Converting a EU spec Z4M to UK standards

[Enricogto]

Hi guys,

I own a Z4MC that I bought 4 years ago when I was living in Italy, but I've now moved to the UK an would like to re-register the car here. Of course the first requirement is to have a valid MOT and that bring us to the point of adjusting headlights and eventually speedometer to RHD and miles respectively.
The car is a 2006 model (DU91) with xenon lights. Does any of you know if there's an easy way (read not uber-expensive) way to adjust the lights in particular?
Once done that it would just be a matter of getting the MOT, plate and pay road tax, right?

Please, do not suggest to sell the car and buy a RHD, that's not an option! :-P

Thanks,

E

[essayer]

RHD Z4s with Xenon have a sliding switch behind each headlight which allows you to set them for driving in Europe.

It masks the 'kick up' on the near side making the headlight beams flat.

You access via a panel in the wheel arch, it's a fiddle but at least means you don't need to use stick on converters.

I presume LHD ones have the same switch except reversed? It shouldn't cause any MOT issues.

[Enricogto]

Thanks Essayer,

during the weekend I gave it a try, but i couldn't locate any leverage. Once you remove the plastic cover, you are left with the "dome" of the external light (being a bi-xenon the internal one is blanked) and nothing more.
I've tried and althought not much difference, there is still a _/ pattern to the lights....do you think it would mean MOT fail? Any suggestions?

Thanks
E

[essayer]

Perhaps it wasn't fitted to the LHD ones..

My Z4MR has long since gone unfortunately but I seem to remember underneath the Xenon 'ballast' on the back of the bulb there was a thin metal tab which you moved left and right to orient the beam.

here's a pic from another forum (think these are halogen lights)


http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&am...

[Enricogto]

I remember seeing a similar picture but the leverage was black plastic and thicker that that. I'll try and give it another go, it would be strange once you have engineered the system to apply it only to lhd cars.
Thanks

E

[Adrian E]

Beam deflectors alone ought to be an MOT fail (especially stick on ones) but you might get away with the flaps flattening the beam pattern on xenons so long as the beam pattern is adequate. Only way to have decent, bright and fully legal lights will be a pair of replacements designed for left hand traffic.

Other things to check - don't know if these have 2 rear fog lights? If so, no problem. If only 1 you'll need to swap to it being on the offside for UK traffic. If there isn't a blank on the offside light, or it's taken up by a reversing light then a second hand set of light clusters would be the best bet and run some wiring extensions from one side to the other (or swap at fuseboard end if you want to be OEM about it)

For speedo it needs to show either mph, or mph and kmh. You're talking either a replacement cluster or a dial face replacement which leaves the odometer in km.