Elmiko

Is there any way to adapt an H4 headlight from a right-hand drive 928 for use here in the US? I guess the high end of the light pattern on RHD cars is oriented the opposite way from LHD and could blind oncoming drivers. Is the difference due to the lens or could the bulb somehow be rotated to compensate?

SQLGuy

Headlights in PET are 2 required... i.e. not different for left or right. As such, there shouldn't be a difference in LHD vs. RHD headlights either. The main difference, if you're in the US, will be that US headlights are DOT stamped and certified, while ROW headlights will not be technically legal for on-road use.

Hilton

Headlights in PET show two different types - you either need two of the LHD type (928 631 101 03), or two of the RHD type (928 631 102 01). You can identify the RHD ones in PET as they state M492 next to the part number.

If you have an RHD light and need a LHD one, your best bet is to find a 928 breaker in a RHD country - they'll usually have LHD lights from parts cars (e.g. japanese imports).

SQLGuy

I'm seeing only 928 631 135 00.

dprantl

I have seen LHD and RHD H4 headlights side by side and I can tell you their pattern is reversed. The high angle cutout is on opposite sides. If you put RHD lights on a LHD car or vice versa, you will be blinding oncoming traffic.

Dan
'91 928GT S/C 475hp/460lb.ft

928mac

Can you not put the right on the left and the left on the right.
Forgive me if this is a dumb question as I have not had my lamps out.

SQLGuy

I looked up 928 631 101 03, and it's a euro spec H4 headlight. Is that what the OP meant by "H4"? I.e. not headlights designed for H4 bulbs (like were stock on S4's and later in the US), but specifically non-US H4 headlamps?

Since the parts listing I was looking at was for US-spec cars, I'm guessing their not going to bother listing ROW pattern headlights anyway.

dprantl

They both point in the same direction. I suppose you could put them upside down, but the patterns are not symmetrical.

Dan
'91 928GT S/C 475hp/460lb.ft

sendarius

bwmac:

LHD does NOT mean Left Hand Side, just as RHD does NOT mean Right Hand Side.

The lens pattern on the headlights is different between LHD and RHD, to cast dipped beam in opposite directions.

It doesn't matter what side of the vehicle the light is, it matters what side of the vehicle the steering wheel is - and thus (usually) what side of the road you drive on.

Hilton

I suspect you're looking in the USA-specific part of PET. Change to the RoW version to get RHD parts listed too

In PET7, its "Local market" (i.e. Europe) versus "USA/Canada" - separate tabs above where you choose the vehicle model.

All RHD and Euro 928's have H4's outside the USA market - you won't find any other type in RHD

Hilton

More importantly it matters which side the lights dip to, and whether your headlights are shining more on the verge, rather than in the faces of oncoming traffic

Those of us who drive on the left side of the road need lights that dip to the left..

John Speake

When UK (RHD) cars are driven in Europian mainland where they all drive on the other side of the road, we have to fit a small stick on mask on each headlamp to stop the dipped beam dazling oncoming drivers.

Maybe you could use the same principle ?

http://click-parts.co.uk/files/details.php?id=267

Elmiko

I was asking because a buddy of mine in the UK found a set and asked me if he should buy them for me. They're used, so pretty cheap. At first I said yes, but then an old thread in this forum mentioned that there are UK and Euro H4 patterns, something I never thought of. There are a lot of online vendors in Europe that carry new 8" H4s for the 87+ 928s with LHD, but they definitely don't have any price advantage over US vendors like 928 International. The Eurolite deflectors look interesting, but I wonder if they're for permanent use and if they would defeat the purpose of switching to an H4. Do they just cut out the high end of the pattern or do they actually reverse it?

John Speake

It's some years since I drove in mainland Europe with a converted set of headlights, and very little night driving at that time.

The adaptors are very reasonably priced, so worth a test... ?

Rob Edwards

So are these mounted on the correct sides? Can't seem to find a definitive pic, and I managed to mix up the lamps out of their original boxes...




Driver's side:


Passenger side: