Headlights vs. interchangeability

[tekNetium]

Greetings! I am new to this forum, so please be nice... :)

I am about to import an 1989 Silvia (coupé, CA18DET) from Japan (S13 Coupé never sold new in Europe), but we in Norway, like you, drive on the right side of the road. This leads me to the problem; I need new headlights to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. Now then, since there are 3 types of headlights for the S13 Coupé, I wonder - which should i get? The standard reflector-ones is not an option, since 99.9% of all the cars in Norway has reflective ones. This leaves the 2- and 3- projector lights, but I understand there are some issues with the light output/beam pattern w/ the H3 ones? Can any of you please shed some light ( :)) )on this issue?

Sincirly, Øyvind Ryeng, Tromsø/Norway.

EDIT: The three headlights ARE interchangeable, right?

[S13SilviaGirl]

they're all interchangable. Since you want to use one of the projector setups, and want the light on the correct side of the road, you'll need to modify the beam cutoff 'bracket', basically a small bracket on the inside of the projector that lets you adjust where the beam does and doesn't go. The reflectors would be easiest to aim, as no modification to a 'bracket' is necessary.

[old_s13]

Projector headlamps are the best headlamps for any car, if you ask me.

If you are not into working on lamps, we perform conversions like this often and can disassemble the stock lamps and retrofit them to LHD configuration. However, the conversions offered on my site are not halogen. I currently have one set of triple projectors being worked on, converted from RHD to LHD lightng pattern but with DOT-compliant HID projectors -- very awesome lighting.

You may be able to get away with some minor modifications to the shield... but it really depends on the design of the projector.

Regards,

- Mike / ClearCorners.Com

[tekNetium]

Thank you for your anwsers. So it is possible to modify the RHD-drive-lamps to give out LHD-beam pattern? I was under the impression that i had to buy new/used ones from the United States, but since I am a cheapscate, modifing the lamps I already have would be preferable.

Mike, thank you for your offer, but I am going to have a hard enough time convincing the Norwegian Departement of Motor Vehicles just to allow me to have licence plates on the car. An HID-setup would complicate the registration process further. The EU-laws (Europeean Union) state that a car with xenon lighting SHALL have automatic height adjustment of the headlights, and the kit has to be E-marked and TüV-approved (almost none are, let alone a HID-setup for a car they have never seen before). But what I have showed the car (during registration process) with, and what parts I put on it afterwards are two different things. It's not like I'm NOT gonna tune the engine some... :) I will keep your offer in mind, tho'.

EDIT: A picture of this "bracet" of which you speak would be greatly appreciated!