HIDs and beam benders

[-crookedtail-]

I'm off to Le Mans on Friday! A change of plan means that we are now taking my car across the water for the journey down. The times of the ferry mean I'll be driving in the dark on both the outbound and return trips.

Which brings me to beam benders, the car has HIDs like the one shown below,



My question is can you fit normal beam benders to this without causing any issues? A quick google result advised against it as it may overheat and blow the lamp.

Unfortunately the manual says bugger all about it and there doesn't seem to be a switch to change them like on some german motors. I would risk it but don't want 'La Rozzers' getting emotional with me.

[davepoth]

Just put a bit of duck tape over the offending side of the lamp. Works fine.

[checkmate91]

Are you sure there's no lever adjustment?

Tape seems a somewhat inelegant solution these days...

Edited by checkmate91 on Sunday 5th June 14:23

[-crookedtail-]

checkmate91 said:

Are you sure there's no lever adjustment?

I'm just going out to have another look now...hopefully there will be!

ETA No it appears not, can not find a lever, however found some eurolight adaptors online (HID compatible) for a fiver, it'll have to do.

Edited by -crookedtail- on Sunday 5th June 15:09

[Caulkhead]

I've got these headlights on my 6 MPS and I've had a look through the manual and there's nothing in it about adjusting for LHD/RHD and definitely no lever. Sorry.

[Superhoop]

If it is indeed a Mazda6 with factory Xenons, then there is definitely an adjustment lever which makes the beam flat - be warned, it's an absolute bh to get at (it's easier to do by dropping the front of the wheel arch liner)

[zx10ben]

Yep, deffo possible to flatten the beam (not bend it to flick right) when based in Germany, all the lads would just get their beams flattened rather than buy LHD lights. Not done it myself, but as has been previously mentioned, it is a complete bar steward to do!
Good luck!

[cptsideways]

Get the black tape out job done

[CarlT]

You can buy beam deflectors from Halfords that work with normal Halogen and Xenon headlights...

[Caulkhead]

Superhoop said:

If it is indeed a Mazda6 with factory Xenons, then there is definitely an adjustment lever which makes the beam flat - be warned, it's an absolute bh to get at (it's easier to do by dropping the front of the wheel arch liner)

Whereabouts is it - there's no mention in the manual and I've searched?

[cptsideways]

CarlT said:

You can buy beam deflectors from Halfords that work with normal Halogen and Xenon headlights...

About as useful as chocolate fireguards, every tried them? they dont bend anything lol

[Zod]

Beam deflectors do not work with xenons.

[podwin]

Have you tried asking a Mazda dealer?

[-crookedtail-]

podwin said:

Have you tried asking a Mazda dealer?

Not directly but have looked on Mazda specific forums where people have asked dealers before, they seem to get different answers each time.

However Mazda UK customer support seem to recommend these eurolites which apparently work with HID headlights.

[entwisi]

I used these ^^ on a recent trip to France and they seem to work fine. I bought mine at the ferry terminal and they were just as cheap as in Halfrauds when I got home.

PS< Honda Accord with aftermarket HIDS if that makes any difference

[checkmate91]

The lever on the units fitted to my Focus is inside the light unit i.e you have to remove the unit, peel back the protective boot and flick the bent wire "lever" around the central lamp part through 90 degrees.

HTH

[CarlT]

cptsideways said:

About as useful as chocolate fireguards, every tried them? they dont bend anything lol

Used them many times and have worked fine. They deflected the beam enough to stop getting flashed...

[CarlT]

Zod said:

Beam deflectors do not work with xenons.

The ones I bought from Halfords worked fine with the Xenons on my car

[Zod]

CarlT said:

Zod said:

Beam deflectors do not work with xenons.

The ones I bought from Halfords worked fine with the Xenons on my car

Were you driving on the opposite carriageway in another car seeing your car coming towards you?

[CarlT]

Zod said:

Were you driving on the opposite carriageway in another car seeing your car coming towards you?

No, but I didn't get flashed by any cars coming the other way. So rightly or wrongly assumed that the deflectors did the job.