I’ve been interested in getting one piece headlights for my ’92 LS for some time. Having some experience with upgrading headlamps for other cars I’ve owned, I’m familiar with Bosch, Cibié and Hella products. Something did not look right to me when getting to the fact in Japan they drive on the LEFT side of the road. This is what I found:
Low beam headlamps produce an asymmetrical distribution of light to give maximum seeing in the direction of travel with limited amounts of glare to oncoming traffic. A headlamp intended for use in traffic that flows on the right side of the road must never be used on the left side of the road, nor must a left-traffic headlamp ever be used on the right side of the road. If you use a wrong-side headlamp in traffic, you will not see what you need to see in order to drive safely, and you will be severely blinding oncoming traffic with your glare. This cannot be compensated for with lamp aiming, because it is intrinsic in the optics of the lamp. This means it is very unsafe to use UK-spec, Australian-spec, or Japanese-spec (“JDM”) headlamps in the United States, Canada, Continental Europe or any other location that drives on the right side of the road. Many performance parts dealers are illegally importing and selling JDM or wrong-side-of-road ECE headlamps into America, and touting them as a “performance improvement.” They may or may not have ECE headlamp markings, but they are not a performance improvement – they are a danger.
This information by courtesy of Mr. Daniel J. Stern, well known authority and consultant in all aspects of automotive lighting in the U.S.
Although I somewhat agree with what the article said, I have personally adjusted my old 1pcs. to the point where it lit up the road much better than the USDM lights. Plus, I was never pulled over or flashed for glaring on-coming traffic. It is to my knowledge and experience that the JDM Integra lights are both symetrical where the light output is spread out evenly compared to the USDM version.
i have noticed that on mine, the right side of my jdm 1pcs seems a bit brighter and shines more to the side than my left. i have adjusted them and i like it the way it is right now since it lights up more of the right side of the road so it makes it easier to see things that are coming from that side of the car. as for glaring oncoming traffic i havent been flashed once. on multi lane roads, cars to both my sides never have flashed me either so i would say i’m not endanger myself or anyone. and the difference in beam pattern and light output compared to USDM is like night and day. would never go back to usdm unless my jdm’s cracked and had to wait for a replacement.
and the difference in beam pattern and light output compared to USDM is like night and day. would never go back to usdm unless my jdm’s cracked and had to wait for a replacement.
Couldn’t agree more with you. I’m trying to find out if these one-piece, or equivalent, can be found in Europe or maybe South America where they would be for the proper driving pattern.
you might want to try renewing them. they might be dirty and oxidized so renewing them will remove this layer so that the light will shine through much better. you might want to get new bulbs for them too. i renewed mine before i put them on and they worked perfect.
Originally posted by Luciferi Total opposite, the jdm barely light up the road. I have adjusted them but they just are not as bright. It is like your in an old car with dim lights.
Originally posted by 91integLS you might want to try renewing them. they might be dirty and oxidized so renewing them will remove this layer so that the light will shine through much better. you might want to get new bulbs for them too. i renewed mine before i put them on and they worked perfect.
They are oxidized, and that probably accounts for some of it. I need to check the voltage to see if there is a drop.
What kind of bulbs are you using?
I have stock bulbs that came from Honda with the lights.
I know another member had a prob like this ended up he messed up on the wiring by accident and had only his day time runing lights as his lights! That would acount for what you are describing as well!
Originally posted by The_Oz
[B]Although I somewhat agree with what the article said, I have personally adjusted my old 1pcs. to the point where it lit up the road much better than the USDM lights. Plus, I was never pulled over or flashed for glaring on-coming traffic. It is to my knowledge and experience that the JDM Integra lights are both symetrical where the light output is spread out evenly compared to the USDM version.
Regards,
Oz [/B]
I’m with Oz-man here, but my version of this opinion is a little more succinct:
Originally posted by twin54 I know another member had a prob like this ended up he messed up on the wiring by accident and had only his day time runing lights as his lights! That would acount for what you are describing as well!
we don’t really have day time running lights, do u mean just the corners being on? and the main headlight not being on?
I actuallly compared the lighting, but lighitng up my 1 pieces and marking certain points on how far it went, and putting objects in certain corners to see how well it lighted, and i put on the usdm, and the 1pieces certainlly increased areas of light and i could see objects better, but i didn’t really see a offset to the right much
Yes i have day time runing lights! If my lights arent on even at night i can still see! I thought that the usdm ones had the same thing?? I know that it was a prob af some on i knew here! He messed up on the install of the JDM’s and my dad too a look at it! Ends up he wired it wron and thus when he was turning on his lights all he was getting was the dtrl!
the jdm’s are great. they are much brighter than usdm even with the stock stanley bulbs and look better in every way imo. put in those ‘xenon’ bulbs and theyll ‘look’ even brighter.
if yours are not brighter, then you need to do some cleaning. if you notice they are dingy/yellowish even after a restore, they definitely need to be taken apart and cleaned on the inside. beware using the plastic polish on the inside, as it dries up in the hundreds of tiny ribs and its a PITA to clean out.
So what light bulbs are y’all using in those 1 PC’s and how much are they. Where do you get them from???