Fitting headlight beam deflectors

[The Red Baron]

I'm a newbie just about to take delivery of my first TVR, a Griff 500 from Fernies. I'm taking it out to Hungary (a nice place to live) and would like to know how to fit headlight beam deflectors.

Can you sufficiently adjust the headlights so the beam deflectors are not required, or do you have to remove the headlight covers to access the lens?

Thanks in advance.

[HRG]

And how necessary is it for a couple of days in France or Spain?

[V8 GRF]

Are you taking the car abroad permanently? I'd suggest you'd need to either change the lights altogether or adjust the existing lights so that they conform to the local regulations/needs using the adjusters. To do that on a regular basis would be a PITA as you have to take the covers off in the wheelarch to access the light adjustors. If it's just for a few days and you have the standard lights (No HIDS) then I wouldn't bother as you can't put beam deflectors on the Griff covers and to put them on the actual lights again will involve removing the cover and the light units themselves which could end up being a nightmare.

[The Red Baron]

Thanks V8GRF.

The car will be in Hungary for the best part of this year, but will come back at some point to renew the MOT, which isn't due till 2010.

Is it a real pain to remove the headlight covers, to stick on those beam deflector stickers? That would be the easiest solution given the time it is going to be overseas. Are the headlight covers just 'glued' on with the sealant?

[RAS]

There is an article on removing headlight pods and cover on the Griffpages:
http://www.thegriffithpages.com/modifications/exte...

[V8 GRF]

The Red Baron said:

Thanks V8GRF.

The car will be in Hungary for the best part of this year, but will come back at some point to renew the MOT, which isn't due till 2010.

Is it a real pain to remove the headlight covers, to stick on those beam deflector stickers? That would be the easiest solution given the time it is going to be overseas. Are the headlight covers just 'glued' on with the sealant?

You have to take the whole pod out to remove the covers as the covers are fitted from the back not the front, so not an easy job. So you'd be better taking the covers off in the wheelarch and seeing if you can use the adjustors to make the lights conform to the regs in Hungary.

[RichB]

Personally like most Griff owners I never bother for a week or so driving in France but for a year I wonder if it's possible to buy righthand side dipping bulbs and simply replce the bulbs?

Of course Griffs are driven by own friends in The Netherlands and France etc. so they must have the answer.

It really isn't a good idea to try to removre the pods.

[The Red Baron]

Thanks for the info. I think I´m going to go down the route of trying to adjust the headlights from behind, and hope there is enough adjustment to make a difference. Removing the covers looks and sounds like a bigger job. Either way, I´m looking forward to my transEuropean dash of 1100 miles - yeehaah!!

[tobyholland]

hate to put a late fly in the ointment, but if the car is going out of the country for more than 6 months, it has to be registered in the new country of residence - and, in Hungary, that will mean getting LHD lamps fitted, to dip the correct way - thre's no such thing as LHD bulbs, as suggested in an earlier post.
the fuzz in Hungary are somewhat more present than our severely lacking Traffic Division over here, and have the ability & desire to stop & punish those who break the rules - especially foreigners - most especially ones in flash cars, coz they think you got loadsa money!!! and, unless your Hungarian is fluent, you'll struggle to understand the things they say to you - then, if you don't pay the relevant fine, you will find Border Guards [who have recently amalgamated with the regular Rendorseg over there] who will gladly discuss the outstanding issues with you - some parts of the old regimen are taking forever to disappear...........
enjoy the trip [or trip back, if you're already there], and remember the motorway tolls are electronic & automatic now, so the above applies, again!
enjoy!