Here we go again, another advancement in technology without the law being modified.
Just been making sure I have all the bits needed for our French Touring Holiday, High Viz Breathalysers x 2 arranged for the headlights beam to be converted for France (save using the stickers, Already have first aid kit and fire extinguisher, and spare bulbs and fuses for caravan.
Go to Audi to get a spare bulb kit for the car and told 'we dont do one' not for yours as it has the new LED lights, they are quite expensive, but rarely fail and dont do a kit. The headlights are xenons and have to be dealer fitted!
He told me they sell 'spare bulb kits' for the ordinary type bulbs but wont fit my car!
I wanted to make sure I had all possibilities covered just in case I get pulled in whilst in France for a check, now if I get a normal bulb kit just for the sake of having one in the car and get a Gendarme who knows his stuff am I going to get fined for not having a kit for the car, has anybody else with LED lights had this problem?
LED lamps don't have a bulb as they are part of the lamp, so there would be no need to carry a spare for something you don't have. I'd go to a motor factors and get a couple of assorted boxes of bulbs. They are about £3 for a box of 10 bulbs. If you get stopped and they ask to see your spare bulbs you can tip the boxes out for them to see. They won't know what type of bulbs you need that's for sure.
If you get a Gendarme who knows his stuff he won't be fining you for having the wrong bulbs because he would know the correct bulbs don't exist. If he doesn't know his stuff then he will be happy to see a box full of assorted bulbs.
I am sure there are plenty of French drivers who own Audis, probably a few Gendarmes own them too.
Hi Dave Coaches, I wasnt aware the bulbs were part of the lamp itself, I noticed whilst in Asda the other day, that they have a spare bulb kit in a case with fuses for £5.00.
I will get one of these, just to have something in the car.
Just as an aside, we had everything for our recent trip, aside from the two breathalysers which we'd intended to buy in France at local prices.
I didn't see any anywhere and TBH forgot all about it till we were driving up the M1 UK side
As it happens, we only saw two cop cars, both cruising the front at Les Sables on the Vendee, and they clearly weren't about to stop anyone for a check.
The Asda kit is worth a fivers peace of mind especially as it includes fuses.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
As Saxo has said, a spare bulb set is not a legal requirement in France but it is advisable to be able to change those bulbs which are 'user-changeable' in the event of a failure - and that does make a bit of sense really!
Many headlamp bulbs nowadays are not 'user-changeable' and I'm sure the local gendarmes and police will be well aware of that. After all, modern cars are not that unusual in France.
I can't quite see the point of carrying spare bulbs that won't actually fit the car!
Here we go again, another advancement in technology without the law being modified.
Just been making sure I have all the bits needed for our French Touring Holiday, High Viz Breathalysers x 2 arranged for the headlights beam to be converted for France (save using the stickers, Already have first aid kit and fire extinguisher, and spare bulbs and fuses for caravan.
Go to Audi to get a spare bulb kit for the car and told 'we dont do one' not for yours as it has the new LED lights, they are quite expensive, but rarely fail and dont do a kit. The headlights are xenons and have to be dealer fitted!
He told me they sell 'spare bulb kits' for the ordinary type bulbs but wont fit my car!
I wanted to make sure I had all possibilities covered just in case I get pulled in whilst in France for a check, now if I get a normal bulb kit just for the sake of having one in the car and get a Gendarme who knows his stuff am I going to get fined for not having a kit for the car, has anybody else with LED lights had this problem?
not done france myself,but believe if you use glasses for driving you must carry two pair.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
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Topic: What Spare Bulb Kit?
