Headlight Dipping (Euro Road trip)
Discussion
Just done mine again today ready for a French trip. It’s a bit of a job but not too bad when you’re used to it.
Front wheels off, remove plastic flap in wheel arch behind lamps. Unscrew brass screws and take the hard plastic lamp covers off. On the drivers side there is a silver flick lever you can get to with your finger to the right of the lamp looking forward. Flick it up. On the passenger side there’s another flick lever just visible between the two lamps. You’ll need a small screw driver to poke through and flick it up. These levers partially ‘shade’ the lenses to prevent dazzle. When you get home you’ll need to flick them back down again…..
Front wheels off, remove plastic flap in wheel arch behind lamps. Unscrew brass screws and take the hard plastic lamp covers off. On the drivers side there is a silver flick lever you can get to with your finger to the right of the lamp looking forward. Flick it up. On the passenger side there’s another flick lever just visible between the two lamps. You’ll need a small screw driver to poke through and flick it up. These levers partially ‘shade’ the lenses to prevent dazzle. When you get home you’ll need to flick them back down again…..
2 thoughts.
Firstly I’ve never found I’ve done much driving in the dark in the summer in Europe, your plans may be different however.
Second, can you get some, or make, (I agree naff looking) black stick on patches to do the job?
Light out and flick the switch on a 911 was easy, I doubt I want to dive in behind the wheel arch liner to do the same job however.
Firstly I’ve never found I’ve done much driving in the dark in the summer in Europe, your plans may be different however.
Second, can you get some, or make, (I agree naff looking) black stick on patches to do the job?
Light out and flick the switch on a 911 was easy, I doubt I want to dive in behind the wheel arch liner to do the same job however.
I bought the halfords lens stickers but don't put them on. I carry them just in case I get stopped and can at least pretend I just forgot to stick them on 
Just where you stick them on ...I have no idea but I doubt the gendarmerie know either and it shows willing on my part.
However I have never needed to previously.
My aston is a 2017MY and I had beemers much older than that where you just did it via the infotainment idrive system.
You got to love the modern technology on the astons
Just where you stick them on ...I have no idea but I doubt the gendarmerie know either and it shows willing on my part.
However I have never needed to previously.
My aston is a 2017MY and I had beemers much older than that where you just did it via the infotainment idrive system.
You got to love the modern technology on the astons
Done at least 10 trips abroad and never had my headlight beam changed. Just carry the headlamp converters in the car so can put them on if stopped. As said by others very little night driving done and the only time the headlights come on is in tunnels - then too busy enjoying the noise 
sf1969 said:
Just done mine again today ready for a French trip. It’s a bit of a job but not too bad when you’re used to it.
Front wheels off, remove plastic flap in wheel arch behind lamps. Unscrew brass screws and take the hard plastic lamp covers off. On the drivers side there is a silver flick lever you can get to with your finger to the right of the lamp looking forward. Flick it up. On the passenger side there’s another flick lever just visible between the two lamps. You’ll need a small screw driver to poke through and flick it up. These levers partially ‘shade’ the lenses to prevent dazzle. When you get home you’ll need to flick them back down again…..
This has it. I would not count on the eurolite stickers, They were originally designed for old-style headlights - I don't see how they can work on a plastic cover which is so far ahead of the beam and at an acute angle. Front wheels off, remove plastic flap in wheel arch behind lamps. Unscrew brass screws and take the hard plastic lamp covers off. On the drivers side there is a silver flick lever you can get to with your finger to the right of the lamp looking forward. Flick it up. On the passenger side there’s another flick lever just visible between the two lamps. You’ll need a small screw driver to poke through and flick it up. These levers partially ‘shade’ the lenses to prevent dazzle. When you get home you’ll need to flick them back down again…..
If you are able to loosen your wheel nuts, jack your car, get an axle stand under one side and then remove the front wheel (10min), then this really is a 5 minute job per side. Just remove the one-fastener wheel arch access panel and 2-screw plastic cover and literally flick a switch in each headlight.
All in all, it will take you 30min start to finish. I always take the opportunity to properly wash the wheel, so much easier and much more thorough when its off. If you are doing any drving at all at night it is worth it. Not so much to not get continually flashed from our irritated Euro bretheren, but more as an assurance that in the event of an accident you would not automatically be blamed. In event of any kind of bump, your headlight aim will be one of the first things the friendly gents-of-arms would look at, especially with les rosbif driving such a bourgeoisie car
IanV12VSRs said:
Done at least 10 trips abroad and never had my headlight beam changed. Just carry the headlamp converters in the car so can put them on if stopped. As said by others very little night driving done and the only time the headlights come on is in tunnels - then too busy enjoying the noise
Never changed mine either on 3 long, continental drives. Never seen a Gendarme with headlamp beam testing equipment in his Renualt either.Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff