I live in Belgium, but plan to drive to UK soon. I have xenon lights .The Owner's Handbook has a section on 'Adjusting the headlamps for driving overseas' (p. 49).

It says:
"Xenon headlamps
Note: The headlamps must be removed in order to change the beam pattern.
See CHANGING A BULB (page 52)
The tourist lever allows you to adjust the headlamps to the correct beam patter for driving in countries where vehicles drive on the left, or the right."

Question 1: By "removed", I presume it means you replace the same ones again once the lever is moved. (ie., there is not a different shape lamp for driving on the left)

Question 2: Can anyone clarify?
On page 52, it says:

"Xernon lamps
WARNINGS
Replacement or maintenance of xenon lamps should only be carried out by suitably qualified personnel."

What on Earth does this mean? As I expect to be travelling after nightall, do I have to bring a 'qualified person' with me so I can switch the tourist lever while I'm on the Shuttle? Or else find one in Calais just before leaving, or in Fokestone on arrival?!
Or is it ok to remove and replace the same bulb (to move the tourist lever) without a qualified person?
Or do I have to do the crossing in daylight?
Or drive with incorrectly dipping lights for some hours?

Any ideas appreaciated.

headlight is easy to remove just 2 bolts each 10mm spanner. The warning is due to high voltages leaving the transformer box to the light unit.

I have halogen lights so can be of no more help
(rather my car does,not me personally) At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

I understand the 10mm bolts on the top are removed and you slide the light unit out take of the back cover and reposition the lever, cover back on and back into position

have a test run, so you know what your doing but when I was chatting with someone he said he just did it before Leaving home as it was easier than messing around later, and it was only 50 miles go the docks Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Oakwood

You might find a lot of info on the Disco3 site about this, but I'm not sure how similar the lights are.

On the Disco3 you have to remove the grill and so on and it's very difficult to get your fingers in, so must train SWMBO or the kids.

Do not try to mask the lights as the mask will melt and make sure they are disconnected!

I did a lot of research on this @Disco3 as I am in Italy most of the time, but in the end the OH vetoed the Disco
in favour of the smaller FL2

But I do like the FL2  09 HSE Auto Lago Grey/Almond Napoli. Privacy glass.

Procedure is very simple.

1. Undo two 10mm bolts that hold the headlight to the slam panel.

2. Pull up plastic tang that covers the access panel to the back of the headlight unit.

3. Pull headlight out of car.

4. Remove electrical connector (optional but recommended the first couple of times until you can feel where the lever is)

5. Take off cover on back of headlight.

6. Move the little lever (as shown in the handbook) that is to the side of the back of the xenon bulb up or down as appropriate.

7. Refit is reverse of removel (as it says in all good Haynes manuals).

The light battern will now be flat beamed for Europe. You can tweak the lever a bit with the lights on if you want to get a truly flat pattern as the flat beam is like a very flat U shape. The first time you do it will take about 10 mins, but once you have done it a couple of times it should only take a minute or two. All very achievable whilst waiting in the queue for the ferry, or as I do when we have the inevitable 10 minute wait to driver off the boat. Hope this helps  Freelander 2.2e HSE , Privacy, Fully debadged, 19" Chrome SHadow alloys

Thanks for all the advice.

But is seems much more complicated that it needs to be. With all the latest technology - such as auto stop/start, auto-dipping xenons, etc, etc, its very disappointing that with a 'go anywhere' car, I should have to fuss around with the lights like this just to go from one country to another. Why didn't they just fit a simple mechanism?!!! Especially for a British built car - for which the concept of having to drive on 'the other side of the road' is hardly unusual. (puts me in my grumpy old man mood)

TBH, the number of people who actually drive their car(s) abroad are quite low, so what you are asking for would not be used by a vast majority of car owners.

proplus wrote:

TBH, the number of people who actually drive their car(s) abroad are quite low, so what you are asking for would not be used by a vast majority of car owners.

You're on another planet then  09 HSE Auto Lago Grey/Almond Napoli. Privacy glass.

I agree I took mine to Wales once, but I didnt alter the lights as we had no night driving to do  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Wales Well there's nothing to do there at night

apart from drive on the wrong side of the road  09 HSE Auto Lago Grey/Almond Napoli. Privacy glass.

If the UK drove on the right side of the road which of course is the left hand side and with the steering wheel on the right hand side and not the wrong side there would be no problems with swapping little levers in ferry queue’s would there  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

AndyC wrote:

If the UK drove on the right side of the road which of course is the left hand side and with the steering wheel on the right hand side and not the wrong side there would be no problems with swapping little levers in ferry queue’s would there

We do drive on the left and the steering wheel is on the right. it all dates back to gentleman on their horses being able to draw their swords to defend themselves from Vagabonds and Vikings ! 

Vanner are half way there they drive in the middle of the road  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Oakwood,

This procedure is the same on 99% of xenon headlights and the majority of projector style non xenon headlights. It is great that the lights come out so easily to give access. Honestly it is not complicated and as I said once you have done it once you will nail the whole thing in two minutes.

A much better solution than those useless deflectors which people put on at the port and amuse me with the fact the vast majority are in toally the wrong place - even sometimes on the wrong light.  Freelander 2.2e HSE , Privacy, Fully debadged, 19" Chrome SHadow alloys

I agree with BFGLR2Man, it only takes few minuts to do and it worked really well with my recent visit to Disneyland - Paris. Taking out the 10mm spanner took more time as I had it under spare wheel cover with all the bags....
I guess with the satnav the car knows where it is and if there's a additional motor in the headlight it can automatically change the light pattern but that probably would add bit more to the cost of the car..perhaps thats a another item for the FL3 wish list, then Satnav can say ' Welcome to France, your headlight beam pattern has been adjusted...'  Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto
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