General TwinAir mpg over 2000 mile Euro Trip

arorat · May 29, 2013

for the upcoming 2nd trip to Chamonix, looking to pick a set of breathalysers up, are these ok ?

NF Approved Alcohol Breathalyser Twin Pack: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

For a 500 with HIDs, does anyone know a good bulb kit to get, minus the HID bulbs of course. Final question can black tape be shaped an put over the lenses rather than buying beam deflectors.

varesecrazy · May 29, 2013

arorat said:
for the upcoming 2nd trip to Chamonix, looking to pick a set of breathalysers up, are these ok ?

NF Approved Alcohol Breathalyser Twin Pack: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

For a 500 with HIDs, does anyone know a good bulb kit to get, minus the HID bulbs of course. Final question can black tape be shaped an put over the lenses rather than buying beam deflectors.

I always did the "black-tape" thing for day trips,

did a work run to Geneva and back in a 2 month old van.. bought the Yellow " beam-benders" = £@10,
would NOT stick / fit correctly so resorted to more PVC electrical tape.. all worked beautiffully until we came back over night through a HUGE storm,
Cracked BOTH headlight lenses,

HOT on inside( bulb) / COLD on outside ( rain) = thermal shock / stress,
black tape = Nice point to concentrate on..

,

may work fine.. may Knacker your lights, also IF beambenders Do fit you should have MORE useable light on the road,

Charlie

ahmett · May 29, 2013

arorat said:
for the upcoming 2nd trip to Chamonix, looking to pick a set of breathalysers up, are these ok ?

NF Approved Alcohol Breathalyser Twin Pack: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

For a 500 with HIDs, does anyone know a good bulb kit to get, minus the HID bulbs of course. Final question can black tape be shaped an put over the lenses rather than buying beam deflectors.

Arorat don't be silly you don't need that rubbish = )
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/driving-abroad-whats-new-2012.html

The law in France is too busy worrying about gay marriage than the real issues of the country so your trip should be a breeze! I doubt Gendarmes will be too worried about you, especially with the top speed of the TA. Just go and enjoy France!

arorat · May 29, 2013

varesecrazy said:
I always did the "black-tape" thing for day trips,
did a work run to Geneva and back in a 2 month old van.. bought the Yellow " beam-benders" = £@10,
would NOT stick / fit correctly so resorted to more PVC electrical tape.. all worked beautiffully until we came back over night through a HUGE storm,
Cracked BOTH headlight lenses,

HOT on inside( bulb) / COLD on outside ( rain) = thermal shock / stress,
black tape = Nice point to concentrate on..,

may work fine.. may Knacker your lights, also IF beambenders Do fit you should have MORE useable light on the road,
Charlie

thanks for this, I didn't realise there would be that much heat generated and headlight lenses could crack with black tape. I will look at proper beambenders.

arorat · May 29, 2013

ahmett said:
Arorat don't be silly you don't need that rubbish = )
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/driving-abroad-whats-new-2012.html

The law in France is too busy worrying about gay marriage than the real issues of the country so your trip should be a breeze! I doubt Gendarmes will be too worried about you, especially with the top speed of the TA. Just go and enjoy France!

ahmett useful information on the AA link, I will get a set anyway, will be useful in this country for self-policing (any north American reading this would think britt drunks talking about breathalysers, AA websites and self-policing

).

...and stop insulting the top speed of the TA

Most Easterly Pandas · May 29, 2013

varesecrazy said:
I always did the "black-tape" thing for day trips,
did a work run to Geneva and back in a 2 month old van.. bought the Yellow " beam-benders" = £@10,
would NOT stick / fit correctly so resorted to more PVC electrical tape.. all worked beautiffully until we came back over night through a HUGE storm,
Cracked BOTH headlight lenses,

HOT on inside( bulb) / COLD on outside ( rain) = thermal shock / stress,
black tape = Nice point to concentrate on..,

may work fine.. may Knacker your lights, also IF beambenders Do fit you should have MORE useable light on the road,
Charlie

Black tap shouldnt cause damage to headlights now in the scenario you mentioned as they're plastic and no longer glass.

Always use insulation tape myself, cheapest and best to make sure the beam is correct, with the ability to remove and replace easily if misplaced.

Most Easterly Pandas · May 29, 2013

arorat said:
For a 500 with HIDs, does anyone know a good bulb kit to get, minus the HID bulbs of course. Final question can black tape be shaped an put over the lenses rather than buying beam deflectors.

A normal bulbs kit as the rest are the same I believe. Do you not need a HID unit in the kit then

306maxi · May 29, 2013

I thought hid's generally had a switch to turn them to lhd mode?

Most Easterly Pandas · May 29, 2013

306maxi said:
I thought hid's generally had a switch to turn them to lhd mode?

According to a vehicle designer I knew it had to remove the kick, or convert to LHD to be type approved. Not sure how true this is though. Not looked at mine for this lever, might be an idea though.

arorat · May 30, 2013

Most Easterly Pandas said:
A normal bulbs kit as the rest are the same I believe. Do you not need a HID unit in the kit then

I understand HID bulb can only be replaced by Fiat, but should not be an issue as HIDs have a long life?

306maxi said:
I thought hid's generally had a switch to turn them to lhd mode?

Not seen any switches in the 500 Maxi

Most Easterly Pandas said:
According to a vehicle designer I knew it had to remove the kick, or convert to LHD to be type approved. Not sure how true this is though. Not looked at mine for this lever, might be an idea though.

I read somewhere that HIDs are standard (straight) beam but I doubt it.

I will take a full bulb kit with a normal headlight bulb, hoping no one questions that a normal bulb won't fit in the HID slot.

ahmett · May 30, 2013

arorat said:
I understand HID bulb can only be replaced by Fiat, but should not be an issue as HIDs have a long life?

Not seen any switches in the 500 Maxi

I read somewhere that HIDs are standard (straight) beam but I doubt it.

I will take a full bulb kit with a normal headlight bulb, hoping no one questions that a normal bulb won't fit in the HID slot.

but I don't think you need to take spares with you? If it breaks on the way might as well stop by the nearest fiat dealer. I don't think you can replace them yourself?

arorat · May 30, 2013

ahmett said:
but I don't think you need to take spares with you? If it breaks on the way might as well stop by the nearest fiat dealer. I don't think you can replace them yourself?

Dude you misunderstood what I was saying. I know a normal bulb (h4/h7 type) wont fit into the HID slot and its professional job, I was saying take one H4/H7 anyway and it may satisfy the local police - if they do not notice HIDs.

Send us some greek sunshine !!

ahmett · May 30, 2013

arorat said:
Dude you misunderstood what I was saying. I know a normal bulb (h4/h7 type) wont fit into the HID slot and its professional job, I was saying take one H4/H7 anyway and it may satisfy the local police - if they do not notice HIDs.

Send us some greek sunshine !!

What i mean is dont bother with spares! Here is the Greek sunshine as requested.

ImageUploadedByFIAT Forum1369908294.806183.jpg

varesecrazy · May 30, 2013

Most Easterly Pandas said:
Black tap shouldnt cause damage to headlights now in the scenario you mentioned as they're plastic and no longer glass.

Always use insulation tape myself, cheapest and best to make sure the beam is correct, with the ability to remove and replace easily if misplaced.

It was a current-shape Transit - so presume they WERE plastic,

I didn't make too big a song-and-dance , in case they billed be for 2 front lights

I agree wholeheartedly that the tape is great as a temporary thing,
but limits your lighting power to the road.

Most Easterly Pandas · May 30, 2013

HID beam patterns are not flat as standard, they are LHD and RHD kick specific like any headlight beam pattern.

arorat said:
I understand HID bulb can only be replaced by Fiat, but should not be an issue as HIDs have a long life?

Handbook says dealer only, but only due to voltage. Anyone can change them. You can buy them in Halfords also. Come with 3 year guarantee

ahmett said:
but I don't think you need to take spares with you? If it breaks on the way might as well stop by the nearest fiat dealer. I don't think you can replace them yourself?

Might not satisfy law officals that though

loveshandbags · Jun 7, 2013

arorat said:
Dude you misunderstood what I was saying. I know a normal bulb (h4/h7 type) wont fit into the HID slot and its professional job, I was saying take one H4/H7 anyway and it may satisfy the local police - if they do not notice HIDs.

Arorat - do you figure out what you do in relation to Xenons on RHD when going to Europe ? It seems to be an issue on other makes of cars and of the ones I read they had a solution. Amazed that given the technology behind them that there was no simple easy to access switch.

arorat · Jun 7, 2013

loveshandbags might just use black tape as there is no real intention of driving the car at night, but as a precaution will look at beam deflectors when ordering the breath analysers.

Probably a good thing not to have a switch to bounce the lights to continental driving, can you imagine the number of lights left in that position when back in UK. Also it gives us something to moan about as how much Ferry shops charge for cheap safety crap on board. In 2011 I allegedly used a black sticker split in 2 from a fancy box of farewell chocs, didn't get stopped, but then again no night time driving.

loveshandbags · Jun 8, 2013

arorat said:
loveshandbags might just use black tape as there is no real intention of driving the car at night, but as a precaution will look at beam deflectors when ordering the breath analysers.

Probably a good thing not to have a switch to bounce the lights to continental driving, can you imagine the number of lights left in that position when back in UK. Also it gives us something to moan about as how much Ferry shops charge for cheap safety crap on board. In 2011 I allegedly used a black sticker split in 2 from a fancy box of farewell chocs, didn't get stopped, but then again no night time driving.

The MINI apparently has a simple switch on each headlight that can be flicked when you lift the bonnet. It can be done when you arrive on French soil and when you're leaving it. So no-one is blinded at home or abroad. But if you've no plans on travelling at night then for the small price of the beam deflectors (which seen to be ineffective on Xenons) it gives lip service and should probably tick that box.

Most Easterly Pandas · Jun 8, 2013

arorat said:
Probably a good thing not to have a switch to bounce the lights to continental driving, can you imagine the number of lights left in that position when back in UK.[/quote]

no no, most don't nessecarily swap to LHD kick, they just flatten the RHD kick to a completely level beam pattern, so no dazzling if in RHD or LHD mode in the UK.

arorat · Jul 2, 2013

Not long to go for the Chamonix trip / Mont Blanc trip. You guys off anywhere ?

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