Upgrade Headlights - H5 or H4?
10-31-2007, 03:32 PM
#16
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When I lived in the UK, whenever we took the car over to France we were legally obliged to get stickers that stuck onto parts of the headlight face so that our left-pointing headlights didn't shine straight into the eyes of continental cars.
10-31-2007, 05:25 PM
#17
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I'm not sure it actually even makes the beam specifically any wider... the H4's projection is quite wide already both ways but for a LHD its a flat cut-off to the left and wedges up to the right. RHD versions wedge up to the left & are flat to the right. for both LHD & RHD both lamps have the same profile.
You could make a strong case for driver's side lenses having just a flat L & R cutoff - I would prefer this...
In the end I don't think it would make that much difference...
Alan
You could make a strong case for driver's side lenses having just a flat L & R cutoff - I would prefer this...
In the end I don't think it would make that much difference...
Alan
10-31-2007, 07:22 PM
#18
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11-01-2007, 12:50 AM
#19
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Yes, I have a set of left hand versions (on the car now) and set of right hand versions.
Are the right hand versions really rare....?
I have no clue, but got a sweet deal on them.
----Russ
Are the right hand versions really rare....?
I have no clue, but got a sweet deal on them.
----Russ
11-01-2007, 12:52 AM
#20
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Sorry, I thought you were asking about mine, they are H4 right hand drive (shipped in from England).
What's the difference between them and the H5 units?
What's the difference between them and the H5 units?
11-01-2007, 02:18 AM
#21
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H5's are USA only so are all LHD's.... Only H4's came in LHD & RHD versions.
RHD's are indeed rarer - just because of the limited locations that use them (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong...etc)
H4's have a 'ecode' style lens with wide throw & sharply defined vertical knife edge cutoff & the afore mentioned upwards wedge to the curbside. All in all its a much better focussed headlight than an H5 which projects a rather proorly focussed blob of light down the road...
H5's with HID's or high powered bulbs tend to spill a lot of light to the oncoming lane, H4's are much better controlled...
Alan
RHD's are indeed rarer - just because of the limited locations that use them (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong...etc)
H4's have a 'ecode' style lens with wide throw & sharply defined vertical knife edge cutoff & the afore mentioned upwards wedge to the curbside. All in all its a much better focussed headlight than an H5 which projects a rather proorly focussed blob of light down the road...
H5's with HID's or high powered bulbs tend to spill a lot of light to the oncoming lane, H4's are much better controlled...
Alan
11-01-2007, 11:09 AM
#22
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Hey Alan, thanks for that (BTW, how did I miss number 3 in my list?).
I realise that the 944 lights are different, but IF my 928 had H4 lights, it would have H4 lamp-holders, and the spare globes I have would have fitted. I was thinking that new globes would be an improvement over the 20 year old ones in there at the moment.
And yes, there is a noticable "kick-up" on the left of the light pattern in the H4 version, with a MUCH sharper cut-off.
It looks like I am in the market for H4 RHD headlight assemblies. (largecar379: PM me if you are looking to sell. What you have is almost certainly not suitable for a LHD car that is driven on the right side of the road.)
Thanks everyone, I now have a much better understanding of the issues. However I still can't see why the US went with H5s, the lights on this car are PITIFUL - some kind of gerbil-powered flashlight behind a yellow velvet curtain would be better. Old globes don't help, but there is no real focus at all.
My 944 wears 130/100 H4s in the headlights, 100 H3s in the auxiliary driving lights, and 55 H3s in the fogs. Carefully and conservatively aimed, I have had no adverse responses from oncoming drivers. Mind you it is still possible to drive faster at night than your guardian angel can fly, even with these flame throwers.
I realise that the 944 lights are different, but IF my 928 had H4 lights, it would have H4 lamp-holders, and the spare globes I have would have fitted. I was thinking that new globes would be an improvement over the 20 year old ones in there at the moment.
And yes, there is a noticable "kick-up" on the left of the light pattern in the H4 version, with a MUCH sharper cut-off.It looks like I am in the market for H4 RHD headlight assemblies. (largecar379: PM me if you are looking to sell. What you have is almost certainly not suitable for a LHD car that is driven on the right side of the road.)
Thanks everyone, I now have a much better understanding of the issues. However I still can't see why the US went with H5s, the lights on this car are PITIFUL - some kind of gerbil-powered flashlight behind a yellow velvet curtain would be better. Old globes don't help, but there is no real focus at all.
My 944 wears 130/100 H4s in the headlights, 100 H3s in the auxiliary driving lights, and 55 H3s in the fogs. Carefully and conservatively aimed, I have had no adverse responses from oncoming drivers. Mind you it is still possible to drive faster at night than your guardian angel can fly, even with these flame throwers.
