Headlamp from Europe - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Duezzer · 01-10-2017, 12:40 PM

Hi All,

I had struck a deer on the drivers side - The body shop replaced the drivers side headlamp assembly as it was damaged.

Now I have one side that looks great and the other still having the original headlamp in it that is faded and has the burn marks.

I have a friend in Europe that can pick me up and send to me fairly inexpensively a 986 631 032 11 head lamp - The NA Part # is 98663113204.

What is the difference between these 2 assemblies and can they be interchanged.

Basically will the UK or Euro headlamp assembly work in an NA car?

I have been told the NA has a wide short beam and the UK or Euro is more of a spot style due but not sure if this is true.

I have no problem with having the different beam projection as long as it will fit the car.

I also have an idea on the stopping the burning of the glass inside.

I was going to swap the Low beam and DRL from a halogen H7 to a LED H7 - Reduced Temp and don't need extreme light for either - will keep the Halogen H7 in the High beam which does not get used much.

Thanks for any input in advance.

Duezzer

Steve Tinker · 01-10-2017, 01:00 PM

Just be aware that the left hand drive UK cars headlights are "aimed" the wrong way for NA cars....
Anyone registering a Euro car in the UK has to replace the headlights to comply with driving on the left.

WorkInProgressK · 01-10-2017, 01:05 PM

Steve Tinker is correct.

Driver side reflectors are always aimed lower to prevent the low beams from blinding oncoming traffic. (Literal meaning of driver side: side with wheel, applicable to both RHD and LHD)

About the look, I don't know.

Duezzer · 01-10-2017, 01:26 PM

Thanks For the Info - This is a LHD Car and Canadian - We drive on the Right side of the road.

So the UK right side headlamp will blind people when driven on the right side of the road but the Euro will not?

Gelbster · 01-10-2017, 01:51 PM

Just avoid any headlights from RHD terrirories

achillies · 01-10-2017, 02:08 PM

Don't Euro lights also have a diiferent reflector setup? I feel like i the past I was told that the Euro rules allowed a "brighter" reflector.

JFP in PA · 01-10-2017, 02:29 PM

Perhaps the largest issue with some non North America spec headlights is that they do not carry DOT approvals or markings indicating as much, which mean they can also fail inspection.

edc · 01-10-2017, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Tinker

Just be aware that the left hand drive UK cars headlights are "aimed" the wrong way for NA cars....
Anyone registering a Euro car in the UK has to replace the headlights to comply with driving on the left.

UK cars will be right hand drive. The beam pattern is different to Euro lhd cars. The switch only flattens the beam to allow UK cars to drive in Europe on the other side of the road without dazzling oncoming traffic.

JayG · 01-10-2017, 03:40 PM

What are you using for LED H7s?

Duezzer · 01-12-2017, 08:22 PM

I have not decided on which H7 to use. I was asking if this would work to save the glass from burning as I have heard led don't produce as much heat. If anyone has tried LEDs I would like to know how they made out with them.

Duezzer · 01-19-2017, 08:40 PM

Ok, this is my understanding so far. I need to get a headlamp from a European car that is foe driving on the right hand side of the road. This lamp will not blind those who are driving towards me. Anyone know the part # of the right side headlamp assembly for a 1999 that is meant to be driven on the right side of the road.

edc · 01-20-2017, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duezzer

Ok, this is my understanding so far. I need to get a headlamp from a European car that is foe driving on the right hand side of the road. This lamp will not blind those who are driving towards me. Anyone know the part # of the right side headlamp assembly for a 1999 that is meant to be driven on the right side of the road.

Why can't you buy the right headlight in your own country?

Getting a mainland Europe headlight to Canada will cost loads in postage.

Duezzer · 01-22-2017, 10:10 PM

I have a friend in Germany who can ship it via our company and postage will be very low. The prices are 1/4 the price asked over here in Canada. With our dollar doing well against the Euro but crap against the US$ if I can get a LHD passenger light assembly for a car the is set to drive on the right hand side of the road I will save myself some $$$s.