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Light adjustment (left-hand drive to right-hand drive)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by InCole, Feb 1, 2016.

  1. InCole

    InCole New Member

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    2008 Prius
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    Hi all again!

    So this time I come with a new query, I have recently moved from mainland Europe to UK and as you may know, my car has the steering wheel on the left side and we drive on the right of the road.

    In UK the steering wheel is on the right side and they drive on the left of the road. This means that the lights are adjusted differently so that in mainland Europe where we drive on the right, the lights shine further and higher to the right to highlight the road signs.

    In UK it is the reverse. I currently have stickers on my 2008 Toyota Prius but now want to have the lights permanently adjusted. The garage is trying to tell me they have to replace the entire light fixtures on the front.

    But I find it hard to believe there is no other way to adjust the lights for driving on the other side of the road (so instead of shining further and higher on the right, they shine further and higher on the left). Changing the light fixtures will be ridiculously expensive :(
     
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    You will need to inquire into the headlight regulations in the UK to determine what is legal. Since the light pattern cast by each headlight is not symmetrical, it does not surprise me that the garage wants to replace them.
     
  3. InCole

    InCole New Member

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    No but that's not my question.

    I know that other brands have a switch on the back of the lights or the possibility to manually change the angle of the light bulb so the lights shine in opposite direction.

    So was wondering if the Toyota Prius also does not have that functionality.
     
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Does not.
     
  5. Matthew Griffiths

    Matthew Griffiths Junior Member

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    Location:
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    2012 Prius Plug-in
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    Hi so you managed to get them changed no doubt. Or did you take them apart to change the bit inside. I'm considering doing that if I can't find them cheaper in europe.

    I'm other the other way round. From uk to europe. With xenon headlights, toyota want 850 euros for each headlight.

    Crazy rare these particular headlights also.
     
  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Perhaps consider a US source? A vehicle recycling or scrapyard perhaps?
     
  7. Matthew Griffiths

    Matthew Griffiths Junior Member

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    Yeah i tried US sites. There's the clear type. But I didn't find any with the blue shading. Also US parts (non eu spec) aren't permitted apparently in France so I was told by the garage.
     
  8. adriennepratt

    adriennepratt Junior Member

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    Hello there, considering bringing my US Prius back to Ireland - incremental shipping cost is surprisingly little. But wanting to know more about the headlight situation.

    Seems from the posts above that there is no other option that replacing the full headlight assembly. Can anyone confirm definitively?

    Thanks a million.