airtwardo 7 #26 January 17, 2013 Quote Quote All European cars have a “dip” switch for the headlights; on low beam, you can adjust the beam up/down for city vs. motorway driving. They’re possibly assuming you won’t “dip” your lights, not just that they think you on high beams. Since when? The cars I had in the UK in the early 2000s didn't. A lot but not all of the 'newer' cars we rent across the pond have that... ...took me a while to figure why & how to use it. Printed instruction came with a VW Passat from Hertz in Paris couple years ago...2COOL! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HighJB 0 #27 January 17, 2013 Quote Since when? The cars I had in the UK in the early 2000s didn't. It's not in Europe ça passe ou ça frotte Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #28 January 17, 2013 Quote So, I'm in Europe. [...] Ideas? There isn't a country named Europe. Italy and Spain, for example, are notorious for bad driving and drivers who are very hot-tempered. Mainly in the bigger towns. It's different in Germany or the UK. You might run into blockheads in bigger cities and might encounter well-behaved drivers in more rural areas. You may adjust your lights to point a little more down, might save you lotta flashing exchanges. (The switch for it is usually easy to find even in rental cars. This opportunity has been available since the 1990s in almost any cars around here...) If someone flashes me I usually flash back (just a short tip on the light lever) But happens not too often. OK I drive a Skoda Octavia. Very fine and reliable car Aw... chances you got Xenon lights? Even if they are adjusted correctly, they are bloody bright. Nice for the driver but if there's rain or only drizzle, it's a nuisance to the ones on the other lane driving towards you. But I never flash Xenon lights, there's no point in it. The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 0 #29 January 17, 2013 They hate you because they envy your freedoms. But it's Europe, so you can't shoot them. So I'm all out of ideas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 38 #30 January 17, 2013 Quote They hate you because they envy your freedoms. But it's Europe, so you can't shoot them. So I'm all out of ideas. lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #31 January 18, 2013 Quote They hate you because they envy your freedoms. But it's Europe, so you can't shoot them. So I'm all out of ideas. You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #32 January 18, 2013 QuoteI have to have the vehicle inspected as part of registration. I was going to talk to them about whether the headlights needed adjusting. The interesting part is that the same thing happens on my motorcycle where height should not be an issue. E-code lamps tend to have a much sharper cut-off mine with less light above it than US spec lamps so the same height, brightness, and adjustment with our lights tends to shed more light on drivers headed in the opposite direction I switched to E-code projectors after upgrading from a Toyota built in 1969 to a 1998 Audi and finding its stock US DOT head lamps were two steps backwards that had me afraid of running off the road. The E-codes put a lot more light on the road but make it harder to read non-retro reflective signs naming cross-streets installed on traffic light supports in the middle of the road because the cut-off is sharp and hockey-stick shaped. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HighJB 0 #33 January 18, 2013 Quote Aw... chances you got Xenon lights? Even if they are adjusted correctly, they are bloody bright. By regulation adjustment of Xenon lights is automatic (if the road is flat, you can think they are not correctly adjusted)ça passe ou ça frotte Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
base689 0 #34 January 18, 2013 QuoteIdeas? Yes. They keep the high beam on to "protest" on you because they think that your "high beam" (which may be not the highest beam) is . In my country there is quite a number of cars that have got after-market xenon kits (which produce three times the light of standard low beam and twice the light of high beam) and "some" of this after-market xenon kits are quite , they shoot too high because of a not too professional assembling and/or SIMPLY that xenon kit is unsuitable for THAT reflector.Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davjohns 1 #35 January 18, 2013 Thanks for all the information. I'm going to take some steps to make my vehicle less offensive to other drivers. Although not unsafe by US standards, it appears to be causing some concern. I'm not sure them turning on their high-beams once I've demonstrated mine are not on is appropriate, but I suspect there might be some Euro dislike of the American vehicle as well. Interesting microcosm of the differences between western civilizations.I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #36 January 18, 2013 They problably won't even know it's an American vehicle - all they will see is two oncomming lights that are blinding them so they think "fuck you then" [or Je t'encule or something] and blind you back. It's just different light patterns from the differing US vs EU headlights. You'll probably find the easiest fix is to buy UK to EU beam deflectors like these: http://www.totaltravelhire.co.uk/european-driving-essentials/headlamp-beam-deflectors_ID_1474630/ They're just stickers you put on your headlamps - instructions will be in the pack. Every UK motorist is supposed to put them on when travelling on the continent otherwise our headlights blind oncomming traffic as they're angled for driving on the [cough] correct side of the road. