Reply To: Headlamp deflectors – do I need them and do they work?

I have a 3200, so similar headlight shape (although yours may be self leveling xenons?). I have yet to find any deflectors that fit properly.

What I have done in the past is drive the car up close to a wall or garage door, turn on the headlights and look for where the light ‘kicks’ up to the left, then use electrical tape (silver or reflecting) just to cover that bit (which is what will ‘dazzle’ oncoming traffic when driving on the right).

There is ‘noise’ on the internet saying this method is illegal, but the countries we have driven seem to state your legal requirement is ‘not to dazzle oncoming traffic’, and not how you achieve this – up to you to decide on how comfortable you would be with this solution.

There is also ‘noise’ saying the tape could ‘heat up’ the plastic headlight cover, hence I have used silver tape to reflect and not absorb.

The other key thing to remember is if you were unlucky enough to have an accident, and it was proved your lights could have been dazzling oncoming traffic, you may find your insurance is invalidated.

We have used the car many, many times whilst driving in Europe (and in the dark), and had no one flash us, and no damage to our headlight covers.

Interesting to see Switzerland has introduced the ‘Headlights on’ law since 2014 (we were last there in the 3200 in 2011)