Headlight option here in New Zealand

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Looking to change the interior of the headlights on my car.....But...

Here in NZ New version (as opposed to JDM import) we got the following -

Glass on the front.
No fog lights.
(see photo 3a/b)

So I opened up the fog light position covers, only to find that there was a blanking plate where light shroud should be fitted....no way to get it out without taking lights apart (by using an oven, has anyone done a writeup on doing this?).

So about 5 years ago i bought on Ebay a set of lights with fogs fitted....now my question is - Photo 1a/b which country has this setup (very different from NZ wiring plug).

Last week I bought the a set from a JDM - see photo 2a/b, more like NZ plug setup for wiring harness on the outer 2 lights.

Once I have the lamps apart, can someone suggest how to repaint the black inner sections?.

NZ option photos are on second part - sorry.

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here are the NZ lights on my car....as you can see there are no wires to the fog light area.

If the light in photo 1a/b are from the USA - then I suspect that the internal mounting brackets may be set up for LHD car, but if from UK then I can use it here in NZ (as a spare together with the JDM).

OR does it really matter ???

Both lights have various labels across the top -

JDM outer 12V 55W, middle 12V 55W, inner H3 12V 55W
unknown outer 12V 55W, middle 12V 65W, inner H3 12V 55W - this has very different wiring connectors.

Thanks for any help ... I have been wanting to get this done for so long...

[svxcess]

Steve,

The eBay lights are USA. The outer projector bulb is a 9006 55w low beam, designated as an HB4

The middle bulb is a 9005 65w high beam, designated as an HB3.

Look at the very bottom of the front edge of the lens, at the outer corner, by the projector. You should see the letters HB4 molded into the lens from the inside. Also the letters HB3 near the high beam bulb.



I think the beam pattern between LHD and RHD is dependent on the fluting pattern over the high beam, not bracket adjustment. The LHD pattern projects high beam light onto the side if the road. If used on a RHD car, light would project into oncoming traffic.


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[svxcess]

The only other LHD setup was Germany. Glass lenses, no fog light. But there bulbs were different. Not 9005-9006. That is why German headlights are so desired here.
Glass lenses, correct beam pattern, you can interchange the bulb mounting plates between the US and German assemblies to accept out 9005-9006 bulbs.
They are the plates held on by the 3 Phillips screws on the rear.

Here is the diagram for Germany.




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Thanks for the info - very interesting, I knew that the rear & rear side lights had a few variations (we don't get side markers in NZ - only reflectors), but failed to fully understand the front variations.

BOTH USA & JDM front lights are plastic, with both having the front markers HB3 & HB4 as per your earlier statement, the outside fluting on the fronts appear to be in same locations.

But JDM driver side is same as NZ, Vs USA which is on other side? - so it means they use same outer casings - changing inner setup for LHD/RHD to stop oncoming glare to other cars.


In the above statement showing German setup you state "They are the plates held on by the 3 Phillips screws on the rear" - sorry not quite sure what you are telling me.


I will end up using the JDM fog light setup in my existing NZ lamps, then just a matter of using the switch (which I got from the JDM pick a part car) - the wiring from my NZ car already runs from the switch connector, I think it goes to fuse box, as there are 2 spare locations on my car, but no visible connections - can you show me (photo) if the fog lamps have a fuse and relay and their locations ?.

Has someone done a write-up on "spliting the front lights open" using an oven.

Another question I have - the USA ones have a "level" indicator - why have this, when the headlights are not motor adjustable (unlike some European versions), is it law in USA that motorists have to be "on the level" - what about when towing or placing weight in the rear, does the individual have to adjust their own lights?.

Thanks again.
Steve

[ShaneHobson]

Daniel did some headlight swap over work. He was trying to achieve fog lights and glass lenses (essentially a NZDM & JDM hybrid).
His involved warming the lights in an oven to soften the glue allowing him to separate the parts. I seem to recall he overcooked the lights, but I think he got the end result he was looking for. Not sure of the other details.

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Shane,

thanks for the info. that is exactly what I am going to require, I will txt him with my details and question.

Any idea how to paint the inside lower section black - some of my black has gone.

thanks again
Steve

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Hope to post some photos tomorrow on my upgrade to fog lights - really quite a simple operation....using a heat gun.

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Have sent Earl a "how to" doc for him to check before posting for all to see.

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Once thing that still needs to be done on the Fog light upgrade, I need to run wires from Dashboard OEM switch through the firewall to the fusebox area.

Can someone point me to where it is best to achieve this - I am looking at using the fuel line grommet for this function, should this be ok?.

Where is the original OEM fog light relay located - under dashboard, near kick panel or in engine bay?.