Driving in France help
Discussion
Hi Guys I am going to Le Mans this year for the first time. So was wondering what things I need to drive in France?
Do I need to do anything with the lights?
I believe you need a high visabilty jacket and triangle anything else?
What spares do you recomend to take?
Any Help would be great
Chris
Do I need to do anything with the lights?
I believe you need a high visabilty jacket and triangle anything else?
What spares do you recomend to take?
Any Help would be great
Chris
Hi.
You will need to fit stick on covers to your headlights, and carry a full set of spare bulbs.
You will need a full list of items that can be found on the ferry company sites or the AA/RAC sites etc.
You will also need patience if you are driving down, as the old bill over there, make ours look like boy scouts.
They [le old bill] set up purpose made traps, as they know the Brits are coming at speed. So beware, keep it down, or lose it, and a wadge of Le Euro's. Also, be very aware that in car detectors are banned [unless this has been changed?] and if caught with one, you wont be seeing any motor racing.
Enjoy the trip, I have for the last 12 years, its the B****x
You will need to fit stick on covers to your headlights, and carry a full set of spare bulbs.
You will need a full list of items that can be found on the ferry company sites or the AA/RAC sites etc.
You will also need patience if you are driving down, as the old bill over there, make ours look like boy scouts.
They [le old bill] set up purpose made traps, as they know the Brits are coming at speed. So beware, keep it down, or lose it, and a wadge of Le Euro's. Also, be very aware that in car detectors are banned [unless this has been changed?] and if caught with one, you wont be seeing any motor racing.
Enjoy the trip, I have for the last 12 years, its the B****x
I think you two high-vis jackets and they must be in the car not the boot. You also need a GB sticker unless you have a EU style number plate. As previously said though check the full list on the AA site.
You should also get a EU Health Insurance Card which has replaced the old form, this is free if you go through a proper NHS wed site, so don’t get conned into paying for it like I did.
Enjoy.
You should also get a EU Health Insurance Card which has replaced the old form, this is free if you go through a proper NHS wed site, so don’t get conned into paying for it like I did.
Enjoy.
ESDavey said:
I'm also planning on taking the Griffith to France in July for Le Tour in the Alps.
What spares (if any) would you boys recommend I take or just wing it & take a credit card !!!
This is what I take with me when doing a long trip as if there's an issue I want to be able to resolve it and continue to enjoy the trip in the TVR and not a hire car. Although what spares you take depends on how mechanically minded or prepared to be whilst away.What spares (if any) would you boys recommend I take or just wing it & take a credit card !!!
I don't tape the lights, as I've never been stopped for it in a TVR in 10yrs on the continent and we don't do many miles at night, hardly any. It's rare to need them. I do carry black tape in case I am made to do it, but due to the design of the Griffiths fairings anything you do is only going to be a cursory effort at best.
I also carry a GB sticker but don't ever attach it as I have a EU plate, nearly.
For Switzerland you will need a Motorway permit, get em on Ebay for half the price. Normally €40. If you're not using the motorway network at all then you'll be OK. Last year we got collared for the first time and made to stick it to the windscreen where you can normally blue tac it in and then re-sell when you get back . . we paid €24 for ours off Ebay before we left.
As for spares. . .. In no particular order . .
Full set of tools, sockets, allen keys, pliers, tyre pressure gauge, 2 x torches etc etc Anything I may need within reason.
I don't carry a jack, but I should. A little bottle jack and fold up axle stand are ideal.
A full selection of electrical connections and wire. Fuses and relays etc. Enough for me to be able to wire something direct from front to rear of the car if I had to. Along with a Electrical meter for testing. Full set of bulbs. 2 hi vis in the cabin behind the seats. Thermostat and if you use one an Otter switch.
Manifold gaskets. A crud job, but better to do it then and there. I also carry a patch up exhaust repair kit and some assembly putty as you can bodge many holes etc for long enough to get you home. I carry 2 made up HT leads that are long enough to do the longest run in the engine bay, but I don't carry rotor arms and dizzy cap's as I don't have them, I did when the car had them. I also have a length of coolant pipe in case one splits. Jubilee clips etc . . tie wraps and gaffer tape of course !
That's not an exhaustive list, but captures most of it. I break it all done into different component sets, so that all electrical stuff is in one bag etc . . . that way I know where everything is when I need it quickly. I keep all of it behind the seats so it's easily accessible and cover it over with the hi-vis vests.
