usdm headlights

[ricerockets]

hey guys

i know that if we use the usdm headlights that we will blind on coming traffic but is there any way that can fix this problem, reason is i need a new housing and want to get the tsx headlights

is it possible to fix this problem simply by adjusting the headlight levels?

[I CU2]

Nope, can't be adjusted. It's the actual cut off inside of the lense which differs from our Euros. Well you can adjust them, but they'd still have the right side higher than that of the left.

Try looking on ebay, there are a few headlights there.

[ricerockets]

when you say lens, do you mean the projector lens for the hid, or the clear housing for the whole headlight assembly?

[jono_l]

The projector unit (i.e. lens, cutoff shield, and reflector bowl) inside the headlight uses a cut off shield to determine the beam pattern. In the pre-facelift CL9, I believe the cutoff shield is separate to the projector bowl, whilst the facelift CL9 is supposed to have a reflector bowl with a built-in cutoff shield. As the cutoff shield is fixed in shape (LHD shape is a mirrored version of ours), this isn't something that can be adjusted out.

With that said, it's apparently possible and quite easy to swap the reflector bowls (and cutoff shields) between RHD/JDM and LHD/USDM on our headlights - the yanks do the same swap (the other way round of course!) when they run JDM headlights. There's a guide here on how to do it without having to bake apart the headlights - never tried it myself but looks straight forward enough: http://www.heeltoeauto.com/pitboard/?p=90.

Of course, if you bake the headlights apart, it then becomes a simple swap between the LHD/RHD projectors.

[ricerockets]

i was hoping it would be the projector lens seems like ill be undertaking this mini project seems relatively simple

cheers guys

[Fredoops]

what about just adjust the angle of the lights? as in angle them down and in?

[Jccck]

what about just adjust the angle of the lights? as in angle them down and in?

Well, usually the lights are like this! (AUDM, JDM)

___............................
......\____....____........
...........................\____

If you have the USDM ones (Or fake 'JDM') and angle them down to suit RHD

..........._____.......................
_____/.........................____
..........................____/........

So you end up with a crossover cutoff in the middle and not a very good overall light spread!
Not sure if it's illegal, but i'd not recommend it anyway

[jono_l]

Well, usually the lights are like this! (AUDM, JDM)

___............................
......\____....____........
...........................\____

If you have the USDM ones (Or fake 'JDM') and angle them down to suit RHD

..........._____.......................
_____/.........................____
..........................____/........

So you end up with a crossover cutoff in the middle and not a very good overall light spread!
Not sure if it's illegal, but i'd not recommend it anyway

Yep, the beam pattern is essentially mirrored, which means that you'd either have to aim the lights down to the point where output is diminished, or cause excessive glare to oncoming drivers on the right. Definitely illegal to run the wrong beam pattern, and given that the LHD/RHD projector swap seems to be a simple task, it'd be a bit silly not to do it!

[SPQR]

It's more complicated than simply a European pattern beam designed for either left and right hand drive. In North America, an SAE standard applies which although of similar concept to the original European ECE Standard, produces a lot more glare for oncoming traffic and is made worse in that there is no requriement to compensate for mounting height. The result is that SUV's in North America have even greater bedazzling headlight beams.

The European ECE Standard that applies everywhere else in the world outside North America, must take into account mounting height. The result being that all ECE Standard headlamps have to have the same maximum cutoff limits and beam spread irrespective of mounting height. So this is as case where the beam really is a mirror reverse for right hand drive cars and left hand drive cars.

Not so the SAE Standard in North America because this standard now only ever applies to left hand drive cars. Although, once upon a time, Japan did use a mirror reverse of the SAE Standard. But no more.

[ricerockets]

so i finally recieved them and installed them :D sorry for crappy phone pics, ill take proper photos once i have the chance

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/ricerockets_69/09082011069.jpg

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/ricerockets_69/10082011071.jpg

[I CU2]

What's the beam pattern look like?

[ricerockets]

should be the same as oem because i used my old projectors

[kryptonite]

ricerockets - where do you source your part from?

I am looking to replace mine aswell

[jono_l]

so i finally recieved them and installed them :D sorry for crappy phone pics, ill take proper photos once i have the chance

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/ricerockets_69/09082011069.jpg

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae216/ricerockets_69/10082011071.jpg

Looks good mate - now you need to get the USDM tail lights with the red indicators to match!

[ricerockets]

ricerockets - where do you source your part from?

I am looking to replace mine aswell

got mine from here mate, 75 for each headlight and about 100 dollars for combined shipping
they dont come with the projectors which is fine because you have to reuse your own anyway haha
these headlights also dont have the auto leveling sensors, so i just left the plug undone lol

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120688329920&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT#ht_1046wt_940

[kryptonite]

ok - i just went ahead with ordering the DEPO JDM 06-08 replicas off Heeltoe.

Got a question though, maybe someone will know.
I have a base model 03 with an after market HID kit (H1 bulbs)

To re-use this kit, do I just change the bulbs from H1 to DS2? (Hoping I dont have to buy a new kit altogether)

[jono_l]

Does the existing H1 bulb use AMP connections? If so, you'll need an AMP to D2S adapter like this, as the D2S do not have wires coming out the back with an AMP plug on it:

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=97

Asides from that it should just be a case of getting new D2S bulbs. As the DEPO replicas off heeltoe are RHD already, the beam pattern wil be correct for us (and arguably better/safer than the beam pattern from using a H1 HID kit). There will also be a large hole in the bottom of the headlight casing (hardly visible when installed) where the factory ballast would sit - you may or may not want to seal that up somehow. As its at the bottom, it's not exactly a place where water would get in.

[kryptonite]

hmm ok looks like I either go with the AMP to DS2 adapter or get a new kit all together

If I choose to go with a new kit, can I just buy these 2 bits and be done?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230469714338&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3364wt_1112

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230620273687&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3047wt_1112

am I missing anything else?

[jono_l]

Well yes, if you want the cheapest option then all you need are the AMP to D2S adapters :).

If you're looking for a complete new kit with new bulbs, those two links together should give you the complete setup if you're running off a relay harness installed with your existing kit, or using no relay at all (probably not recommended!)

The whole kit is available cheaper off theretrofitsource's website if you bundle them with the bulbs though, and also comes with a new relay harness too! http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=242&osCsid=fkl8tpla2usdopqhq64ihucc8201g3d2