Other headlight solutions?

[digitalart]

Instead of buying a $350 set of lights (E), has anyone had success - or is it possible even - mounting a high-low combination light/lens where the high-beam resides?

OR - how about mounting external headlights on the bush bar?

Just trying to look at all options.

[BCDelica]

The importer in Coombs does that, he has nice fitting lights mounted in the bush bar. Good idea and saves a buck, guess it would give you extra light power for the high beams.

[lost1]

if you manage to pass inspection and are concerned about your lights blinding other drivers. It is possible to stick a blinder (a sort of sticker that goes over the headlight lens) that eliminates the crossover beam.
I have read that it is possible to unglue the lens itself, by very carefully removing the metal clip and then heating the glue with a heat gun. From what I understand you can rotate the interior lens 180 degrees and then reglue the whole works back together. BMW had the same system for their cars, but the lenses weren't glued together so it was just a question of opening them and rotating the lens.

I haven't dared to do the operation, as I am illegaly legal...

[argo]

Niko in Germany has E code lights $220 a pair cdn shipping inc. [before tax]. I havn't had time to cross these numbers but they are;

DEPO 214 1124L
DEPO 214 1124R

See David's post with a link to niko's site.

cheers,

[elbosque]

if you manage to pass inspection and are concerned about your lights blinding other drivers. It is possible to stick a blinder (a sort of sticker that goes over the headlight lens) that eliminates the crossover beam.
I have read that it is possible to unglue the lens itself, by very carefully removing the metal clip and then heating the glue with a heat gun. From what I understand you can rotate the interior lens 180 degrees and then reglue the whole works back together. BMW had the same system for their cars, but the lenses weren't glued together so it was just a question of opening them and rotating the lens.

I haven't dared to do the operation, as I am illegaly legal...

I would recommend people start getting their e-code lights on now even if the inspector missed it. The MVA requires that they are SEA or DOT approved (have the marks on the lense). I understand that some of the non grey market imports do not have these approval marking on their lights but only and e code marking. The number of JDMs running around with only Japanese approved headlight lenses is giving the people who want them gone an arguing point. Any of you get into an accident it will be noted that your vehicle was not road worthy. Even if you have passed the inspection, it is UP TO YOU to continually ensure it is road worthy. We can argue the tail lights latter, as they can not be accused of blinding people or being to dim (any cheap light meter will prove that false).

If you vehilce is pulled aside at a road side inspection and found to be non-road worthy, the inspector can give you and order to fix and have it re-inspected or he can order it to be immediatly removed from the road. That would be for some a nice big tow bill.

The lense blinder attachement is only legal in Europe for vehicles which spend a small period of time in a county who's driving position is different than the registered vehicle's country.

[elbosque]

[/quote]I would recommend people start getting their e-code lights on now even if the inspector missed it. [/quote]

Sorry but I gave bad advise in the last post. E code lights are not accepted by the BC MVA. I saw on the IH8MUD forum that it appears that they MAY be acceptable in Alberta. Also there was some discussion that there are non-grey market cars coming into Canada that do not have a DOT or SAE mark on the lamps - only an e-code lamp. I am not sure if that means anything for the owners and importers of Delicas. However, an e-code lense will make you less of a target. They are still illegal but at least your lights will not be shining in the eyes of other drivers.

[Kuan]

Well,

You guys got me worried now. Our van has passed inspection but I am pretty sure the lights were not changed. The previous owner told me that photos were taken of the lights and sent to Victoria and then they were given the OK.

Anyway, I am more concerned about blinding other drivers than anything. In inspection wouldn't they have adjusted the angle of the lights to point in the correct direction as a standard thing? (is that possible)

How can I check if my lights are e-code, SAE, or DOT?

Also, we don't have daytime running lights either and it passed. hmmm...

Enough to make me concerned!

[elbosque]

Yes, my Safari also passed inspection and did not have the correct lights or DRL. As the Delicas are 12 volt, all you need is to hook-up a DRL module which you can get at Canadian Tire for about $25.

As for the correct LHD lights, I (and I think all other RHD owners) would be very interested to see a copy of the letter of approval which the previous owner got from Victoria. Is there any chance of getting this documentation and posting it on the forum?

The Skyline GTR owners will soon be getting SAE DOT certified head lights which apparently the Skyline Shop has decided to get engineered and manufactured. You will find this GTR Forum thread a very interesting and informative read: http://forums.gtrcanada.com/viewtopic.p ... sc&start=0

Now for your main question on checking if they are coded properly. In most instances, all you have to do is look at the lense itself. If you see a DOT or SAE mark on all your lenses, then you have nothing to be concerned about from the highway commercial vehicle inspectors. Some of the Toyota owners have now found these marking on the lense but have found them on the plastic reflector casing when they have changed bulbs. This shows that the reflector is okay but it does not show that the lense is okay. On side and tail lights, an inspector might just say okay. On a head light, if the lense does not have the DOT or SAE marking, then you need to be concerned.

As I said in other posts, people have to work together to make their vehicles meet the requirements of the law. We will get a lot more respect from both the public and the government if we do this. The next step is to take some time and write your MP and MLA about this. Finally, within the next month or two, a new RHD Oweners and Dealers Association will be set up. I understand it will be a legally incorporated organization. When it is ready to go, I ask you all to join. For now you can visit the group on Yahoo (http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/RHDTLC/), which has just been fixed up so all can join in the discussion and read the posts.

Cheers, John

PS: Any questions, just PM me.

[Kuan]

Thanks for the response. I read about 5 pages of posts and got the jist whats going on.

Crikeys! So my question is: Are there DOT/SAE headlights available for the Delica? Where can you get them? What's the alternative?

Thanks.

Kuan

[elbosque]

I am not aware of DOT or SAE approved lamps and lenses being available for the Delica. I would contact some of the more reputible Delica importers who I know have tried to make acceptable fixes on other vehicles. Max Overdrive in Richmond is one I know of here. Also Luxury Imports in Calgary is another. I know these ones do try to do their best to make their vehicles 100% compliant. Both these importers are very much involved in working to find a solution for everyone concerning JDM compliance in Canada.

Cheers, John

PS: I understand that DOT has issues of their own as studies have show that their standards on head light are actually dangerous. Should be interesting to see where that one goes in the month ahead. I am sure BC MT and TC wouldn't apply double standards, eh?

[surferboy]

I'm sorry to interrupt elbosque, but i think that you should further your researches on acceptable headlamp regulation with the proper authorities.. you should try talking with glenn from coombs country auto which is an inspector himself and he would probably tell you to talk to a fellow named Mike woods, head of BC TC MVA inspectors... in fact, E code lights WITH THE LEFT HAND DRIVE BEAM PATTERN FROM GERMANY, are totally accepted in BC, even if they do not actually have the DOT or SAE markings on them, and that is clearly stipulated in the law.. the side signal lights do have to have the proper markings, but not the actual headlight pod.. anyways, i got my infos off of Glenn who is in contact with the head BC inspectors about this, and people need to make the difference between "grey zones" and actual written law... E codes from germany are legal here.....cheers.

[elbosque]

This is very interesting, as many other groups have been trying to get the same approval. However, we need to see it in writing that all e code lenses and casings are approved for motor vehicle use by the Transport Canada and the MVA of BC. Otherwise, it means nothing. Could you ask Glenn from Coombs Country Auto to have Mr. Woods put it in writing and then post it here for all to view. Also, it would be good to see the bulliten that went out to all the gov commercial inspectors and licensed gov inpsection facilities instructing them to pass all e coded light. I have checked their bullitens and have not found anything to that effect. But, I could have missed it. I would also like to see the amendment to the BC MV Inspection Manual. I think that almost all RHD owners will be very happy to see this documentation. What people say means nothing unless it is on paper and is legally signed.

I respect that Glenn at Coombs Country Auto is also a licensed gov inspector. However, my vehicle was passed by a very reputable inspection facility and the lights were not even close to legal - no SAE, DOT or E Code. It is up to you to decide if they were corrupt or just sloppy in their work. However, I can no longer feel secure just because one of these guys or gals passes my vehicle.

However, I would be a very happy man if I am wrong on this one. I think with the light and lenses issue out of the way, then this fight would be pretty much over. The RHD in a LHD environment has been studied in Europe where there are much great concentrations and there has been no move to ban the mixing of them in the UK or the rest of Europe.

Let's face it, somebody in the BC gov wants to pretty much eliminate RHD being imported into the province and Canada. If this was not so, they would have forced their agents - the certified inspection facilities - to do their job according to the MVA a long time ago. Second, if there was an issue in any other industry, they would go to the business leaders of that industry to see about working it out, rather than strait to TC to ask them to pretty much kill it.

Anyways, it is not my intent to start a fight. I would like to see us all work together. If you have some gov official say something, then get it in writing. The more documentation we can collect, the better it will be for all of us.

If you got an hour or so, this thread is a very informative read:http://forums.gtrcanada.com/viewtopic.p ... ds&start=0
Glenn Taylor is a Gov Commercial Inspector and of course you now know who Mike Woods is.

Cheers, John

[elbosque]

REPOST OF LINK
If you got an hour or so, this thread is a very informative read: http://forums.gtrcanada.com/viewtopic.p ... ds&start=0
Glenn Taylor is a Gov Commercial Inspector and of course you now know who Mike Woods is.

[ccautos]

I am a registered vehicle inspector for BC . I have copies of all Motor Vehicle Act and Regulations for anyone interested to read them . After a long conversation with Mike Woods over my concerns with passing E-code headlights he pointed out to me that the E-code is acceptable on headlights but is not acceptable on any other lamps on the vehicle . According to Mr Woods in the headlamp standards of the motor vehicle act regulation states that all headlamps meet the specifications set out in the Technical Standards Document No.108 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations . E-code headlamps meet with this requirement so long as the beam pattern meets Canadian testing standards . Also if you read the vehicle inspection manual for BC , it does NOT state that other lamps have to be DOT , SAE or CMVSS marked . The actual manual states ` does not meet CMVSS , DOT or SAE standards and be so labeled` . Rear lamps are marked on the inside with bulb specifications for use in USA . That to me says that if that lamp is used in North America it must have the correct bulbs installed and is `so labeled` . Many new vehicles imported into Canada do not have DOT or SAE stamped on the lenses but meet the standards . As an inspector I am not allowed to inspect my own vehicles and so I needed to find an inspection station to sign off on my vehicles . They (as expected) would not allow these E-code headlamps until I gave them Mr Woods cell phone number and they confirmed it for themselves . If anyone has these lamps installed and an inspection facility fails the vehicle ask them to contact Mr Woods directly for confirmation . I`m sure once he recieves phone calls from many inspectors there will be a bulletin issued to save his time answering the same question over and over . Someone has listed Mr Woods phone number on page 4 of the skyline forum thread listed above if anyone needs to call him .

[argo]

Thankyou very much for clarifying this.