Headlight deflectors for driving in Europe

[Jamie Summers]

Guys,
Anyone know where to get the stickery things so we don't blind the Froggies when we're using their roads in the dark ?

Jamie

 

[plhorner]

Jamie,
I bought some 'Beam Benders' from Halfords a few years ago for a trip to Le Mans, however in the warm weather the adhesive lost its stick and that was that. I now use black tape and just mask off the appropriate area of the lense and try not to drive in the dark if possible. I haven't noticed a big difference in lighting performance.
Cheers,

 

[Guest]

I too use black insulating tape - dead cheap, and it always stays on (even on my ArmourFend protected headlights). I have Xenon bulbs, so the loss of light is pretty small; also, the French are surprisingly tolerant of 'odd' headlights, and I have been known to forget the deflectors.

Also, in June, it gets dark pretty late.

 

[Jamie Summers]

OK then I'll change the question. Which sections do I need to black out with tape for Euro driving ? Is it extremely obvious, can't say I've bothered to look yet !

Jamie

 

[Guest]

It is obvious (on mine, anyway).

Most of the headlight glass is 'ribbed', but there is a plain, triangular, segment, from the centre to the circumference, pointing to the nearside, approx. 4cm wide at the circumference - this is the bit to be blocked out/amended.

It takes three strips of standard insulating tape, approx. 10cm long, per headlight, allowing for a bit of overlap. But you probably didn't need to know that, did you ?

 

[Jamie Summers]

John,
If you could let me know the exact angle to cut the ends of the tape so as not to go over the edges I'd be much obliged - can't have it looking scruffy can we [] It will also enable me to maximise the number of strips of tape obtainable from the roll !

Jamie

 

[Guest]

Jamie

The problem is that the glass is part of a circle at the edge, so the angle could be a bit difficult. If you like, I will go and measure it, to see if there is an optimum cutting shape (not !); I have to be very careful with mine, because of the plastic underneath, so I generally just tear it. It alters the aerodynamics considerably, but, who cares.....

I get my insulating tape (black) from Maplin - don't know if other makes are as good at sticking. I am sure that you create a whole new posting based just on the qualities of various tapes.

More to the point, I have just been to look at my headlights, and I wasn't quite correct.

The plain bit is not all plain, just a lot less ribbed.
Also, it radiates out to the Offside (obviously !). Silly me.

 

[Elliot Davies]

On my old 964 the glass lens actually had a shaped peice that the beam deflector fitted over, the next year i used black duct tape over this area, much cheaper and ive enough left for the next 53 lemans runs or possibly more []
Look at your lens closely, on the offside lens there might be a wedge shaped deflector inside at about 9oclock, this is what im referring to.
Difficult to explain on type []
See attached, this was the same shape as the bought from halfords type but didnt cost £7

 

[Jamie Summers]

Thanks John,
I will conduct extensive testing on the aerodynamic / adhesive properties of the various brands of tape available. Does it have to be black by the way ? Or will blue / red / green work (faintly serious question as much out of curiosity as anything else)?

Jamie

 

[Elliot Davies]

So then............... What do the Boxster owners do when driving in Europe coz this looks a bit awkward to cut out
I will be needing some myself and cant imagine sticky tape being to user friendly in this shape

 

[Elliot Davies]

I beleive extensive testing was carried out and Black was faster, never seen duct tape in anything other than black or silver myself.
Black was definately the colour of choice on my ferry to LM []

 

[Guest]

Or will blue / red / green work (faintly serious question as much out of curiosity as anything else)?

The idea was first given to me by my garage, and I have used it ever since. I started with black, as that was the only colour tape that I had, and just carried on that way. But, you have given me an idea; I can't imagine that there is a regulation about this, but the style police might just step in !

I might try red on the nearside, and green on the offside, so I will be OK if I land in the water. Then again, blue to match the car; yellow, for my favourite colour; green/yellow, for a bit of 'je ne sais quoi'.

I feel a nice relaxing cup of tea calling.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Elliot,

Most Boxster owners use tape - you should be able to approximate that template fairly easily?

(But I thought you had litronics? If so you don't need the tape, you just switch it from LH to RH dip. Instructions are in the manual and in the Boxster FAQ)

 

[Elliot Davies]

im non lits Mark