Advice needed, C5 Headlights
Discussion
I need some advice please, regarding my C5 Headlights. Took the old girl for MOT today, all fine apart from the headlights! Seems they are "euro" spec units, on a euro spec car, but they must be european rather than UK (theres a difference!!) as they point the wrong way for our roads! On the headlight tester, there was a big chunk of light above the line. The designation on the glass is E13, and my MOT chap thinks it should be E11 or E1 (cant remember)for driving on the left of the road. Has anyone else had this issue, and where can I buy the correct lamp units from? We fixed it with lumps of black tape to make it legal, so MOT was passed, but now I want to put it right properly. Whats funny is that it has already had 3 MOTs, all passed with lights as they are - Wierd.
Yes, you will need new lenses to reflect the fact that we drive on the other side of the road.
I had an awful job clarifying what I needed and I now have a set in my garage ready to go on for MOT time next year, so hopefully they are the right ones.
Contact Bob Wendorff at Fichtner Chevrolet (parts@fichtnerchevrolet.com) and tell him I sent you. Refer him to his invoice number 3082 dated 04/21/05 under my customer number 2972 and he should be able to order you the same. The part numbers he quoted are 16524061 & 16524062.
Hope this helps. The good thing about Euro cars is that the lenses are a direct fit and don't need any loom changes.
I had an awful job clarifying what I needed and I now have a set in my garage ready to go on for MOT time next year, so hopefully they are the right ones.
Contact Bob Wendorff at Fichtner Chevrolet (parts@fichtnerchevrolet.com) and tell him I sent you. Refer him to his invoice number 3082 dated 04/21/05 under my customer number 2972 and he should be able to order you the same. The part numbers he quoted are 16524061 & 16524062.
Hope this helps. The good thing about Euro cars is that the lenses are a direct fit and don't need any loom changes.
All Corvettes before the C6 are Euro spec not UK spec like my C5 04 so the head lights are for driving on the right and you can not adjust them enough for the UK see Keith Beschi of Euro Vettes and he can supply UK lights PS there was a time when you could order a UK Vette before the C6
5 USA said:
It just shows how "good" the C5 headlamps are that you never noticed! 
I thought the light distribution was not that good, and it seemed much better when driving it in France !!! But you are right, I never really gave it a second thought.
Thanks for the advice, I'll be sure and contact the people you suggest and let you know how I get on! Much appreciated.
There's are some small differences between cars destined for different European countries despite an overall "Euro" approach to things like E-marking. For instance, UK cars have a speedo which defaults to mph once the car has been started even though initial DIC readout is in km when you switch on the the ignition. Headlamp beam angle is another example.
If you want to know the destination market for your C5 when it was built then check the RPO codes on a sticker in the glovebox. Here's the list for Europe,
CU9 Country Code, England (Export)
CT1 Country Code, Belgium (Export)
CT2 Country Code, Austria (Export)
CT3 Country Code, Germany (Export)
CT4 Country Code, Luxemburg (Export)
CT5 Country Code, The Netherlands (Export)
CT6 Country Code, Italy (Export)
CT7 Country Code, Denmark (Export)
CT8 Country Code, Portugal (Export)
CT9 Country Code, Spain (Export)
CU1 Country Code, Norway (Export)
CU2 Country Code, Finland (Export)
CU3 Country Code, France (Export)
CU4 Country Code, Sweden (Export)
CU5 Country Code, Switzerland (Export)
If you want to know the destination market for your C5 when it was built then check the RPO codes on a sticker in the glovebox. Here's the list for Europe,
CU9 Country Code, England (Export)
CT1 Country Code, Belgium (Export)
CT2 Country Code, Austria (Export)
CT3 Country Code, Germany (Export)
CT4 Country Code, Luxemburg (Export)
CT5 Country Code, The Netherlands (Export)
CT6 Country Code, Italy (Export)
CT7 Country Code, Denmark (Export)
CT8 Country Code, Portugal (Export)
CT9 Country Code, Spain (Export)
CU1 Country Code, Norway (Export)
CU2 Country Code, Finland (Export)
CU3 Country Code, France (Export)
CU4 Country Code, Sweden (Export)
CU5 Country Code, Switzerland (Export)
mickcorvette580 said:
All Corvettes before the C6 are Euro spec not UK spec like my C5 04 so the head lights are for driving on the right and you can not adjust them enough for the UK see Keith Beschi of Euro Vettes and he can supply UK lights PS there was a time when you could order a UK Vette before the C6
C5s sold officailly in the UK up to summer 2001 were UK spec not Euro spec
5 USA said:
There's are some small differences between cars destined for different European countries despite an overall "Euro" approach to things like E-marking. For instance, UK cars have a speedo which defaults to mph once the car has been started even though initial DIC readout is in km when you switch on the the ignition. Headlamp beam angle is another example.
