Glass headlamps

JasonGrahn · Post by **JasonGrahn** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 12:56 am

Alright, i've got a contact in Japan that may be able to get 'em for us in a large quanitity, but I need a part number.

SO, i'm calling on you guys/gals to help me find a JDM part number for the glass headlamps, 90-91 (89-90 for them) and 92-94 (91-93). Much appreciated!

I'm going to check on cost of lamps, cost of shipping here, and then cost of shipping to you guys since i know the demand is out there.

thanks!!

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 2:24 am

definitely will be interested in this......

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 2:37 am

Uh... I hope none of us are planning on using unmodified JDM headlights on the road here in North America...

They drive on the left in Japan. The headlight beam pattern shines up on the left and horizontal on the right. The result is that you blind other drivers (quite badly, since the lights are very bright and efficient) and that you don't actually light up the signs on the right side of the road that you need to. It's bad.

That said, I'd be interested in exploring the option of converting a JDM headlamp to a beam pattern appropriate for left-hand-drive, either by modifying it directly or by making a hybrid out of JDM and USDM parts.

JasonGrahn · Post by **JasonGrahn** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:39 am

none the less, still need that part number!

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:53 am

Yes, I might be interested too, there's no better cure for yellowing headlamps than using a material that won't yellow!

Can't you just adjust the headlamp assembly aiming to compensate for what vrg3 is talking about?

vypa · Post by **vypa** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 6:47 am

i cant imagine a hybrid would be terribly difficult lights are same shape/size... couldnt you probly just switch the mirrors out somehow?

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 1:27 pm

You can't just aim them differently.

This is what the LHD beam pattern (the one we want) looks like (this should be familiar to those of you with 92-94 Legacies, since this is our beam pattern as well, although less sloped):

_________/

So the light covers the road surface in front of you below the horizontal centerline, and shines up high on the right to illuminate road signs and such. That high portion on the right is just as bright as the rest of the beam. The RHD beam pattern is just the reverse:

\_________

If you aim it low, it won't light anything up.

The conversion probably won't be as easy as swapping reflectors; the reflectors in US lamps are plastic, but there's a good chance the reflectors in JDM lamps are metal. In any case, though, my guess is that it's not the reflector but rather a shield around the bulb itself that creates the nicely shaped cutoff. Yesterday I disassembled a '92 headlight and soon I'll be able to tell you for sure how it makes the beam pattern.

I'm pretty confident we could figure out how to convert a JDM lamp to be safe on our roads (at the very least the cutoff could just be horizontal), and I'd be glad to do it for anybody if I figure it out, so I'm quite interested in a pair of these lamps. They'd have a good beam pattern, be immune to yellowing, and be safer to put overwattage bulbs in. I just have no idea where to go for part numbers. I just want to make sure we're all smart and safe! :)

mikec · Post by **mikec** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 2:36 pm

I'm interested in this as well! Keep us updated!

Fernely · Post by **Fernely** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 2:56 pm

Well if the Legacy was sold in Germany then they would have the correct beam pattern and the lenses would be glass. Does anyone have a buddy in the Military stationed over there? All he would need to do is stop by a Subaru dealer and get the part number.

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:24 pm

Other thing I'm goin to throw out there, which some may know or may not know.

The JDM lights have an additional "euro style" parking/driving light in the headlight itself. I know this to be true with the 90-91 style lights......and would assume it to be true for the 92-94....but not positive.

I'll try and scrounge up some pics to show ya what I'm talking about.

HomeSlice · Post by **HomeSlice** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:34 pm

thats right josh...on some of the bc6's had city lights. the ones i got off speedwagon had them. sucks one of the headlights got beatin up in transport though. two of the mounting points snaped right off. so if this buy goes thru i might take one headlight.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:13 pm

Hey, homeslice, are you using that busted-up headlight?

If you're not, would you be willing to let me play with it to try to convert it to a safe and semi-legal LHD beam pattern? Many of us would benefit in the end... :)

Oh, and could you take a look at the housings and stuff? Maybe there's an FHI part number stamped onto the lights themselves. We'll all thank you.

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:25 pm

This is the closest pic I could find at the moment.......

homeslice, if you could take some pics of the light and the housing, that would be great too.

Just would need to find one for the 90-91's as well.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 7:10 pm

Josh, that looks like a 90-91 Legacy to me; look at the shape of the hood above the headlights.

JasonGrahn · Post by **JasonGrahn** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 10:01 pm

yep, that's a 90-91 (to us, not them, for them its 89-90).. Still needing that part number, though. Whether german or japanese...

ericS2the6 · Post by **ericS2the6** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 10:25 pm

this clearly shows the "city" light.

I would also be interested in some glass headlamps from germany with LHD.

HomeSlice · Post by **HomeSlice** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 11:24 pm

vrg3 wrote:Hey, homeslice, are you using that busted-up headlight?

If you're not, would you be willing to let me play with it to try to convert it to a safe and semi-legal LHD beam pattern? Many of us would benefit in the end...

Oh, and could you take a look at the housings and stuff? Maybe there's an FHI part number stamped onto the lights themselves. We'll all thank you.

i am going to try to use it if i cant source another one. ill take a look when i get home for the part#

here is a pic of the 92-94 deals in another post--

viewtopic.php?t=290&highlight=

Post by **Legacy777** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 3:32 am

yeah I know it's the 90-91 style......that's the type of car I have, so it's the type of light I need

It doesn't really help us with part numbers though.......

I will post on the legacy forum on nasioc, and see if any of the guys in japan could help us out with JDM part numbers.

Depending or not if I can get a hold of the person I'm thinking of.....I may even be able to get european ones.....but that's probably less of a chance.

Post by **Legacy777** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 4:00 am

Has anyone thought about the wiring plug......aren't they different on the european & japan spec headlights?

JasonGrahn · Post by **JasonGrahn** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 4:03 am

JDM numbers, german numbers, it doesn't matter!

If we can get a german number, then that'd be easy as pie, i've got tons of contacts over there. if the headlamps are similar but configured for driving in the right side of the road, then that would be better even....

Let's make it happen!

totech · Post by **totech** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 4:10 am

Wiring plug is for an H4 - fine for the 92-on, not for the 90/91

Post by **Legacy777** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 4:20 am

So the lights for the 92+ US model is the H4's?

If the 89-90 lights are similar, a standard H4 plug should work fine correct? I could just go and do the custom wiring and hook the leads directly to the battery through a set of relays.....

totech · Post by **totech** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 4:27 am

back of 1992 JDM

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 5:21 am

Yes, the US 92-94 headlights used H4s, just like all of these glass-lens headlights.

The H4 connector is actually the same as a standard sealed beam connector, so you can just go to your local auto parts place to get a socket for it.

HomeSlice · Post by **HomeSlice** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 6:37 am

no go on the part numbers....there was nothing on the housing of the headlights--Jim

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Glass headlamps

Glass headlamps