Headlights

[SBSerpent]

Trying to figure out the facets on the lens of my factory headlight. Both P & D side are identical. But the configuration of the facets on the lens makes the light re-direct up to the left (when sitting in the drivers seat). Why would both P&D side lights have lenses cut so that they cast light in the same direction?

[spdbrake]

Your factory headlights are Hella with internal parking lamps correct? and not the newer Transformer or Insectoid Led?
If so there is a locator bump on the back of the housing that mates to notch in the housing bucket to ensure correct clocking of the light housing.
The Hella are manualy aimed so that the Left (drivers) is pointing slightly to the right (for oncoming traffic) and the Right (passenger) straight on.
Mine were Driver's, pointing down-left, and Passenger's, pointing up right when I purchased my car used.
I've since swapped out to some Lucas Tri-bar replicas.

[Quentin Z]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

Your factory headlights are Hella with internal parking lamps correct? and not the newer Transformer or Insectoid Led?
If so there is a locator bump on the back of the housing that mates to notch in the housing bucket to ensure correct clocking of the light housing.
The Hella are manualy aimed so that the Left (drivers) is pointing slightly to the right (for oncoming traffic) and the Right (passenger) straight on.
Mine were Driver's, pointing down-left, and Passenger's, pointing up right when I purchased my car used.
I've since swapped out to some Lucas Tri-bar replicas.

I installed the Lucas Tribars on #272 also; that's when I found out that the buckets weren't clocked correctly from BDR (one worse than the other).

[SBSerpent]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

Your factory headlights are Hella with internal parking lamps correct? and not the newer Transformer or Insectoid Led?
If so there is a locator bump on the back of the housing that mates to notch in the housing bucket to ensure correct clocking of the light housing.
The Hella are manualy aimed so that the Left (drivers) is pointing slightly to the right (for oncoming traffic) and the Right (passenger) straight on.
Mine were Driver's, pointing down-left, and Passenger's, pointing up right when I purchased my car used.
I've since swapped out to some Lucas Tri-bar replicas.

Yes, mine are Hellas and they are installed correctly. I never noticed that little bulb at the bottom of the light. You say it's a parking lamp? Is it on when the low beams are on?

[SBSerpent]

Drivers side headlight

[spdbrake]

Looking at your photo it shows the bulb as 90deg clocked counter clockwise. (Unless it got rotated when you posted it.)

The clear section of the lens should be at the bottom and the numbering, brand etc,, should read from L-R.

[SBSerpent]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

Looking at your photo it shows the bulb as 90deg clocked counter clockwise. (Unless it got rotated when you posted it.)

The clear section of the lens should be at the bottom and the numbering, brand etc,, should read from L-R.

Yes, for some reason, the photo rotated when I posted it. Clear part of the lens is at the bottom and the lettering does read L-R

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by SBSerpent

Trying to figure out the facets on the lens of my factory headlight. Both P & D side are identical. But the configuration of the facets on the lens makes the light re-direct up to the left (when sitting in the drivers seat). Why would both P&D side lights have lenses cut so that they cast light in the same direction?

That light pattern sounds like it's for RH drive cars. Which one of these patterns do they look like?

[spdbrake]

I'm pretty sure those are Left hand drive headlights. The lens fluting matches the Hella US headlamps that Summit Racing sells (fluting should be mirrored if RH drive) https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-002395801

Also the Country code cert on Serpent's and my old lamps are "E4" which is Netherlands. https://www.hella.co.nz/en/technolog...-combinations/

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

I'm pretty sure those are Left hand drive headlights. The lens fluting matches the Hella US headlamps that Summit Racing sells (fluting should be mirrored if RH drive) https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-002395801

Also the Country code cert on Serpent's and my old lamps are "E4" which is Netherlands. https://www.hella.co.nz/en/technolog...-combinations/

Perhaps, but SBSerpent wrote: "the configuration of the facets on the lens makes the light re-direct up to the left". I interpret that as matching the diagram for RHD vehicles. What am I missing?

