Dipped beam for Europe

[PeeGee]

Hi, I’m about to take my MP across to Europe for the first time. I had assumed that, being a German vehicle, it would be possible to adjust the headlamp beam for driving on the right. I have read the manual but can’t find anything.
Can any of you more experienced MP owners help? Do I just have to buy stick-on beam adjusters?
Thanks for reading this even if you can’t help.

 

[Tee]

hi. assuming they are LED. It’s buried in the settings menu. You tell it left or right. I’ll dig out the reference. T

 

[Tee]

It’s on the dashboard / steering wheel menu

 

[Tee]

saw it the other day whilst playing in the car after some software and hardware issues were fixed by the garage and stumbled across the function as I went through the menus to see if things looked broadly to be there

per the MB online manual App (I’d recommend)…..

Using the steering wheel buttons
call up the list of menus.
select the Settings menu.
select the Lights submenu.
select the Dipped beams Setting for function.

• You will see the selected setting: right-side traffic or left-side traffic .
• Press Arrows to change the setting.
• If you change the setting, conversion does not take place until the next time the vehicle is stationary.

If you switch the dipped-beam headlamps for driving on the right /left, motorway mode and the extended range foglamps may then not be available. These are only deactivated if the setting for driving on the left /right is set opposite to your vehicle's country version.
A qualified specialist workshop can set the dipped-beam headlamps for driving on the left /right.

 

[PeeGee]

Very helpful Tee. Thanks very much.couldn’t find it just now but I’ll have another look in the morning.

 

[PeeGee]

An interesting follow up to this. I took my MP in to a Mercedes main dealer about a different issue and asked about this while I was there. The service manager assured me that because it has LED lights the beam pattern is ‘flat’ and therefore equally correct for driving on the left or on the right and no adjustment is needed!

 

[Method7]

I really don’t think that is correct, there is a option in the steering wheel menu to set the traffic to left or right, it’s not just dipped beam that matters it’s all the other features, self dipping, active headlights, maybe even anti collision, active cruise control… and all the other faffy driver aids.

There is a option to adjust the headlights and it’s not there by accident.

 

[PeeGee]

Thanks for taking the trouble to give me that information. I’ll have another look on my steering wheel menu. It didn’t seem to be there when I looked previously which was why I asked the Mercedes service manager!
Thanks again.
off to France in 2 days so I’ll know if I’ve got it wrong when the Gendarmes pull me over!

 

[Tee]

I tend to agree with METHOD7

firstly beams usually have a kick up on dipped and a tilt away from oncoming traffic

secondly on our MP it’s on the dash menu accessed by the steering wheel buttons on the left side of the wheel ( there’s a massive amount going on in that whole menu system if unexplored)

ours is a 2018 MY so the ILS may have moved on as there’s a camera or sensor detecting the oncoming traffic for the beam. This may be advanced on later models

i know the BMW intelligent LED lights tracked the lights/ number plate of oncoming and followed vehicles and split the beam either side to give long throw without dazzle.

That said we drove in France before discovering the MP menu and it was fine (no one flashed)

 

[Epigram]

An interesting follow up to this. I took my MP in to a Mercedes main dealer about a different issue and asked about this while I was there. The service manager assured me that because it has LED lights the beam pattern is ‘flat’ and therefore equally correct for driving on the left or on the right and no adjustment is needed!

My two year old VW had a “flat“ headlight beam that didn’t need adjusting. However the MPs LED lights get adjusted to driving on the right on the dashboard menu as described. While you are fiddling don’t forget to advance the clock and change to kph.
It’s worth mentioning that the speed limit on single carriageway rural roads is now 80kph unless otherwise stated. Also from 1 August you technically have to produce a vaccination certificate when you go into bars and restaurants Your NHS certificate will scan into the French “TousAntiCovid” app. We have not been formally asked for it yet but we have tried out of curiosity in several bars that we regularly visit and it doesn’t work even for people vaccinated in France !

 

[PeeGee]

Aha! I found the definitive answer buried in the manual. METHOD7 and I are both correct. If you have the Intelligent Light system his answer is correct. If you don’t- and my MP doesn’t then what I was told by the Service manager is correct. Epigram thanks for that really helpful post, especially as we are about to get en route to Eurotunnel!
Thanks all!