After that then it's really down to what you think may go wrong. You could carry ball joints, bushes, wheel bearings, throttle pots, ign amps, rotor arms etc . . What are the things you don't trust or have gone wrong on occasion with your car that may cause you issues on the road . . .
I carry instant gasket and gasket paper in case I need to make something up as well.. .
Most important though is a credit card and the knowledge of where parts come from. If it's a wheel bearing it's a Ford one etc. That way you've a chance of getting your recovery agent to discuss and possibly get it repaired . .
If I consider one Eurohoon, one tour of SoF and last years Swiss and France tour the following went wrong with TVR's.
Cerb starter motor blew up - so we pushed it.
Cerb boot wouldn't open and then wouldn't lock shut - so we gaffered taped it
T350 blew up alternator - so it went home
Tamora engine speed sensor gave up - we never found it on the road so it went home (not that we had one anyway)
Cerb light switch fell off dash - needed an allen key
Another Cerb boot solenoid badge thing gave up - rigged a manual release using wire thru to number plate
Same Cerb's brake switch fell apart - managed to repair it with spare wiring and gaffer tape
Griffith broken handbrake - found a rock
Griffith rear ARB ripped off - removed it and carried on
Griffith exhaust manifold gasket blew - didn't have the spares so bodged it with gun gum, not great but got it home.
In most cases you'll be able to 'bodge'/temporarily fix it or it'll need to go home if the component is unavailable. At least with a Griffith if you know where the parts come from you stand a chance of getting a replacement, even if you delay for a day or two and pay to have it shipped from the UK at worst.
If you're not 100% confident in anything then change it before you go and take the old one as a spare as it was working before you went. That way you know the new part works and the one you took off was working. I've known people take spared which they never took out of the box before hand and when needed found it was the wrong one! Not a good situation . . .
One of the many reasons I ditched the Lucas system was to rationalise the spares while away. I had issue with the AFM over fuelling when it rained heavily (ran out of fuel on way to Le Mans - cheers BB for the rescue service) which was the hotwire getting soaked causing all sorts of madness.
Rotor arms, dizzy caps, ignition amps and AFM's etc are prone to failure in my experience and ditching them removes so many possible failure points. . . I've helped solve at least 2 poor running TVR's at Le Mans just by changing out the the old rotor arms for example . .. One of which we worked out was also completely out of firing order with HT leads going all over the place !
Rotor arms, dizzy caps, ignition amps and AFM's etc are prone to failure in my experience and ditching them removes so many possible failure points. . . I've helped solve at least 2 poor running TVR's at Le Mans just by changing out the the old rotor arms for example . .. One of which we worked out was also completely out of firing order with HT leads going all over the place !
You don't need to put anything on your headlights, nobody expects you to. Don't know why so many Brits believe they have to put those strange stickers when they come here... Somebody must have made a fortune out of them !
As already said you need a set of spare bulbs to drive in France, one (not two) retroreflective jacket readily accessible from inside the car, and a red retroreflective triangle.
And don't forget to drive on the right
As already said you need a set of spare bulbs to drive in France, one (not two) retroreflective jacket readily accessible from inside the car, and a red retroreflective triangle.
And don't forget to drive on the right
Motik said:
You don't need to put anything on your headlights, nobody expects you to. Don't know why so many Brits believe they have to put those strange stickers when they come here... Somebody must have made a fortune out of them !
As already said you need a set of spare bulbs to drive in France, one (not two) retroreflective jacket readily accessible from inside the car, and a red retroreflective triangle.
And don't forget to drive on the right
I went in 2006 and didn't do any of this. I thought since I was driving to Le mans in the daytime and coming back in the daytime, why bother!As already said you need a set of spare bulbs to drive in France, one (not two) retroreflective jacket readily accessible from inside the car, and a red retroreflective triangle.
And don't forget to drive on the right
I was/am covered on my Insurance to drive in France, so the only addition, was health insurance for £20 online.
I'm doing the South of France this year via Reimes, the drive is 8 hrs, so I will sort lights this time.
Motik said:
You don't need to put anything on your headlights, nobody expects you to. Don't know why so many Brits believe they have to put those strange stickers when they come here... Somebody must have made a fortune out of them !
Don't you?According to P&O Ferries the law changed a while back and "Failure to adapt your headlights at any time, day or night, will render your vehicle unfit for use on the road and could invalidate your motor insurance"
Now I know they sell deflectors on the boat but I doubt very much they would put that statement in writing if there was no truth in it. There also used to be a sign by the check-in in Dover that said the same.
Seems a bit daft to go looking for trouble for what it costs IMO.
