Differences, LHD-RHD Lights.

[TagoraSX]

Stupid question but.....

 

Is it the glass, reflector or both.

I can buy all the lights for my 200 in LHD no problem, but not a hope in RHD.

Is it possible to convert them easily or swap them around?

 

These are the LHD versions for sale.

 

Headlights

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

 

Fogs

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

[Richard]

Both listings have been removed so I can't see what lights you are talking about.

 

In most, if not all, cars with patterned lenses it's the lens that does the directing. The fogs, and the main beams if they're separate, should be the same.

 

edit- I think you might have made an arse of the links.

[TagoraSX]

Soz,

 

I did indeed make an arse of the links, fixed now

[garethj]

If they're round lights, you might be able to bodge an MoT pass by rotating them so the bit that kicks up on the right (for LHD) is horizontal, leaving a bit that kicks up on the left (which is what RHD needs)

 

I did this on my Tatra 603 and passed many MoTs with it. Alternatively, is there another headlight that will fit? F'rinstance a 2CV headlight is almost a direct drop in for the Tatra.

 

Only helpful if you've got a Tatra, but the principle should be the same

[Richard]

It does look like these are clear glass lights with a patterned reflector, they wouldn't have been like that from new would they?

 

You can buy beam deflectors for continental driving now. Unlike the old mask type, which I think are now illegal, they actually send the beam the other way. I don't know if they do the job well enough for an MOT but it might be worth thinking about.

[TagoraSX]

It does look like these are clear glass lights with a patterned reflector, they wouldn't have been like that from new would they?

 

I thought the pattern was on the glass

I was hoping to use the reflectors from the lhd items with the glass from the old ones as mine have discoloured.

 

They would have looked like this, (pic of a LHD car robbed from the internet)

 

[wuvvum]

It does depend on the headlight. The Renault 6 has a little lever on the lights to flick between right-hand and left-hand dipping, which appears to move the reflector rather than the glass.

 

Innocenti passed its last MoT with beam deflectors, although it was a bit of an effort to find ones to convert LHD to RHD - most of the deflectors sold over here are designed for RHD cars.

[dollywobbler]

As Wuv says, depends on the car. In the 2CV, I can rotate the bulb position slightly for LHD/RHD changeover. Those French obviously haven't always been that anti-English!

 

I know people with LHD headlamps and a bit of tape in the correct place on the lens which does seem to satisfy an MoT (but won't work vice-versa ie if you took a brit motor for a CT in France).

[pompei]

Fiat 500 RHD lights are extinct so we have to use LHD lights. Some dedicated souls have managed to split the assemblies and fix the RHD reflector on a new lamp with its bright shiny reflector (as opposed to its dull, corroded relector).

 

Some kind MOT men let the cars pass on LHD lights, others ask for a piece of tape to be stuck over. Most realise that the lights are so dim they aren't going to dazzle anyone, and so useless that most owners with any sense don't travel at night.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

My Xsara passed the MOT with LHD headlamps in! I bought the RHD ones but have not got round to fitting em.

[Richard]

There was a 9 year old Mk1 Astra in the paper years ago that had been fitted with LHD lights from new by mistake, it took 6 MOTs for anybody to notice.