Lights: RHD only?

Mako

Mako

Club Member
Feb 6, 2011
15,254
14,362
Milton Keynes
In the eBay thread, tiff found a nearside C2 headlamp for sale. The advert itself includes this text: "THIS PART IS SUITABLE FOR UK RIGHT HAND DRIVE VEHICLES ONLY"

On most cars I understand why that might be. But the original specs for the car as featured on Honest John's, say that there's a lever on the back of the headlights that lets you convert to Continental (right side) driving.

So is this light aftermarket? Or did they delete this capability on the C2?

Who's right?
 
I discussed this with Andy recently, apparently it moves a bit internally to stop the worst of the dazzle but doesn't properly change the beam angle.
 
The lever moves a mask across the part of the beam that would create problems for oncoming vehicles when driving on the continent in a right-hand drive vehicle. Works in much the same way as the bits of plastic you stick on the front of normal headlamps.
 
Excellent - thank you.

So what I get is the advert is actually correct in the long-term - but the switches let you travel safely on RH roads as a visitor and not dazzle people?

My Coug might spend some time in France/Switzerland soon, which is why I asked.
 
Mako said:
the switches let you travel safely on RH roads as a visitor and not dazzle people?

My Coug might spend some time in France/Switzerland soon, which is why I asked.
Click to expand...

That is correct Chris.
It's nothing too sophisticated; just a little metal lever that manually switches from L to R(or vice versa) and as it does so it moves an angled mask across part of the dipped-beam bulb aperture.
 
Thanks guys, for satisfying my curiosity and for answering what may be the least consequential Cougar question ever! :LOL:
 
Lol This is quite a common mistake, but the lever doesnt change it from L to RH drive, it removes the kicked up portion on the left that lights up the footpath and creates a flat beam, if you use them in a different country for a short while its fine but they can fail you on your next MOT or whatever it is in which country, however over here i beleive it just goes down as an advisory, not sure if its the same but a friends motorcycle has gone through 4 MOT's over here with a mask on the lens
 
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