If you want to know the destination market for your C5 when it was built then check the RPO codes on a sticker in the glovebox. Here's the list for Europe,
CU9 Country Code, England (Export)
CT1 Country Code, Belgium (Export)
CT2 Country Code, Austria (Export)
CT3 Country Code, Germany (Export)
CT4 Country Code, Luxemburg (Export)
CT5 Country Code, The Netherlands (Export)
CT6 Country Code, Italy (Export)
CT7 Country Code, Denmark (Export)
CT8 Country Code, Portugal (Export)
CT9 Country Code, Spain (Export)
CU1 Country Code, Norway (Export)
CU2 Country Code, Finland (Export)
CU3 Country Code, France (Export)
CU4 Country Code, Sweden (Export)
CU5 Country Code, Switzerland (Export)
If you want to know the destination market for your C5 when it was built then check the RPO codes on a sticker in the glovebox. Here's the list for Europe,
CU9 Country Code, England (Export)
CT1 Country Code, Belgium (Export)
CT2 Country Code, Austria (Export)
CT3 Country Code, Germany (Export)
CT4 Country Code, Luxemburg (Export)
CT5 Country Code, The Netherlands (Export)
CT6 Country Code, Italy (Export)
CT7 Country Code, Denmark (Export)
CT8 Country Code, Portugal (Export)
CT9 Country Code, Spain (Export)
CU1 Country Code, Norway (Export)
CU2 Country Code, Finland (Export)
CU3 Country Code, France (Export)
CU4 Country Code, Sweden (Export)
CU5 Country Code, Switzerland (Export)
On My glovebox label, row 2 column 2 is CT1, so I guess mine was destined for Belgium !!
Funny how it ended up being bought new "oop north" !
Guess that explains the h'lamp issue then.
Wonder if there are any other quirks the belgians like?
V8D
I have your answer.
The stock headlights will indeed adjust for UK use as they are flat beams not shaped. If yours was a continental spec it will have T84 headlights (Right Hand Rule of the Road)
The Euro lenses are faceted and shape the beam with a more distinct pattern
You need T85 headlights (Left Hand Rule of the Road). I got mine from PFYC but you can order from any of the main dealers as they are stock parts. Fichtners will certainly help you out. You can order a harness and relays to up the wattage to 135/90 which is a big improvement over stock.
The part #s should be:
Left Lens 16524061
Right Lens 16524062
The stock headlights will indeed adjust for UK use as they are flat beams not shaped. If yours was a continental spec it will have T84 headlights (Right Hand Rule of the Road)
The Euro lenses are faceted and shape the beam with a more distinct pattern
You need T85 headlights (Left Hand Rule of the Road). I got mine from PFYC but you can order from any of the main dealers as they are stock parts. Fichtners will certainly help you out. You can order a harness and relays to up the wattage to 135/90 which is a big improvement over stock.
The part #s should be:
Left Lens 16524061
Right Lens 16524062
c5ragtop said:
Dave
Is not a harness needed only when converting US lights to Euro lights??? We are talking T84 to T85 in this case.
Is not a harness needed only when converting US lights to Euro lights??? We are talking T84 to T85 in this case.
For the US conversion, if you want the high wattage bulbs you need the new harness. Im not sure what bulbs are fitted with the Euro spec Vette with the T84 fit but if it already has 135/90s it will be OK. It will already have the high/low beams on a single connector but it needs the higher grade wire and relays to take the extra load. The new harness is plug and play so it makes the job way easier. We all know that any improvement to the Vette lights is a good thing. For that reason I went with the full kit.
I can say for certain, if you fit low wattage bulbs it will just be a case of changing the lenses.
Edited by Dee Gee on Monday 11th September 13:11
v8d said:
I emailed Fichtners last wednesday, still waiting for reply. gave him the info given by C5ragtop - thanks for that ! Keef, if you read this - can you get the parts I need? Give me a bell and we can discuss it.
The lenses are special order. It was about 4 weeks in my case. I think the basic lens is about $85 plus shipping IIRC.
Thanks again guys, I'm not interested in changing the lamps to Hiwatt ones, the car is a toy and seldom driven at night. I think that upgrading the lamps is also not allowed, theres a uk max of 55/65 or something I think. I'll be happy just to have them point the right way. Still no word from Fichtner so I'll drop Keith Beschi a line and see if he can help. Cheers, V8D
Gassing Station | Corvettes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff