Driving in France

[cobraBLACK]

Driven in France a few times with different cars but Wednesday will be the first time in the S4 so I'm getting things ready.

Now I'm stuck on headlight direction - I have single xenons and some say you need to adjust them with VAG-COM. What good is that if you have to go to a dealer and then drive on UK roads before going abroad? I've got to drive to Pompey on Tuesday night (only from Southampton though) and then down to central France on Wednesday.

Others also say you can't get deflectors.

Anyone any pointers?

The ECU should get a signal from the sat nav to say I'm in France and adjust them automatically.

[nihc]

Hi,

On my B6 you have to remove each headlight to flip a switch on the unit to change the beam direction.

Chris.

[cobraBLACK]

Bollocks to that. Do they expect you to do that on the ferry?!

[Scotty]

When I had my S4 I did a large number of tours and ring trips and looked at this time and time again.

The headlight out option just wasn't an option. Although I'd removed them before I knew that if I kept doing it I was bound to drop one and as mentioned it's not a quick thing to do on a ferry.

The Audi solution was headlight covers which have a blank to side the left hand kerb part of the beam.

In the end I simply didn't bother. Most of the driving was during the day and the time in the dark was on motorways which mainly had dividers and I didn't noticed the beam ever straying over it.

I did always carry a beam convertor sticker kit from Halfords which said it did all cars including Xenons so I could always whip that out if needed.

My older TT had an easy to access switch which was great and my B8 A4 has it controlled in the MMI which is perfect. It seems the B6 which was in between was forgotten about.

[cobraBLACK]

I'm thinking along the same lines. Seems a bit of an idiotic approach by a pan-European company like Audi.

I suppose most countries drive on the right though.

[marv]

Have a look here mate:
Tyresmoke link

I posted on this quite a while ago. I've never done it, but the workshop manuals definitely point to a lever being available for regular xenons on a B6 to change from RHD to LHD setup. Dual xenons and B7s are different I think.

B7s allow you to change to "tourist mode" in VAG COM.

Hope this helps.

[cobraBLACK]

Thanks, that's what I've been told too.

I don't wanna muck about with all that stuff so I think I'll just buy some generic deflectors and hope for the best.

[cobraBLACK]

Well, I'm here now and it was a tough drive; no hassle from the Gendarmes or whining from the little one but my leg is aching trying to balance speed and MPG.

I think I'll look into retrofitting cruise control!

I attempted to put deflectors on in the ferry but looked at the pattern of the xenons and thought it wasn't too bad so I didn't bother. Not a single flash from oncoming traffic either.

[marv]

I'd definitely recommend the cruise control retrofit. It's pretty easy to do, and not very expensive.

[cobraBLACK]

I'd definitely recommend the cruise control retrofit. It's pretty easy to do, and not very expensive.

Have you done it then?

Bit nervous earlier as a Gendarme cruised around a car park and stared me out. I was hoping he was just checking out the S4 since they don't get many interesting cars en France.

[infrasilver]

They most probably spotted the UK plates and had a look, although there are some crap cars over there unless you get to the Med.

Its not the Gendarme you need to worry about, its the Douane with their rubber gloves.
And the Gendarme have ALL had a sense of humour bypass. Beware of this.
I have been stopped by them many times.

I have been round Western Europe in mine but never used the Cruise really. I am constantly adjusting it by hand so I think I might as well just use my foot.

[cobraBLACK]

I have been round Western Europe in mine but never used the Cruise really. I am constantly adjusting it by hand so I think I might as well just use my foot.

How does it work in terms of revs and MPG? Does it stay at the set speed regardless?

[infrasilver]

If you set it to 70 it will stay at 70, uphill will add more power and downhill will reduce power. So you will always do what you set it at. Unless you touch the brakes or accelerator.
As I am constantly wanting everyone in the world to get out my way.
I am always dropping down a few MPH by hand and once they have moved adding a few more back up to cruising speed.
In France once you get out of the cities it makes more sense but in the UK I find it a pain.
If I remember MPG was worse with Cruise on but I am not 100% sure this is correct as I have not used it for a while.

[marv]

Yeah I did the retrofit earlier this year. I spent a few months researching it and getting the parts together etc, so when I came to do it I found it pretty straightforward. I was nervous at first, as I didn't have much experience with taking the steering wheel off and coding the car with VAG COM, but it all worked as it should. I've got a set of instructions I put together, I'll post the link if you're interested. There's also a really long but useful thread over at Tyresmoke all about retrofitting cruise and DIS.

I think infrasilver's probably right about the mpg with cruise being slightly worse... I've found it's not as gentle with the throttle as you might be if you're driving for economy, so a journey at 70 using cruise might use a bit more fuel than a journey at 70 without. However, when I'm using cruise I find that I stick to the set speed a lot more, but when I'm using my foot the temptation of the V8 is too much, and I end up going a lot faster! So overall, I save fuel with cruise!

[cobraBLACK]

I've got a set of instructions I put together, I'll post the link if you're interested.

That'd be helpful, thanks.

However, when I'm using cruise I find that I stick to the set speed a lot more, but when I'm using my foot the temptation of the V8 is too much, and I end up going a lot faster! So overall, I save fuel with cruise!

That's what I wad thinking too.