Driving in France

[Kakatk]

My S4 Avant is due to be collected on the 4:03:18 so not long. Soon after I have a trip to France planned.
My question is I have the light & vision pack, matrix lights. What will I need to do in France? Is there a setting in the virtual cockpit? Also you are supposed to carry spare bulbs !!
Any information would be appreciated & I will be quizzing the dealer upon collection.

 

[RGBARGEE]

My S4 Avant is due to be collected on the 4:03:18 so not long. Soon after I have a trip to France planned.
My question is I have the light & vision pack, matrix lights. What will I need to do in France? Is there a setting in the virtual cockpit? Also you are supposed to carry spare bulbs !!
Any information would be appreciated & I will be quizzing the dealer upon collection.

Hi there. I have a house in France and regularly travel there. You need to do absolutely nothing as the car knows it is abroad and adjusts everything as far as I know. My ex 66 A4 Avant quattro had L&V pack and VC and all worked just fine. The 16 RS3 showed a warning that visibility may be reduced.
You will need your EU/GB plate on the front and rear and as for bulbs, it's impossible to do this now and not sure it is mandatory now. You will need Luminous Gillet (Audi supply) and warning triangle.. Basically its dead easy. I'm off in March too with new RS4. Good luck. Like the Elan. My friend has AYE2H

 

[Kakatk]

Hi there. I have a house in France and regularly travel there. You need to do absolutely nothing as the car knows it is abroad and adjusts everything as far as I know. My ex 66 A4 Avant quattro had L&V pack and VC and all worked just fine. The 16 RS3 showed a warning that visibility may be reduced.
You will need your EU/GB plate on the front and rear and as for bulbs, it's impossible to do this now and not sure it is mandatory now. You will need Luminous Gillet (Audi supply) and warning triangle.. Basically its dead easy. I'm off in March too with new RS4. Good luck. Like the Elan. My friend has AYE2H

Thanks for all the information all questions answered and the prompt response. Enjoy your RS4.

 

[MOA4B9]

What if I have just normal led lights but not matrix? Anything I need to do with these?

 

[RGBARGEE]

Not as far as I know. My 16 PFL RS3 just had LED lights and ‘knew’ when I was abroad as mentioned. You should be ok!

 

[RichardMMM]

I thought with the matrix lights you should switch them on and off manually and not leave them on auto when abroad. The adaptive function only works in the auto setting.

 

[NickGun]

What if I have just normal led lights but not matrix? Anything I need to do with these?

Nothing needs doing to regular xenon plus lights either (they are flat beam so require no adjustment - we checked this in 2016 direct with Audi UK), we then drove our B9 from UK, across France, Spain, down to Tuscany and back with no issues at all... Not a single flash from anyone to indicate they were being dazzled etc.

You should have a high viz jacket per person (in the car not the boot) and for France the disposable breathalyser things in the glovebox (in date) but they're only a couple of quid from fleabay.

We attracted zero attention whatsoever from police in any country - enjoy your trip.

 

[france71]

I have lived in France for the last 15 years.

The breathalyser thing has been and gone. It is no longer needed they were found to be unreliable and thus utterly unenforceable.

Just picked up my Allroad in December. You still need to carry a set of lightbulbs even if you have matrix lights or any other newer type - my car was delivered with a set - just carry any set working or not or a bag of various bulbs - no-one will check or be able to say more as they can't fit the car. The dealers and the Police know that this law is out of date but the donkeys that call themselves politicians have not got around to changing the law. I have been stopped a few times in the past. They have never, ever checked for jackets, bulbs etc. I know of no-one else that has ever had their car checked for bulbs/jackets etc. A couple of hi-viz jackets close to hand is important but I can tell you that I know of no French person who has 5 jackets in their car. They will have one or perhaps two - old duffers in clapped out cars drape them over their seats as no-one was clear what the law is. This is France........

Small point - they plan to change the speed limit to 80km maximum on all roads without a central barrier (down from 90km. This is due to happen in the summer but there are a lot of protests and road blockages happening now and challenges under way. 80km = 50mph can you imagine this on the length of roads and size of France? The communists (they prefer the title socialists) have such a majority that they try to push through anything with or without public support.

 

[Nickfrog]

But the socialists are not in power. They had a very low share of the vote vs Macron.

 

[france71]

These centrists are just the socialists in disguise. Yes the previous party had a low vote - due to their useless time in power. The present party have gone the same way. Ah well let's not dwell too much on politics and get back to 'trying' to enjoy our cars.

 

[Nickfrog]

Yeah everyone left of Poujade is a Bolchevik!

 

[france71]

Now I didn't know about Pierre Poujade.

Poujade called the National Assembly "the biggest brothel in Paris" and the deputies a "pile of rubbish" and "pederasts" - Seems like he could far these days if he was still alive


Thanks for that.

 

[Nickfrog]

He was Jean-Marie's mentor...and the father of French populism. Not exactly a compliment...