[SBSerpent]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

Perhaps, but SBSerpent wrote: "the configuration of the facets on the lens makes the light re-direct up to the left". I interpret that as matching the diagram for RHD vehicles. What am I missing?

Correct. The pattern that I am seeing on my Cobra is the one for RHD. And yes, the country code on the lens is E4, Now I'm really confused.

[spdbrake]

An example of a Left hand traffic (=righthand drive ) Hella.
https://catalog.hella.com/catalog/pr...002%20395-842/
Note the fluting is 180 out from his current headlight.
Pic of one of my old Hella.



Which brings us back to aiming.

[SBSerpent]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

An example of a Left hand traffic (=righthand drive ) Hella.
https://catalog.hella.com/catalog/pr...002%20395-842/
Note the fluting is 180 out from his current headlight.
Pic of one of my old Hella.



Which brings us back to aiming.

\
This is the same headlight that I have

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

An example of a Left hand traffic (=righthand drive ) Hella.
https://catalog.hella.com/catalog/pr...002%20395-842/
Note the fluting is 180 out from his current headlight.
Pic of one of my old Hella.



Which brings us back to aiming.

Nothing to do with aiming, both photos are of the same headlight, for RHD cars. The cutoff in the RH side of the lens prisms produce the cutoff on the LH side when aiming on a board etc.

OP has the wrong lights. At the moment with the wrong lights fitted, the oncoming traffic would be dazzled by high lights, even if aimed correctly, the cutoffs would be wrong.

[xb-60]

Gary is spot-on. Those lights are for RHD cars

[SBSerpent]

Originally Posted by Gaz64

Nothing to do with aiming, both photos are of the same headlight, for RHD cars. The cutoff in the RH side of the lens prisms produce the cutoff on the LH side when aiming on a board etc.

OP has the wrong lights. At the moment with the wrong lights fitted, the oncoming traffic would be dazzled by high lights, even if aimed correctly, the cutoffs would be wrong.

Why would these lights then be coded 'E4" (Netherlands), which is for use in right hand traffic (LHD) cars? Is it possible for me to purchase Hella lights with the proper lenses (for LHD cars) here in the States? OR maybe its time to consider a good LED replacement set?

Is it because the chassis on these cars is assembled in South Africa, which I believe is LHT (RHD vehicles) as to the reason why these lenses are cut incorrectly for use here in the States?

[spdbrake]

I still am not understanding Gaz64 and XB-60 not taking a look at the RHD Hella lights from the UK I posted above which clearly show the lenses are flipped compared the to factory BDR Hellas.
https://catalog.hella.com/catalog/pr...002%20395-842/

Anyways I don't typically debate on the internet. Moving on.
You can swap out to a set of the Lucas replicas for approx $100. They also come with bulbs. (You will have to cap and stow the parking lamp wiring in your current setup as the Lucas does not have parking lamp provisions.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[patrickt]

One benefit of having the wrong headlights is that oncoming traffic tends to move out your way at night faster.

[SBSerpent]

Well here's a surprise that I just stumbled upon. The parking light bulb that is in my headlight assembly is not working - both sides! Doesn't work when I have the parking lights on, low beams on and even high beams. Was it not wired into the lighting circuit?? I wonder what's going on. There are wires going to the bulb when I look at the backside of the headlight.

[Gaz64]

Sorry can't attach pics.
Look at OPs first pic, turned 90 deg by accident, Hella at 3 o'clock, cut off at 6 o'clock.
Then following photos where the Hella logo and the cutoff are.

Here is a confusing rule for RHD cars:

On headlamps meeting left-hand traffic requirements only, a horizontal arrow, pointing to the right of an observer facing the headlamp, i.e. to the side of the road on which traffic moves;

How does the OPs lights have E4 and yet project the RHD pattern?