European headlights stickers

[grover]

Any experience here on a good sticker set to buy, some have very aggressive adhesive on them which is still on our X5 lights, I guess I need to pop some on for a trip this coming weekend into France with a few other cars and the French Police can get quite difficult especially with a little convoy of Ferrari/Porsche etc all on GB plates.

or where there might see a picture showing where I can stick tape to the headlight cover, mine are the dynamic cornering version

Thanks in advance

 

[tscaptain]

Don't think you can use stickers on our headlights? Need to do this instead...

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=391839

 

[garyw]

as above...[]
The plastic headlamps can be quite badly damaged by using stickers..
Changing them over does only take a few minutes once you've got used to it..

garyw

 

[lowndes]

I haven't tried it on the current car but on the Gen 1 turbo there was a bit of a learning curve. Removing/replacing the headlight unit is OK but when it comes to taking the back off the headlight unit be aware that the two parts will still be held together by a fairly short piece of connecting electrical cable which makes access to the switch a little awkward. Good to have a second pair of hands around at that time. Also the switch is quite deep into the body of the headlamp and not that easy to spot at first, as a I recall it is pretty much at the end of your finger tip.

Practice in the privacy of your own home not a bad idea rather than on the quayside in the rain.

 

[garyw]

I used the screwdriver to flick the lever over last time, it can be done with a long finger but the screwdriver did make it easier..[]

garyw

 

[maxtraeger]

I have used stickers for years and yes, they are a bugger to clean off when you come back. I just leave mine on permanently now as the frequent trips warrant the stickers with the AA selling them for #7.99 http://shop.theaa.com/store/shop/aa-headlamp-beam-converters . The impact of driving with the stickers here in the UK is minimal anyway thus a one time investment if you don't mind the slightly distorted look back in the UK.

 

[garyw]

You could actually use insulation tape is you really did want to use some 'other' method.
The adhesive is easier to remove- although as said, it is not recommended for use on HID headlamps.

garyw

 

[911sse]

I bought a set of the Porsche ones and they are re-usable. Peel back off and put back onto the coated brown paper they were on.

I'd recommend them, zero hassle even if they look a little odd!

 

[pwebb]

My old OPC (Guildford) was always happy to do the switch over for me foc when I popped in. Two minute job for them!

 

[Mark_Bennett]

It's a 2 minute job for anyone!

 

[pwebb]

Mark, you clearly haven't witnessed my mechanical abilities!

 

[mascanes]

Me too, OPC Hatfield did mine FOC on my previous Boxster and my 911"¦"¦"¦"¦ they had trouble with the left-hand Boxster light unit, it wouldn't come forward, so I was please they did it at the time. "¦. The 911 units seemed to come out ok"¦"¦"¦"¦. I'm in Europe 5-6 times a year so I've never bothered changing them back to UK driving, the bi-xenon's are more than bright enough for UK driving.......... I've heard those stick-on thingys cook themselves onto the lenses ......[&:]

 

[BrianJ]

The bi-Xenon ones that steer round corners on my Gen II 987 are noticeably more annoying to change for European travel than the Litronics on my 986. 4 screws to undo and replace the cover on each light (compared to just clips), plus remove/replace the control unit, none of which was necessary on the 986. But although leaving them in the symmetrical (ie straight ahead) position used for continental driving is an option that I know some people are happy with back in the UK, I find the absence of the pavement/verge-illuminating offset pattern on both sides really makes a substantial difference.

 

[chrisH]

I was quoted 30 mins labour by my OPC to change my Zenons each way for a trip to Germany via Dunkirk.
Stupid question: is this really necessary, do they check the cars entering France, will some tape make it look like you have done it if so any pics of where to put it?
I dont intend to drive in the dark as we will arrive before 7 pm each evening in Germany.

 

[garyw]

Chris
Its a legal requirement to do it... I agree that you may not be driving at night, however if it rains then you'll need dipped headlight on unless you fancy a tug from the feds.. (maybe)
You can see where it needs the taped just by facing your car against a wall and seeing where the tape cuts off the beam kickup to the left.
If you have HID lamps it may well burn/mark the plastic on your headlamps

30 minutes to do the headlamps!![:'(] It may however be based on your experience with the service team.
I will be doing mine next weekend for a trip to Germany and will do it prior to departing home as the lights do still light up the roads more than enough.
It is however your choice as ever..

garyw

 

[chrisH]

Accept that, but unless you have an accident attributed to dazzling someone, how do they check your beans, is it upon arrival do they check each car has stickers at the port, or is it a random police check with a beam checker? Dunkirk is not that far from Belgium and I hear the French police are more liable to stop you.
If I put black tape across the nearside light where it kicks up are you saying the extra heat from the Zenons will damage the plastic lense cover, after how long? I have daylight running lights which are below the headlamp housing and this would only occur when the headlights are switched on.

 

[Buddy]

I have Xenons on the Cayman and when I go across the ditch change them over before leaving, however, previously I have used the Porsche deflectors on my Boxster and they were ripped off in a Stuttgart Hotel Car Park and stuck over the screen and driver's mirror, plus the rear badge was broken and someone spat all over the rear boot lid ( IBIS Hotel south end of city ).

After that I used Aluminium Tape used for sealing gas fire backplates to plastered walls among other things, this tape can be bought from any gas parts supply centre, ( may even be available from B&Q ) most towns have them so easier to get than the Porsche deflectors.

 

[garyw]

After my recently channel excursion, I changed the units over on the tunnel... I've got a bit of practice in now and makes a good talking point with the other travellers []

garyw