HI Chris52,
My 2 cents worth. I regularly drive to Hungary from the UK and back.
I do put stickers on my headlight covers. I got them from Halfrauds. I just stuck them on in the middle of the covers. I doubt they do much, but I've been stopped several times and because they are there it hasn't been an issue. Better to have them than not, then get problems if stopped. I got pulled in Austria and they went through the car with a fine tooth comb and wanted to see the bulb kit, first aid kit etc.
I have a GB sticker on the back too, as my plates don't have the GB sign on them. I smeared a bit of vaseline on the area first, then stuck on the sticker - then when I'm back on Monkey Island, it can be peeled off easily.
Certainly have at least one his-vis vest per person and have it in the car, as you need to access it without getting out of the car.
I can't speak for France, but most continental countries require you to have a spare bulb kit, and a first aid kit and a triangle in the boot.
You can buy complete 'continental driving' packs with all these things from Halfrauds.
As for spares - its really up to you. I carry a spare 'fan' belt, and a small tool kit, a bottle of water for the radiator, 5 liters of oil and a few old rags.
But I am covered with European breakdown insurance (Green Flag were good). I have used it once, when my valley gasket failed on the autobahn near Nurmberg. Green Flag sorted out the repair at a specialist (Porsche) indie, and paid for the tow (flat-back) and accommodation and even phone calls. I paid for the repair. You can buy single-trip cover for not much.
Going to Le Mans is at most about 1000 miles?! My drive to Hungary and back is 2000 and I've only had the one gasket issue, which I couldn't have fixed myself. The gasket only cost a few Euros as the indie made it up himself - its been fine since, so I would still have been paying for the repair labour even if I'd had a spare gasket.
These cars are, as you know, difficult to predict reliability-wise, but 1000 miles isn't that far - 3 tanks of gas!
From what I remember reading you've done a lot of work on your car and engine, so you should be fine.
Enjoy it, but watch the speed. Getting pulled will be very expensive, unless you're in an Eastern European country and then you might get away with it with a slip of a few Euros.
My 2 cents worth. I regularly drive to Hungary from the UK and back.
I do put stickers on my headlight covers. I got them from Halfrauds. I just stuck them on in the middle of the covers. I doubt they do much, but I've been stopped several times and because they are there it hasn't been an issue. Better to have them than not, then get problems if stopped. I got pulled in Austria and they went through the car with a fine tooth comb and wanted to see the bulb kit, first aid kit etc.
I have a GB sticker on the back too, as my plates don't have the GB sign on them. I smeared a bit of vaseline on the area first, then stuck on the sticker - then when I'm back on Monkey Island, it can be peeled off easily.
Certainly have at least one his-vis vest per person and have it in the car, as you need to access it without getting out of the car.
I can't speak for France, but most continental countries require you to have a spare bulb kit, and a first aid kit and a triangle in the boot.
You can buy complete 'continental driving' packs with all these things from Halfrauds.
As for spares - its really up to you. I carry a spare 'fan' belt, and a small tool kit, a bottle of water for the radiator, 5 liters of oil and a few old rags.
But I am covered with European breakdown insurance (Green Flag were good). I have used it once, when my valley gasket failed on the autobahn near Nurmberg. Green Flag sorted out the repair at a specialist (Porsche) indie, and paid for the tow (flat-back) and accommodation and even phone calls. I paid for the repair. You can buy single-trip cover for not much.
Going to Le Mans is at most about 1000 miles?! My drive to Hungary and back is 2000 and I've only had the one gasket issue, which I couldn't have fixed myself. The gasket only cost a few Euros as the indie made it up himself - its been fine since, so I would still have been paying for the repair labour even if I'd had a spare gasket.
These cars are, as you know, difficult to predict reliability-wise, but 1000 miles isn't that far - 3 tanks of gas!
From what I remember reading you've done a lot of work on your car and engine, so you should be fine.
Enjoy it, but watch the speed. Getting pulled will be very expensive, unless you're in an Eastern European country and then you might get away with it with a slip of a few Euros.
The Red Baron said:
HI Chris52,
Enjoy it, but watch the speed. Getting pulled will be very expensive, unless you're in an Eastern European country and then you might get away with it with a slip of a few Euros.