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 0 #37 January 18, 2013 QuoteI'm going to take some steps to make my vehicle less offensive to other drivers. . Heh, good luck driving with a tarp over it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davjohns 1 #38 January 18, 2013 LOL Exactly. They see that big Jeep with the rack and oversized tires and they just start to scowl in disapproval. Even Nataly joined in here and started bashing it. The envy runs deep around here. The scooter drivers don't seem to like my sportbike much, either. Ah well....I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #39 January 18, 2013 Admit it - this is your Jeep right: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fy6IHPriDQ&feature=player_embedded Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davjohns 1 #40 January 18, 2013 Before I added the flood light system...I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
base689 0 #41 January 18, 2013 Quote ...but I suspect there might be some Euro dislike of the American vehicle as well Ah, ah, ah: sorry, that cannot be true A european bloke (who is driving his car nighttime), noticing a car coming from opposite direction, whose low/high beam is WAY TOO HIGH, simply CANNOT distinguish if: 1) the too strong light beam is coming from a US vehicle (which is slightly higher than standard european car) 2) the too strong light beam is coming from a not-properly-selected-not-properly-installed after market xenon kit They have NOTHING personal on you, US bloke They are "simply" annoyed by a too strong light beam. Think the following: if I am driving nighttime and from opposite direction I notice a couple of too strong lighe beams (and such a notice/disturbance lasts for only 2-3-4 seconds): I CANNOT guess what is behind those "too strong light beams" Stay safe out there Blue Skies and Soft Walls BASE #689 - base_689AT_NO_123_SPAMyahoo.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davjohns 1 #42 January 18, 2013 Maybe. But I also note that they give me a special license plate to mount front and back so everyone will know I'm American.I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 136 #43 January 18, 2013 Quote Maybe. But I also note that they give me a special license plate to mount front and back so everyone will know I'm American. did they give you the YNKGOHOME plate Well now If I have someone with "too high" lights on, I will know it is an american MAybe I'll try and stop them to see if it is you scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #44 January 18, 2013 Quote Maybe. But I also note that they give me a special license plate to mount front and back so everyone will know I'm American. Wow. The car I'm currently driving shows yellow plates (front and back, of course), what do you think I am? Hint: I am a friend of a friend - an alien friend with a bigger car than mine, I love to drive it from time to time ... Quote .... so everyone will know I'm American. Don't you worry. That does not sound like an illness. And: You surely are not the first and only one here in Europe Quote The envy runs deep around here. What?? dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RMK 3 #45 January 18, 2013 QuoteThe envy runs deep Europeans being envious of American cars is as likely as Europeans being envious of American cheese – its disdain, not envy."Pain is the best instructor, but no one wants to attend his classes" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 136 #46 January 18, 2013 I like the big Pickup trucks, not that I would want one here, but I do like them but the fuel being 3 times more expensive here, it wouldn't be reasonable but you are correct for the cheese part scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #47 January 18, 2013 If you want to have a really big and strong and RELIABLE car of very good quality then how about the Amarok? Fahrvergnügen! The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #48 January 18, 2013 Quote If you want to have a really big and strong and RELIABLE car of very good quality then how about the Amarok? Fahrvergnügen! Who says it's about quality of any kind? It's about huge tires, loud noise, engines eating gas like a horse - that's it! Impressing your neighborhood, the smaller you are, the bigger is your car. And your above shown car is equipped with tires like a shopping cart .... BTW: I've never seen so many old, small, dirty and dented cars like in Belgian cities (city) - them Belgians just don't care about it! Main point: That rolled plate has to move! No more, no less - at lowest possible cost. Not illogical, methinks dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #49 January 18, 2013 Coolest cars in the world are here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kd5xb 1 #50 January 18, 2013 QuoteIdeas? Well, you seem to be going on the "nice" route. If that doesn't work, you could always try a couple of Cibie Oscars.I'm a jumper. Even though I don't always have money for jumps, and may not ever own a rig again, I'll always be a jumper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