 

[Epigram]

Aha! I found the definitive answer buried in the manual. METHOD7 and I are both correct. If you have the Intelligent Light system his answer is correct. If you don’t- and my MP doesn’t then what I was told by the Service manager is correct. Epigram thanks for that really helpful post, especially as we are about to get en route to Eurotunnel!
Thanks all!

Safe travels PeeGee.
Keep us posted on checks and crossing experience ( there is a separate thread under “ Places to Stay”) - the situation is fluid. We head back via Calais next week.

 

[Method7]

Aha! I found the definitive answer buried in the manual. METHOD7 and I are both correct. If you have the Intelligent Light system his answer is correct. If you don’t- and my MP doesn’t then what I was told by the Service manager is correct. Epigram thanks for that really helpful post, especially as we are about to get en route to Eurotunnel!
Thanks all!

Ohh so what year model is your MP @PeeGee is it a UK model or a European model? As far as I am aware all UK (w477) models come with intelligent LED headlights, easy-pack tailgate and leather seats there may be more but I can’t remember.

 

[PeeGee]

Mine is a 2019 220 Sport. Yours must be a swanky upmarket version.

 

[PeeGee]

Ah - that was meant as a jokey reply with a smiley face and thumbs up - but it looks as though the Forum doesn’t do emojis!!

 

[Method7]

Mine is a 2019 220 Sport. Yours must be a swanky upmarket version.

No ours is older, 2018 v220 with the AMG frock. LOL (pmsl:emoji)

 

[PeeGee]

Safe travels PeeGee.
Keep us posted on checks and crossing experience ( there is a separate thread under “ Places to Stay”) - the situation is fluid. We head back via Calais next week.

Thanks for that. I’ll look for that thread and may post. . Eurotunnel terminal almost empty. Checked vaccinations certificates and Declarations but didn’t check what we were carrying. Put straight onto the next train so arrived in France an hour earlier than expected.. Even got round Paris without holdups so decided to hammer on down to the Pyrenees without a stopover….wife driving like fury at moment so responsible for any typos….

 

[JulieG]

My two year old VW had a “flat“ headlight beam that didn’t need adjusting. However the MPs LED lights get adjusted to driving on the right on the dashboard menu as described. While you are fiddling don’t forget to advance the clock and change to kph.
It’s worth mentioning that the speed limit on single carriageway rural roads is now 80kph unless otherwise stated. Also from 1 August you technically have to produce a vaccination certificate when you go into bars and restaurants Your NHS certificate will scan into the French “TousAntiCovid” app. We have not been formally asked for it yet but we have tried out of curiosity in several bars that we regularly visit and it doesn’t work even for people vaccinated in France

though your QR certificate uploads to the TousAntiCovid App it is not recognised by the verification app that is used by establishments

My two year old VW had a “flat“ headlight beam that didn’t need adjusting. However the MPs LED lights get adjusted to driving on the right on the dashboard menu as described. While you are fiddling don’t forget to advance the clock and change to kph.
It’s worth mentioning that the speed limit on single carriageway rural roads is now 80kph unless otherwise stated. Also from 1 August you technically have to produce a vaccination certificate when you go into bars and restaurants Your NHS certificate will scan into the French “TousAntiCovid” app. We have not been formally asked for it yet but we have tried out of curiosity in several bars that we regularly visit and it doesn’t work even for people vaccinated in France !

As of yesterday 04/08 though you were able to upload your certificate to the TousAntiCovid App it would not be recognised by the corresponding Verification app. However that appears to have been sorted overnight but ensure that you have downloaded the latest update to the TousAntiCovid app. My understanding is at the moment it is only applicable to venues with more than 50 people but from 09/08 will be required in bars, restaurants etc both indoors and outdoors.

 

[Epigram]

Spot on , JulieG.
There is a lot of resistance but the potential fines for bar and restaurant owners for non compliance are reportedly going to be high.
For anyone travelling in France it is worth knowing that masks are mandatory outdoors in some departments and towns. See below (valid 5/8/21)

UPDATED MAP: French departments where masks outdoors are now mandatory

Check our map to see which areas in France require masks to be worn outside at all times, in crowded areas or during certain periods of the day

www.connexionfrance.com