5 ms·

I installed the (OEM) European headlights on my car. It's, well, a night and day difference. It's been 8 years and no one has noticed.

ars 6y ago
Do you have inspections in your state?
- boring_twenties 6y ago
  Yes. Both when I lived in NY, and when I first moved to UT (since then, it's become emissions-only). edit: Err, so I guess no, actually? But I think I answered what you mean, not what you said :)
- u801e 6y ago
  I've had E-code headlamp assemblies in my car for nearly 20 years. The car has been registered in two states where both do yearly vehicle inspections. No inspector ever failed the vehicle because of the E-code headlamps.
anchpop 6y ago
I didn't know this was possible! Something to keep in mind if I ever buy a nice car.
- bri3d 6y ago
  depending on the vehicle model, the differences may only be in coding / software, as well, so research that as well before investing money in expensive headlight units. one disadvantage of all of this cool headlight technology is that the modules often cost over $1000 each - painful repair cost for even minor accidents!
- vuln 6y ago
  I did this on my 2003 Volkswagen GTi. I swapped the Jetta front end onto it and found a set on a vw forum. They were not cheap but it was amazing to have euro stock OEM HIDs while most everyone else I knew were running junk Chinese kits.
- u801e 6y ago
  It depends on the car model, but if it's a European make, then you may be able to get the ECE spec assemblies and just install them as is.
- leviathant 6y ago
  My first 'new' car was a 2001 Hyundai Elantra, and while they're economy compact cars with minimal features in the US, they have a lot of upgraded features in Korea. One of the silly things I did in my early 20s was to swap out US parts for Korean parts - and I was able to sell my US parts for more than it cost to import their Korean upgrades. So, for no good reason, I had an econobox with OEM wood-look dash and trim, chrome handles, OEM gauges for oil pressure, voltage, and fuel economy, upgraded stereo and suspension, leather trim, etc. It's silly what kind of hobbies spring up when you're living in central Pennsylvania and maybe aren't using your free time as productively as you could be. Point is, definitely check out the factory options available in your car's country of origin - but also make sure you know they'll definitely be compatible with the increasingly computerized systems you're swapping them in to, and make sure you're not doing anything that's going to end up failing annual inspection.
rootusrootus 6y ago
I imagine in most cases that's just swapping halogens for HIDs. Lots of cars these days have HIDs (or LEDs, which look very similar to most people). I can't imagine you'd stand out. Maybe if you imported matrix lights.
- boring_twenties 6y ago
  The only thing that comes to mind as immediately obvious is the absence of amber on the sides, which, if it was ever an issue, I think could be solved. But it has never been an issue.

ars 6y ago

Do you have inspections in your state?

boring_twenties 6y ago
Yes. Both when I lived in NY, and when I first moved to UT (since then, it's become emissions-only). edit: Err, so I guess no, actually? But I think I answered what you mean, not what you said :)
u801e 6y ago
I've had E-code headlamp assemblies in my car for nearly 20 years. The car has been registered in two states where both do yearly vehicle inspections. No inspector ever failed the vehicle because of the E-code headlamps.

anchpop 6y ago

I didn't know this was possible! Something to keep in mind if I ever buy a nice car.

bri3d 6y ago
depending on the vehicle model, the differences may only be in coding / software, as well, so research that as well before investing money in expensive headlight units. one disadvantage of all of this cool headlight technology is that the modules often cost over $1000 each - painful repair cost for even minor accidents!
vuln 6y ago
I did this on my 2003 Volkswagen GTi. I swapped the Jetta front end onto it and found a set on a vw forum. They were not cheap but it was amazing to have euro stock OEM HIDs while most everyone else I knew were running junk Chinese kits.
u801e 6y ago
It depends on the car model, but if it's a European make, then you may be able to get the ECE spec assemblies and just install them as is.
leviathant 6y ago
My first 'new' car was a 2001 Hyundai Elantra, and while they're economy compact cars with minimal features in the US, they have a lot of upgraded features in Korea. One of the silly things I did in my early 20s was to swap out US parts for Korean parts - and I was able to sell my US parts for more than it cost to import their Korean upgrades. So, for no good reason, I had an econobox with OEM wood-look dash and trim, chrome handles, OEM gauges for oil pressure, voltage, and fuel economy, upgraded stereo and suspension, leather trim, etc. It's silly what kind of hobbies spring up when you're living in central Pennsylvania and maybe aren't using your free time as productively as you could be. Point is, definitely check out the factory options available in your car's country of origin - but also make sure you know they'll definitely be compatible with the increasingly computerized systems you're swapping them in to, and make sure you're not doing anything that's going to end up failing annual inspection.

rootusrootus 6y ago

I imagine in most cases that's just swapping halogens for HIDs. Lots of cars these days have HIDs (or LEDs, which look very similar to most people). I can't imagine you'd stand out. Maybe if you imported matrix lights.

boring_twenties 6y ago
The only thing that comes to mind as immediately obvious is the absence of amber on the sides, which, if it was ever an issue, I think could be solved. But it has never been an issue.