Be very wary of trying that in Bulgaria! The sEnjoy it, but watch the speed. Getting pulled will be very expensive, unless you're in an Eastern European country and then you might get away with it with a slip of a few Euros.
t hit the fan with corrupt coppers a year or so back, with sting operations and bent coppers being strip-searched for 'on the spot' fines they had taken illegally. The old "sorry officer I'd forgotten that 50Euro note was in my passport" is likely to get you a guided tour of the back seat of a plod motor, nowadays. Ribol said:
Motik said:
You don't need to put anything on your headlights, nobody expects you to. Don't know why so many Brits believe they have to put those strange stickers when they come here... Somebody must have made a fortune out of them !
Don't you?According to P&O Ferries the law changed a while back and "Failure to adapt your headlights at any time, day or night, will render your vehicle unfit for use on the road and could invalidate your motor insurance"
Now I know they sell deflectors on the boat but I doubt very much they would put that statement in writing if there was no truth in it. There also used to be a sign by the check-in in Dover that said the same.
Seems a bit daft to go looking for trouble for what it costs IMO.
The fact is that nobody here knows what those stickers are and people always wonder what those strange things are for.
Of course, for what they cost, you can put them on. But I wouldn't worry too much about them. You may very well even get a fine from an ignorant French police officer for blocking part of your headlights
Motik said:
I live in France and own two cars I imported from the UK. I drove for months, day and night, with the original headlights on each of the cars and never got bothered either by the police or by other road users.
So you got away with it, nothing is a problem until you get caught/nicked for it. In the past I have done well over the French speed limit and got away with it for years. Today as you no doubt well know if you get caught and nicked for doing 40kph over the speed limit you are in trouble - it has changed.I travel to France regularily with cars with UK plates, unlike the British BIB I would happily bet you are more likely to be nicked for something in a "foreign" car than you would in a French one. If what I posted above (P&O quote) is true, and I have no reason to doubt it, you would have to be pretty daft to risk invalidating your insurance over a sticking a couple of bits of tape on your headlights IMO.
Invalidating your insurance has nothing to do with the law, it only depends on the terms of the insurance policy.
My experience is that the French police avoid as much as possible dealing with foreign cars. Do you really imagine many of them speak English ?
I was never ever arrested with the TVR, although I once went through a place where someone had just been stabbed to death and the police was checking all the cars. Guess who arrived with a popping and banging V8 with UK plates and was the only one to be allowed to just pass through ?
My experience is that the French police avoid as much as possible dealing with foreign cars. Do you really imagine many of them speak English ?
I was never ever arrested with the TVR, although I once went through a place where someone had just been stabbed to death and the police was checking all the cars. Guess who arrived with a popping and banging V8 with UK plates and was the only one to be allowed to just pass through ?
Motik said:
Invalidating your insurance has nothing to do with the law, it only depends on the terms of the insurance policy.
My experience is that the French police avoid as much as possible dealing with foreign cars. Do you really imagine many of them speak English ?
Invalidating your insurance does have something to do with getting paid out though My experience is that the French police avoid as much as possible dealing with foreign cars. Do you really imagine many of them speak English ?
When Speedferries was running, there were two different places the French BIB nicked people speeding back to the ferries, saw it loads of times, they didn't seem to have any problems speaking
Johno, my Spa AFM problem was also suspected to be while driving in heavy rain.
Re French driving, I drive to the Alps 5 times per year. On average I pass 4+ speed traps each way on the Autoroute & have been fined €90 for speeding. I now keep to 95mph max as this will only get a fine & not a complete ban.
Watch out for parked cars with radar traps inside - normally blue estates.
I also have a Peage tag so I fly though the left lane. French plod radar 1km from a peage then radio ahead to their mate who picks you out as you queue. Very efficient money spinner - I keep left & look straight ahead !!!
FYI, you can now get peage tags online which bills a UK credit card.
Re French driving, I drive to the Alps 5 times per year. On average I pass 4+ speed traps each way on the Autoroute & have been fined €90 for speeding. I now keep to 95mph max as this will only get a fine & not a complete ban.
Watch out for parked cars with radar traps inside - normally blue estates.
I also have a Peage tag so I fly though the left lane. French plod radar 1km from a peage then radio ahead to their mate who picks you out as you queue. Very efficient money spinner - I keep left & look straight ahead !!!
FYI, you can now get peage tags online which bills a UK credit card.
I think the law states you need 2 triangles to be placed at different distances from rear of car in case of a breakdown.Not sure about France but Spain if you wear Glasses you need to carry a spare pair,As for headlamp adjustment stickers ive been driving through France for the last ten years up to 10 times per year and never had any trouble with the french police about the headlamp,, They dont like 163 mph about 20 miles from Calais though.The Policeman was very angry & red Whilst shouting at me & followed by a very large Fine.,,, Drive carefully...
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