Has anyone here subbed the FZJ80 DOT amber side marker lamps for the JDM clears? (I'm talking about the markers next to the headlights, not sure I used the correct name for these lamps, I've seen them called several different names). Is there any disadvantage? I can't tell if the marker lamps put out enough light that going to the ambers would make a negative difference. One of my clears is terminally damaged and the other cracked; I could go with the FZJ ambers quite easily but don't want to if there is an advantage to having the JDM's instead.
JDM clear marker lamps vs ambers
- Thread starter Martin White
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Most of the JDM clear side marker lights I have seen are not DOT/SAE stamped since they lack the amber reflector that is usually combined with this lamp in our market so I guess one advantage is one less possible inspection issue. A disadvantage might be the looks (I think the clears look better) but thats up to you. Usually those side marker (aka city lights) only have a 5w bulb so I don't think you would even notice any impact on your driving illumination if thats what you meant by negative difference.
- Thread starter
- #3
Yes, sorry I wasn't clear, reduced light output is exactly what I meant. I don't have a big preference for clear over amber, and was only concerned I might notice different light output.
Martin - have you seen all the lenses MOT has to offer?? Drop him a PM - he has dozens of great comparison photos side by side.
- Thread starter
- #5
Do you happen to have a link to his site?
Here you go Martin - btw - can you tell me if you recommend the X51 lamps??
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=66705&highlight=clear+lenses
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=66705&highlight=clear+lenses
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks for the link. Very interesting. I need a bit more time to look all that over. I've had the X51's for about 4 months and they are very bright for a conventional bulb but also very expensive. If they last well, then it's probably worth it, but if they burn out quick, I won't think so....so time will tell. But as it stands I'd do it again.
- Thread starter
- #8
I should have mentioned that I'm running 30 amp relays on each headlamp, and measured a 1 volt increase doing this to each bulb, which is a huge difference. Also, IPF now has a bulb even brighter than the X51, but I can't find the name of the dam thing. It's out there though.
Yeah they are spendy lamps, but I understand they have a one year warranty and the lamps I've got now are near useless in this dark wet weather. Thanks for the feedback.
- Thread starter
- #10
One other thing to consider - have you switched your headlight housings to the DOT version? A lot of us with HDJ81's still have the old JDM housings which somehow got through inspection, but I'm told the Lexus LX450 housings (which bolt right in but are about $700 a pair) produce much better light output from the same bulbs. I've been looking for a pair for a while, kinda' hoping to find some used ones, but no luck so far.
My housings have been switched over - seem to recall the importer making a reference to 4runner? Maybe he said 450.. I'm not sure but he did point out that the light output on low was very poor and indeed it is. The X51's are ordered and will go in the truck soon. I just wanted to be sure these didn't have the same blueish color as the HID's - hate those things coming at me.
- Thread starter
- #12
No the X51's are pretty much like regular halogens, just brighter. If you really want to see what they can do, put relays on each side. As I mentioned, I got +1 volt by going with 30 amp relays on each side. This makes a HUGE difference in brightness on a 12v system. I mean really, really huge.
Will do for sure, thanks for the tip. I love good light output - no streetlights where I'm living..
wussyPup
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But no SAE/DOT markings on any of those lights. Will be an issue if you get pulled over by a "by the book" DOT guy.
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- #16
Yeah agreed I'm just going to go with the ambers. Eventually I'll swap for the DOT lexus housings as well. So far I've never been questioned about my JDM lamps and it apparently passed inspection with them, though I can't explain how. But I have looked at my truck driving by at night while in a car and the bleed is no worse than many other trucks on the road with supposed DOT installations (I mean other makes and models, haven't checked toyota 81 JDM vs DOT lamps).
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No, they have the low / high separated. You need to do some harness fiddling.
I'm a bit late and Jonathan has sort of already answered your question, but the LX (and the US-spec 80) has the outer HB3 or HB4 lowbeam and inner HB4 (or HB3) highbeams that light up at the same time when you have the brights on. I think they're also known as 9005/9004 or something like that.
FWIW, I have heard a couple of people do the Lexus conversions in Japan that use the LHD LX450 housings and pass stringent inspections here. What I heard is that you just have to "crank it" as much as possible so the rise to the right-side of the road is lowered/minimized, etc... I'm NOT recommending that you do it by any means though.
Another option you have are the European-spec 80's OEM lights shown in my thread here.
According to the back of the housing (see attachment) it IS SAE approved as well (BUT the lense only has the "E" code number, if I understand it correctly: see 2nd pic)
I don't know if this means that the back of the assy is uniform, regardless of the market (except for the quad-square headlights') but the lenses are completely different. Maybe carrying a picture of the back of the housing with "SAE" printed would let you off the hook if you got pulled over.
The bulb set up with the Euro OEM's are the same on the outer ones (high/low: H4's) but with the (clear) inner H1 highbeams.
Another thing I have noticed was that the Euro-spec H4 housing had a shade covering the bulb (you can't see the bulb from the front side of the lense) whereas the JDM-spec one does not have (IIRC) such a cover. I would think this would make at least some differenct in the light output. But I have no idea why it is there (Different regulations?).
Anyway, with the Euro-spec lights you wouldn't have to do anything with the wiring, at least with the earlier 80's, IIRC, the extra harness (for the inner high) is buried behind the housing, but should be close by the wires/harnesses that are currently used by the inner H3 fogs (see the last attachment).
In the end there was no significant difference between the JDM and Euro-spec OEM headlights, but I probably could have aimed the Euro-spec lights a little better and that "might" have produced slightly better light output, at least in the highbeams. But the difference would have been negligeable(sp) at best.
Anyway, perhaps you already had your questions answered, but let me know if I can answer any additional questions you might have.
Mot
