Can Anyone Help? Headlight Question.
Discussion
V8 ETE said:
Does anyone know the GM parts numbers for uk spec C5 headlights (03) model. A fellow British Corvette owner living in the USA wants to bring his car back to the UK, any help appreciated.
Thx
Hi. New to the forum and thanks to V8 ETE for the intro.
Had lots of posts on the US sites on how to fit euro lights but all seem to be for right hand dip (T84 light). Is the Brit unit designed for left dip or is it a European spec adjusted to dip left? Any links to the maker or part numbers would be great
Thanks for the help. After many months of digging around I finally solved the problem. Turns out UK spec headlights have an RPO (option code). They are known as T85 export headlights Left Hand Rule of the Road. Good eh?
Ordered a kit from "Parts For Your Car". Special order but great service. www.pfyc.com/
It comes with 2 UK spec dip left lenses, 2 hi wattage bulbs and a plug & play wiring harness for $299.
Ordered a kit from "Parts For Your Car". Special order but great service. www.pfyc.com/
It comes with 2 UK spec dip left lenses, 2 hi wattage bulbs and a plug & play wiring harness for $299.
My stock headlights (US spec)have two circular beam shapers and probably could be set to dip left. Don't use headlights much in Vegas as all the roads are lit up like Xmas trees! That said, the few times I've been out of town at night the lights are like candles! The euro lights are higher power
Lot of discussion on the US forums about fitting euro light units. Most seem to be impressed with the performance. The T84s (RH dip) are E Coded and have a splitter supposedly for side lights and headlights using a separate harness. If not I'll have to rethink!
Having looked at the SVA Manual, the lights are supposed to have an E Code and be set up to dip left to get through the test. Looks like you had a good tester, vetteheadracer! The T85s are the only ones I could find and were standard on the Brit Vettes apparently. Cars bought in Europe probably have T84s. Mine should be here next week and I'll let you know how it looks.
>> Edited by Dee Gee on Sunday 8th February 21:32
Lot of discussion on the US forums about fitting euro light units. Most seem to be impressed with the performance. The T84s (RH dip) are E Coded and have a splitter supposedly for side lights and headlights using a separate harness. If not I'll have to rethink!
Having looked at the SVA Manual, the lights are supposed to have an E Code and be set up to dip left to get through the test. Looks like you had a good tester, vetteheadracer! The T85s are the only ones I could find and were standard on the Brit Vettes apparently. Cars bought in Europe probably have T84s. Mine should be here next week and I'll let you know how it looks.
>> Edited by Dee Gee on Sunday 8th February 21:32
I have a C5 being sent to New Zealand and part of the requirement is the changing of the headlights to dip to the LH side of the road.
GM Part #16524061 & #16524062 are the export lens however, it does not say that H4 bulbs will fit. The stock US domestic headlights use a 2 lightbulb system while the H4 is a dual filament in 1 bulb setup.
Can anyone tell me if the GM Export replacement headlight lens/housing is made FOR the H4 lightbulbs???
Brendon
GM Part #16524061 & #16524062 are the export lens however, it does not say that H4 bulbs will fit. The stock US domestic headlights use a 2 lightbulb system while the H4 is a dual filament in 1 bulb setup.
Can anyone tell me if the GM Export replacement headlight lens/housing is made FOR the H4 lightbulbs???
Brendon
Hey Dee Gee!
Listen to Vetteheadracer! If I'm remembering correctly, we both had our cars SVA converted by the same person (Paul Strudwick).
My understanding is that the SVA test has fields of operation stipulations and doesn't require the headlights to dip left, the US up/down dip is just fine. The advantage of this is that if you drive on the Continent, you don't need to obscure headlights to avoid blinding oncoming traffic.
The debate about which headlights are 'better' is a bit of a moot point. My understanding is that the Euro headlights have a large bright area with a sudden drop-off to no illumination, which means that things can suddenly appear in your field of vision leaving you no time to react. The US standard is to have a small bright area with a progressive fade so that far-off objects coming towards you at 170mph aren't quite so much of a surprise. While at first glance it gives the impression that the headlights are dim, in truth you can probably see further into the night with them. Basically, the Euro and US styles are in competition with each other and it's a case of personal preference. It has been said, though, that the Corvette ones seem particularly dim...
