51 replies to this topic

[Stocky_s]

Wow AVV IT thanks especially for the picture, i think i have a relay in the garage so may fit one anyway, better safe than sorry.
thanks everyone else for all the info really appreciated.
Stocky

[AVV IT]

Wow AVV IT thanks especially for the picture

No Worries.... oh and the picture isn't mine, I stole it from another thread here about halogen conversions!!

[Dan]

i think that it is a rather silly idea as those who drink drive will do it either way,

Yes but in France the drink drive limit is 0.0, you can't get away with a morning after trip home and that's what it's about.

Check carefully with the AA or someone, most of what people tell you you will need is not actually required and I think that spare bulbs fall into that category, and most countries have different rules for foreign cars on temporary import (in Germany for example, tourists are not required to have the federal first aid kit). As said though France does definitely require the yellow vests inside the car, one per person or one per seat depending who you speak to. Oh and speed camera detecors are completely illegal to own in France on penalty of a roughly 1000 euro roadside fine. Even if it's still sealed in it's box in the boot of the car you get prosecuted. And the Police in France will drive you to a cash machine to help you pay, or impound your car, or both!

Last time I bought a sealed beam it was £5.00, are they a lot more now? You don't need a pair, just one will do if you are required to carry spares. A lot cheaper than a halogen conversion and spare halogen bulb woul be.

[Stocky_s]

Last time I bought a sealed beam it was £5.00, are they a lot more now? You don't need a pair, just one will do if you are required to carry spares. A lot cheaper than a halogen conversion and spare halogen bulb woul be.

On eBay they were around £30 whereas the conversion including halogens and side bulbs cost me £22.95 also we have some spare halos so i'll shove one in.
:)
stocky

[Dan]

WHAT! Why do people go straight to ebay? Did you try a local motor factor, or Halfords? I just looked them up and they are £9.00 in most online auto electrical suppliers. It's just a large bulb. Still if you have the halogen set now you will get better lighting from them.

[AVV IT]

I wouldn't fit a halogen conversion so that you are able to carry spare bulbs more easily, I'd fit one because they are a massive improvement over sealed beams in terms of lighting and your ability to be able to see in the dark. As I said earlier, you need to check the particular legal requirements for each individual country that you intend to visit, in order to see whether spare bulbs, fire extinguishers and first aid kits etc are actually needed or not.

Yes but in France the drink drive limit is 0.0

Is it?? I thought it was 0.5g/l...

I know they wanted it to lower it to 0.2g/l in line with Norway, Poland and Sweden and the recommendations from Brussels, but have they actually adopted a zero limit now?

Edited by AVV IT, 04 March 2012 - 07:33 PM.

[Dan]

France has had a zero limit for years, but the penalty between 0.0 and 0.5 is 3 hours in the nearest jail (or a Police car), no fine or points. Or something like that. It's more of a pain than a punishment.

[minispaniard]

last time I bought a sealed unit it was over 20 quid at the local motor factors... then, I realised it was time to upgrade to halogens!!

[midridge2]

Single-use breathalyser kits will satisfy the requirement. The legal limit in France is 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, lower than in the UK (the UK limit is 80mg).
taken from the link on the first page.

[govig]

The legal limit in France is 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, lower than in the UK (the UK limit is 80mg)

Correct.

The requirements for France are

Driving licence and insurance and log book to be carried in the car at all times. (Both bits of licence required)
One reflective jacket for each occupant carried in the car.
Warning triangle
GB sticker unless you have 'euro number plates'.
Headlamp stickers to block the wrong side dip cut off.
Approved breathalyser from July.

You don't need spare bulbs but if they stop you and you have a blown bulb you're going nowhere until its fixed, so add that to the list.

The following aren't allowed:

Drivers under 18 or UK provisional licence holders
Kids under 10 in the front.
Horn use unless it's an emergency.

Green cards are not technically required as there is a translation on the back of your certificate. However...... french certificates are green like a green card so are more readily accepted at the road side. They also give you whatever cover you have in the UK rather than the minimum legal which the UK cert gives you. Your insurer will tell you they are not required but what they are really saying is we can't be assed to issue one. Unless it's an online insurers they usually issue one if you argue long enough.

Driving in France is much more relaxing than the Uk and the police are fine unless you have done something wrong. If you have, don't argue the toss. One thing they have a bit of a thing about is stopping for 3 seconds on a stop sign. Any less and it's a 90€ on the spot fine I think.

[minisilverbullet]

i think that it is a rather silly idea as those who drink drive will do it either way,

. Oh and speed camera detecors are completely illegal to own in France on penalty of a roughly 1000 euro roadside fine. Even if it's still sealed in it's box in the boot of the car you get prosecuted.

This also refers to the speed camera warning setting on your GPS

You may also need a warning triangle.

Head lamp reflectors you can buy on the ferry!

[AVV IT]

Head lamp reflectors you can buy on the ferry!

Where they are even more expensive than they are in Halfords!!... I'm not sure if they even sell them on the eurotunnel trains though??

[govig]

I'll post some pics tomorrow of what to blank off on the headlight lens with black tape. Cost about 20p.....

You don't need deflectors or anything else fancy, just something to stop the bit of dipped beam which illuminates the nearside in the UK dazzling people on that side of the road when you get over there.

Edited by govig, 04 March 2012 - 09:03 PM.

[minispaniard]

Where they are even more expensive than they are in Halfords!!... I'm not sure if they even sell them on the eurotunnel trains though??

yes, there's an AA shop at the terminal...

[minisilverbullet]

Head lamp reflectors you can buy on the ferry!

Where they are even more expensive than they are in Halfords!!... I'm not sure if they even sell them on the eurotunnel trains though??

true that! they will be mighty expensive.