headlight question

N

navid.v

Veteran
just a quick question, I have been looking for facelift headlights for a while (not a priority though) as have had other things on my mind, but would like to change them at the right price and at the right time.What I would like to know was if I would have bought lhd facelift headlights, how easy are they to convert to rhd? can I swap the inside of my current lights (without cutting/opening them) and do the same to lhd ones and replaced them the other way round?! I don't know if it makes sense or not, but just looking for a cheap oem way to do this.

thoughts and advice on this matter would be good :)
 
I dont think you can, although tempting to buy a set from the states etc as there are more for sale and at a cheaper price

However, why not just cut them open for the clear strip to fit into yours? quite a bit of work, but i and others have done this
 
ranski said:
I dont think you can, although tempting to buy a set from the states etc as there are more for sale and at a cheaper price

However, why not just cut them open for the clear strip to fit into yours? quite a bit of work, but i and others have done this
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ranski,

thanks for the encouragement although having done the occupancy sensor in my seat was hard, I don't think I am ready to open up my headlights yet :P
 
Well you could strip out the entire inners via the rear access panel, but it's a real challenge to rebuild it all and then align the beams the reflectors in the unit. You of course have to change everything as US lights don't have a left flick but they do have different indicators and a different internal loom.

Good luck :)
 
Don't the oem headlights have a setting for euro travels. I'm sure its a switch that flicks left or right on back of the unit. So would it not make sense that euro lights have the same? Or am I thinking of something completely wrong ? ?
 
the lights I was considering were from Germany, I don't know if that makes any difference to the whole scenario or not!

thanks for the input anyway guys, just a thought.
 
imp75 said:
Don't the oem headlights have a setting for euro travels. I'm sure its a switch that flicks left or right on back of the unit. So would it not make sense that euro lights have the same? Or am I thinking of something completely wrong ? ?
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Uk lights have a lever that raises a shutter. That cuts off the lower part of the flick. As the beam passes through the lens it is inverted and cuts off the top left of the flick leaving a flat pattern for eu driving. Confused yet??

Euro lights that I have seen do not have a converter for right hand driving. Even if they did it would at best only give a flat beam that while not an MOT fail is a poor beam pattern fro long term uk use.

US lights are different in that they often have side marker lights in the indicator lens.

I've only ever used them to canibalise.
 
cj10jeeper said:
imp75 said:
Don't the oem headlights have a setting for euro travels. I'm sure its a switch that flicks left or right on back of the unit. So would it not make sense that euro lights have the same? Or am I thinking of something completely wrong ? ?
Click to expand...

Uk lights have a lever that raises a shutter. That cuts off the lower part of the flick. As the beam passes through the lens it is inverted and cuts off the top left of the flick leaving a flat pattern for eu driving. Confused yet??
Click to expand...

Yep! :rofl: but ill take your word for it.........
 
navid.v said:
the lights I was considering were from Germany, I don't know if that makes any difference to the whole scenario or not!
Click to expand...

Germany is RHD I think... so they should fit fine. except the pre/post facelift wiring differences.

I think you should listen to ranski, buy the cheapest clears and cut em up :thumbsup: Thats what I did too, takes a bit of time and concentration. but overall not that hard to do with the guides on this forum. plus AE's look the business 8)
 
cj10jeeper said:
Germany is LHD
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and also am I not correct to think, pre and post facelift halogens are straight swap?

re AE, if anybody is offering the service to them for me, would be grateful :P
 
I believe halogens are a direct swap. Xenon require more effort.

Do the job for you? DIY or I think there is one US company, but not practical with costs and shipping.
 
cj10jeeper said:
I believe halogens are a direct swap. Xenon require more effort.

Do the job for you? DIY or I think there is one US company, but not practical with costs and shipping.
Click to expand...

have seen that company but as you said it is not cost effective as you have to ship your headlights to them (if I remember correctly).

not lazy about doing DIY but don't feel confident about doing this :oops:
 
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