For myself, I prefer the US ones, especially as it means
a) No need to change them out
b) Never needing to worry when driving abroad
-kenski
Listen to Vetteheadracer! If I'm remembering correctly, we both had our cars SVA converted by the same person (Paul Strudwick).
My understanding is that the SVA test has fields of operation stipulations and doesn't require the headlights to dip left, the US up/down dip is just fine. The advantage of this is that if you drive on the Continent, you don't need to obscure headlights to avoid blinding oncoming traffic.
The debate about which headlights are 'better' is a bit of a moot point. My understanding is that the Euro headlights have a large bright area with a sudden drop-off to no illumination, which means that things can suddenly appear in your field of vision leaving you no time to react. The US standard is to have a small bright area with a progressive fade so that far-off objects coming towards you at 170mph aren't quite so much of a surprise. While at first glance it gives the impression that the headlights are dim, in truth you can probably see further into the night with them. Basically, the Euro and US styles are in competition with each other and it's a case of personal preference. It has been said, though, that the Corvette ones seem particularly dim...
For myself, I prefer the US ones, especially as it means
a) No need to change them out
b) Never needing to worry when driving abroad
-kenski
Ecklers do the Euro light and they also do a Euro-adapter but I suspect this is so you can use European bulbs. Ceratainly the rear bulbs on US cars are all wedge fitting bases and you'd better bring some with you as they don't sell them over here. All Euro cars have twist bayonet bulb holders. Haven't seen the headlamp bulbs but on my old Vette, it used to be a sealed beam.
Whatever, you don't need to change your headlights as the US cars dip down. In the SVA manual and it isn't on the download version, there is a page for Anglo-American cars and it shows where the beam should be to pass. Effectively, you have a rectangle split into four with a crosshair. The main spot of light must fall in the lower left quadrant so you may have to adjust your lights slightly down and left.
Far from being lucky, my Z06 passed the SVA too and that was over here in Wales where the tester wasquite picky. Similarly, Mustangs have passed on the original lights.
The main requirements for the UK are the side repeaters, white front sidelights (easy if you use the C5 Euro-sidelights) and you have to disable any orange DRL's. You can have orange sidelights as long as you have white sidelights too. You also need a rear foglight and switch. Full instructions on my website.
www.cardomain.com/memberpage/627465
Whatever, you don't need to change your headlights as the US cars dip down. In the SVA manual and it isn't on the download version, there is a page for Anglo-American cars and it shows where the beam should be to pass. Effectively, you have a rectangle split into four with a crosshair. The main spot of light must fall in the lower left quadrant so you may have to adjust your lights slightly down and left.
Far from being lucky, my Z06 passed the SVA too and that was over here in Wales where the tester wasquite picky. Similarly, Mustangs have passed on the original lights.
The main requirements for the UK are the side repeaters, white front sidelights (easy if you use the C5 Euro-sidelights) and you have to disable any orange DRL's. You can have orange sidelights as long as you have white sidelights too. You also need a rear foglight and switch. Full instructions on my website.
www.cardomain.com/memberpage/627465
Hi Guys,
Been on the road for a while.
Thanks for all the comments.
LuSifer, your web site covering the SVA mods was outstanding. It'll be a great help and has already answered a question for me.
I went with the T85s but not fitted them yet. As Kenski says, don't want to blind the locals here in Vegas. Too risky! They come with hi wattage bulbs so I'm looking forward to the better lighting. Still think the stocks are like candles.
Bad news last week. Took a nail through the sidewall. A replacement run flat goes at $360! Bang go the Michelin Pilots for a while!
Been on the road for a while.
Thanks for all the comments.
LuSifer, your web site covering the SVA mods was outstanding. It'll be a great help and has already answered a question for me.
I went with the T85s but not fitted them yet. As Kenski says, don't want to blind the locals here in Vegas. Too risky! They come with hi wattage bulbs so I'm looking forward to the better lighting. Still think the stocks are like candles.
Bad news last week. Took a nail through the sidewall. A replacement run flat goes at $360! Bang go the Michelin Pilots for a while!
Gassing Station | Corvettes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff