These, what are these for?

"My citroen won't start" (lucasboechat) 12/03/2014 at 06:32 • Filed to: None

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And why do I find them so cool? (The headlight thingy)

pip bip - choose Corrour > My citroen won't start 12/03/2014 at 06:40

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for driving in Europe , so when your headlights are on they don't dazzle oncoming traffic

My citroen won't start > pip bip - choose Corrour 12/03/2014 at 06:44

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Is it mandatory to use them while driving in the continent?

Tinfoil Hat in a thunderstorm, now with added diecast > My citroen won't start 12/03/2014 at 06:44

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It's the natural shape of the volvos pupils.

pip bip - choose Corrour > My citroen won't start 12/03/2014 at 06:46

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for RHD cars it would be.

same goes for LHD cars driving in UK/Ireland

thebigbossyboss > pip bip - choose Corrour 12/03/2014 at 06:47

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what does it do? How does it work? How come noone has them in North America? I have many questions!

pip bip - choose Corrour > thebigbossyboss 12/03/2014 at 06:50

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not req in north/central/south america as all countries are left hand drive , so all have the same headlight spread pattern

right hand drive cars have different headlight spread patterns to left hand drive cars. so as a lot of UK cars go across to Europe they are req to use them so not to dazzle oncoming traffic as headlight beam goes to the left in RHd cars , and LHD cars headlight spread patter goes to the right

thebigbossyboss > pip bip - choose Corrour 12/03/2014 at 06:52

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Ohhh ok very informative. Thanks!

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > My citroen won't start 12/03/2014 at 07:21

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The downward pointing arrows create downforce, helping to keep the front of the car planted at high speeds for better handling.

Klaus Schmoll > My citroen won't start 12/03/2014 at 07:50

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I don't know if they are still required. I drove my RHD car through the UK without them, and I see a lot of British cars without them in Europe as well. It would be the olite thing to do as no to blind oncoming traffic though.

twochevrons > thebigbossyboss 12/03/2014 at 08:45

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European-spec headlamp lenses have a distinctive 'wedge' shaped element that is designed to kick up more light on the curb side of the road, so that you can see signs, animals, people etc. from further away. Of course, if you're driving on the other side of the road, that ends up directing light right into the eyes of oncoming drivers, so the stickers just block off that part of the lens.

The lens (from a Porsche 944) – note the wedge shaped part:

The resultant beam pattern (found at http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.h… ):

Round headlight enthusiast > My citroen won't start 12/03/2014 at 09:11

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Speaking of which, anybody wanna tell me why these exist?

My citroen won't start > Round headlight enthusiast 12/03/2014 at 09:12

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Most likely for snow, because Volvo. Normal headlamp washers won't do it.

twochevrons > Round headlight enthusiast 12/03/2014 at 09:38

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I didn't get the point of them either, until I moved to Minnesota. In the winter, you end up with the whole car covered in a horrible crust of mud, grit, and road salt. Not only is it murder on the bodywork, it does a remarkable job at blocking the light from your headlamps.

The wipers have little washer jets built in, and come on with the windscreen washers (they don't come on with the regular wipers). My 850R has them, and they really do work at keeping the headlamps clean.

I believe that Sweden (and maybe other countries, too) requires some form of headlamp washing system on all cars, which is why headlamp wipers are most often seen on Volvos and Saabs. A few other makes seem to use washer jets and no wipers, but I'm sceptical at how effective they would be.

Cé hé sin > My citroen won't start 12/03/2014 at 09:45

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Yes. Nobody (well, hardly anyone) actually does though.

Continental drivers coming to the UK and Ireland certainly don't.

Cé hé sin > Round headlight enthusiast 12/03/2014 at 09:50

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They used to be compulsory in at least some countries in Scandinavia. Nowadays they use high pressure washers which at least in the EU are compulsory with HID bulbs.

Round headlight enthusiast > twochevrons 12/03/2014 at 16:23

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Hm. yeah, I live up north, I know what you mean. I guess it never thought about that, my car doesn't even have headlight sprayers. I'd subconsciously wipe them down if they got really bad, but that's about it.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Klaus Schmoll 12/04/2014 at 01:27

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rhd cars in uk don't need them only lhd as their patterns are different unless the lid car is registered in the UK then it would have to have the headlights altered to get certified.

Klaus Schmoll > pip bip - choose Corrour 12/04/2014 at 07:28

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Yep, sorry! I mixed RHD and LHD up. Bottom line: European car in the UK, didn't do anything, never got stopped, yet some other motorists were angry with me.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Klaus Schmoll 12/05/2014 at 02:53

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naughty naughty!

they're there for a reason