Headlamp Beam Adjusters for LED lights in Europe

[michaelcore]

Hi,

Does anybody have any definitive information on whether a UK (2021) RAV4 Dynamic with LED lights needs to have headlamp beam adjusters fitted for driving in Europe.

The car manual has no information.

The Toyota dealer doesnt seem to know either.

The Web is just as confusing.

The headlamp glass has no markings whatsoever on it.

And google seems to suggest the LED lights have a flat straight ahead beam and dont need deflectors.

Can anybody on here help ?.

TIA

Michael

 

[Hayzee]

Hi Michael

If you do a search for Headlight Deflectors on the forum you will see a lot of threads discussing this issue. It appears that deflectors are not required with the LED headlights on your vehicle. Here's an example thread.

 

[philip42h]

2 hours ago, michaelcore said:

Hi,

Does anybody have any definitive information on whether a UK (2021) RAV4 Dynamic with LED lights needs to have headlamp beam adjusters fitted for driving in Europe.

The car manual has no information.

The Toyota dealer doesnt seem to know either.

The Web is just as confusing.

The headlamp glass has no markings whatsoever on it.

And google seems to suggest the LED lights have a flat straight ahead beam and dont need deflectors.

Can anybody on here help ?.

TIA

Michael

 

Precisely so ...

Eurolites give instructions on how to fit their deflectors ...

My dealer when asked told me that I did need deflectors until I explained the actual beam pattern to him and then agreed that I didn't.

Park the car facing a wall when it's dark, switch on dipped headlights and examine the beam pattern. If you can detect any form of 'uptick' on the left hand edge of the beam that might dazzle an oncoming driver on the continent you need to fit the deflectors. I couldn't and therefore do not make any adjustments to my headlights when driving in Europe. In the absence of anything official you would need to make your own determination.

Note that the law is that you must not dazzle oncoming drivers rather than that you must fit beam deflectors.

[michaelcore]

Yes after having wasted a morning it seems the LED headlights had a flat beam with no nearside uptick hence I dont need deflectors. This was from somebody in Toyota but of course they have no official written paperwork to confirm this. However he did seem rather certain I did not need them.

[Cyker]

Yeah it's annoying there's no official confirmation in writing, but it's generally accepted that 'projector'-style LED lamps and 'intelligent' lamps like matrix and adaptive types don't need beam deflectors due to their flat beam pattern or automatic blanking.