passenger side even when the wife isn't there. Drives me nuts!