Headlights and French Travelling

[Author]

Hi

Does anyone know if the headlight filaments can be changed at the roadside on the LC? France requires a bulb kit so wondered if anyone on here has experience of this this? Care to share the 'how it's done' and where the kit can be purchased?

Thanks in advance

 

[stever1]

BMW have gone to a lot of time and expense to provide you with a manual.

 

[Nutty]

Of course they can.

Unless you have the LED headlight, in which case, the vultures on here will attack, very shortly.

 

[dave hendy]

As far as I am aware you don't need spare bulbs if they are LED and that's exactly what I have taken abroad since getting the LC!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Gargy]

Haven't bothered to even think about it since having the LC.

It's going to be very expensive if you need to carry a spare LED headlight......................

 

[Author]

BMW have gone to a lot of time and expense to provide you with a manual.

Well I waited for you to fetch, scan and post the relevant section .

Having not done so I had to actually move to another room to read mine

I am now suitably informed thank you

 

[Sooty09]

And the answer for those with LED lights regarding the French law is?????????

 

[Grim Reaper]

Take a white, a red and a yellow led and tape them to the bottom of the seat

 

[Author]

And the answer for those with LED lights regarding the French law is?????????

Found this on the AA website:

In some countries it is compulsory to use dipped headlights at all times when driving during the day. Note: this adjustment is not required for two wheeled vehicles as the beam pattern is more symmetrical but check that any extra loading has not affected the beam height. On some cars it is inadvisable or impossible for anyone other than a qualified technician to change a headlamp bulb unit e.g. high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and carrying spares is not an option. However, it is recommended that spare bulbs are carried for any lights that may be easily and/or safely replaced by the owner/driver. Spare bulbs are compulsory for Croatia.

Other sites also have similar and seem to state spare bulbs under the recommended items not the compulsory list. Would be useful if someone had had actual experience of being stopped on French roads.

 

[stolzy]

In fact it is not a requirement to carry spare bulbs in France. Indeed, in many modern cars it is impractical to change bulbs at the roadside - the manual for my Audi says to take the car to a dealer if a bulb is faulty IIRC.

This is from here

Éclairage du véhicule
Tout véhicule doit être équipé de feux en état de fonctionner, sous peine d'amende.
Le non-respect de cette obligation est passible d'une amende pouvant aller jusqu'à 450 € et l'immobilisation du véhicule peut être prescrite.
À savoir : il n'est pas obligatoire d'avoir une boîte d'ampoules dans le véhicule, mais il faut pouvoir changer immédiatement une ampoule défectueuse sous peine d'être sanctionné en cas de contrôle.

Translation:

Vehicle Lighting
All vehicles must be equipped with serviceable lights, or face a fine.
Failure to comply with this obligation is punishable by a fine of up to € 450 and immobilization of the vehicle may be prescribed.
NB: it is not mandatory to have a box of bulbs in the vehicle, but it must be possible to immediately change a defective bulb or risk being penalized when checked.

 

[Squigles]

Avoid France

 

[Joe narvey]

So what do I need to carry for my 2012 non-led TC ?!

 

[paul08]

So what do I need to carry for my 2012 non-led TC ?!

A pair of clean under-crackers. Just enjoy the ride and stop worrying

 

[Prawnini]

haha, brilliant lol

A pair of clean under-crackers. Just enjoy the ride and stop worrying

 

[rob semple]

I've just got back from Spain on my GSA, I wouldn't worry about their bulb issues in France the tolls are a con Paris is a shit hole the roads are shit and the country stinks as for that supposed amazing bridge down the bottom over that crack in the hills that's shit too so tell them if they stop you to bend over and take your clocks and headlight both easily removed as any eu thief in London will tell you and ram them up the officer involved's arse..!

 

[Gargy]

I've just got back from Spain on my GSA, I wouldn't worry about their bulb issues in France the tolls are a con Paris is a shit hole the roads are shit and the country stinks as for that supposed amazing bridge down the bottom over that crack in the hills that's shit too so tell them if they stop you to bend over and take your clocks and headlight both easily removed as any eu thief in London will tell you and ram them up the officer involved's arse..!

You don't work for the French tourist board........................... do you ?

 

[rob semple]

No sorry mate or the Spanish...