Crossingkeeper said:

I've owned my van for just over 2 years and so have just taken it for the 2nd MOT at my usual garage.

For some reason this year the tester was hot on lights & made me change a couple of indicator bulbs. He also cleaned off the circular patch of sticky residue that has been on both van headlamps since I bought it (I assumed that this was where beam deflectors for continental driving had previously been attached)

Unfortunately this clean-up has revealed serious cracking of the plastic and googling suggests that this is a common problem if beam deflectors are stuck onto plastic headlamps. I imagine this cracking will affect the light throw of the headlamps but as I rarely drive in the dark this is not really an issue but more significantly is it likely to lead to a future MOT fail (in the circumstances he could hardly fail the van this time)

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Crossingkeeper said:

One seller was offering plastic headlamp covers with built in continental beam deflectors which seems a better idea than sticking anything directly onto the headlamps.

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Crossingkeeper said:

Thanks Moodrater for that reassurance; fortunately there is no yellowing or clouding (though the cracking/crazing is through the whole depth of the plastic) so should be ok for future tests.

In fact I've now looked up the price of headlamp units for the 2002-2006 Ducato on ebay & it is possible to get a pair for under £100 so not really a problem (still remembering trying to get headlights for my Talbot)

One seller was offering plastic headlamp covers with built in continental beam deflectors which seems a better idea than sticking anything directly onto the headlamps.

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