So, I have taken my UK Mini in for a French MOT - Controle Technique at a Mini garage in Nice. It has failed because of the headlights not being compliant to French requirements. The car is a 2011 model with xenon flat beam headlights. The UK Mini garage told me they would be fine. Seemingly not. Also the French garage has no suggestions on how the issue can be resolved. Does anyone have a contact/suggestion on how I can fix this issue - replace the headlights if necessary? Kind of stuck here! Cheers.
What was the exact reason they failed?
From Dekra site:
Parmi tous les Ă©lĂ©ments dâĂ©clairage contrĂŽlĂ©s lors du passage du vĂ©hicule au contrĂŽle technique, plusieurs peuvent ĂȘtre soumis Ă contre-visite en cas de dĂ©faillance majeure ou critique constatĂ©e :
Phares
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- Ătat et fonctionnement : lampe / source lumineuse dĂ©fectueuse ou manquante (visibilitĂ© fortement rĂ©duite) ; systĂšme de projection fortement dĂ©fectueux ou manquant ; mauvaise fixation du feu
- Commutation : fonctionnement non conforme aux exigences ; dĂ©passement de lâintensitĂ© lumineuse maximale Ă lâavant ; dysfonctionnement du dispositif de commande ; dĂ©faillance signalĂ©e via lâinterface Ă©lectronique du vĂ©hicule
- ConformitĂ© : couleur, position ou intensitĂ© non conforme ; prĂ©sence de produits altĂ©rant lâintensitĂ© lumineuse ou modifiant la couleur Ă©mise ; source lumineuse et lampe incompatibles
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Dispositif de réglage de la portée des phares : dispositif inopérant, défaillant, ou non actionnable
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Orientation des feux de croisement : orientation hors limites de lâun des feux, dĂ©faillance signalĂ©e par lâinterface Ă©lectronique
Assuming it is non-conformity? A missing E mark?
Buy a set of lights from a French source. New will be expensive but also consider pattern parts or genuine used parts.
It is not up the CT Station to offer solutions, in fact there are rules to detach them from the job of repair to avoid conflict of interest.
A French garage should sort all of that I would have thought though?
Is that likely on an EU built car? Maybe it is.
https://ebay.io/m/OTiYhe
Maybe out of alignment etc then?
Unless we know the exact reason for the fail??
I agree a missing E mark is unlikely.
If the lights have marker for RHD, or have a little arrow cast on them?
Was the UK garage telling fibs?
Would they really know about French CT tests?
Photo 5 in the link to eBay you put up shows an LHD sticker. So that must be different to a RHD light.
Bet @Hillyâs car has RHD stickers
Edit Shed loads of them on LBC. https://www.leboncoin.fr/recherche?category=6&text=phare+mini+cooper&kst=p
Hi. I was because of the orientation of the beam - âConformityâ. I asked if they could replace the lights and they said no. Bear in mind I was haveing most of the conversation over Google Translate - I couldnât understand why they (Mini garage) couldnât order new headlights and fit them for me? I asked twise and it seemed to be something about them not being allowed to fit new lights in an old car. As I said, I couldnât get an answer I could understand!
Hi there. No RHD stickers. Just plain xexon flat beam headlights.
I have a certificate of conformity from BMW for the car. It seems the issue is a plain âUK driving on the left vs France drviving on the rightâ and the position of the beam. Itâs a 2011 model so thereâs no internal switch I can flip to fix it. New headlights I guess. As Iâve reported, I am just confused why a Mini main dealer canât fix it for me?
There are rules about conformity of lights to the Type Approval in vehicles.
You cannot fit âbetterâ lights into an older car if it isnât in the Type Approval specs.
If you are having trouble communicating with the garage maybe find another one? Changing headlights is not highly technical and any general garage should be able to do that.
Get 2nd hand units, correct year for your car, marked as LHD and I would imagine all will be OK.
Thanks Franglais. I will try another garage.
If they are genuinely flat beam, are you sure itâs not simply a question of poor alignment that can be solved by adjustment?
The CT station shouldnât care about that and, in fact donât need to see the CoC at all. They work purely on the results they see on the beam tester.
BTW, the advice is that, for registration, you donât submit your CoC to ANTS unless they specifically ask for it. You might slip through based on the information on the V5C, whereas if you submit a CoC for left hand traffic it hugely increases the chances of a DREAL inspection and then being told to change the headlights.
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Thanks, Iâkk bear that in mind. Just searched the whole replacing lights thing at it seems that if Iâm looking to replace UK xenons with the European equivalent (not upgrading or changing their spec), then, I should be able to do that.
Find another garage, show them the fail sheet from the CT.
They should know what is wrong from that and explain that to you, (adjust or replace) and offer a solution. If you are prepared with possible options their answers will be easier to understand.
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A bit of aside: I have found main dealers to be rather expensive and not too helpful.
Local garages seem very professional and also more helpful.
Not just a French thing of course
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Were you asking the CT place to resolve the headlight problem? If so, note @Franglaisâs comment:
See google:
Under French law (Article R323-8 of the Code de la route), a contrĂŽle technique center is strictly prohibited from performing any mechanical repairs or maintenance on your vehicle.
However telling you why a fail should surely be normal and not required Poirot.
It was a long time ago but I brought to France a Honda Accord. My garagiste, a most helpful man, came with me to the CT station to try and persuade them that the car should be passed. No chance. I then got some left hand headlights from a company in Spain. My garagiste fitted them etc
Hi Hilly. This isnât a big problem.
Are you sure you took the car to CT tester, you said a Mini garage? Mini garages canât do CTs, unlike main dealers in the UK who can do MOTs.
The process is as follows..
Take car to CT testerâŠ
Passed 
no further action.
Failed due to headline alignmentâŠ
1 - Go to Mini garage (main dealer) and ask them for a quote to swap your RHD Xenons for LHD Xenons (which will be expensive original Mini parts). if your French isnât up to that just write out beforehand what you want and use an online translator and print it.
2- Go to reputable non main dealer garage (because swapping headlights is simple) and ask them for a quote to swap your RHD Xenons for OEM Xenons (for example from these people TYC Left Xenon Black Headlamp LHD, Mini R55 R56 R57 R58 R59 R60 63127269985 - Car & Van Parts Specialists )
3 Decide which quotation you want to go for - and go for it.
4 Return to CT tester and pass CT
Same with my Saxo many years ago except that nobody, including the DRIRE seemed bothered and it passed 2 CTs with left dipping lights. I solved it myself later but only because I couldnât see the edge of the road in the woods.
The primary difference between RHD and LHD Mini Cooper xenon headlights is the asymmetric beam pattern cutoff. RHD headlights project a sharper cutoff on the right side to prevent blinding oncoming traffic in left-hand traffic countries, while LHD headlights shift this cutoff to the left side for right-hand traffic markets.
This optical difference depends on the model year:
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Pre-2005 (R50/R52/R53): The headlight units are not interchangeable. RHD and LHD units have different internal reflectors or lenses, requiring a complete unit swap.
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Post-2005 (Facelift onwards): Most xenon headlights feature a manual adjustment lever located behind the bulb assembly. This lever allows the beam pattern to be switched between RHD and LHD settings without replacing the entire headlight unit.
Attempting to use an RHD unit in an LHD market (or vice versa) without adjustment will result in poor visibility on the driverâs side and glare for oncoming drivers, as the light distribution is physically directed toward the wrong side of the road.
Been looking at the mini cooper forum for more information
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Is it a Cooper?