You know what, I was 99.99% sure it's a joke, but hey, you learn stuff everyday.

Cars without the lever (headlight motors essential of course) got the same function, all you need is VCDS, more hassle than a lever, but it needs just tourist mode switching on and you are ready to go to France ;)

I don't have VCDS. To be honest, I'm completely clueless when it comes to it. I need to swat up on it as I will probably find it quite useful having a play around with it. Anybody care to enlighten me about it or send me a link to the software?

I drove a new S500 from work over to France a few months ago and you can simply change the pattern of the beam using the buttons on the steering wheel menu, but rather than flicking the beam up to the right, like this: ___/___/, it makes the beam patterns completely flat ____ ____

Is this the pattern that 'tourist mode' changes the beam to?

http://i42.tinypic.com/2a7wio4.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/11wd65f.jpg

Was certainly much easier than sodding around with the extortionately priced headlight converters that they try and flog you in the ferry queue and trying to fit them in daylight before driving aboard the ferry like others do!

The newer Audis with MMI high 3G with online services actually sense when you're leaving the country and set the headlights up correctly for the new country you're in, sounds like things will improve this was in future! +++

So there is a link for the cable, in my opinion best supplier in UK
http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VCHU.html

Software VCDS 12.12:
http://www.ross-tech.com/vcds/download/

You'll be surprised how quickly you will get your money back for the cable, in my situations 2 jobs and I got it back.
Plenty of tips, tricks, help, procedures etc on Ross-tech website, plus plenty online and I'm sure you will get plenty of support here when needed.
And its very easy to use and in each window you've got a pop up chart explaining you everything very well.

I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow of both patterns.