78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
Left Hand Drive Vs. Right Hand Drive
Unobtainium
- Thread starter Racer65
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
here is a pic of the RHD french spec semi sealed beam Koito H4's with the P45T base and amber Koito bulbs
Kioto sealed beam(us spec)
Kioto sealed beam(us spec)
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
Only place in Europe that has RHD is the UK. List of left- & right-driving countries - World Standards
Spain, Portugal, and Belgium at a minimum.
Your right, France was lhd, wonder where else amber bulbs were required?
AlaskanWheeler
SILVER Star
Just thought I would throw this out there. How about late model dash panels and the accessories, for those that want that late model "look" ?
I've driven in those countries and can't recall that..
And this is what a Google search says:
Green drive on the right (with LHD vehicles) and Amber drive on the left (with RHD vehicles).
PS. And decent headlights should always dip away from oncoming traffic so that's why different headlights should be used.
78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
I've driven in those countries and can't recall that..
And this is what a Google search says:
View attachment 1244850
Green drive on the right (with LHD vehicles) and Amber drive on the left (with RHD vehicles).
PS. And decent headlights should always dip away from oncoming traffic so that's why different headlights should be used.
Excellent search results Tom, great job!
- Thread starter
- #929
LED headlights are now in stock.
As mentioned, the new version has DOT marking, and DRL. It has an aluminium colored housing, so the appearance is closer to a regular sealed beam light. For those who care, the protrusion is reduced, as can be seen in the photo.
Let's talk some tech. To hook it up, there are 3 connections:
1) The headlamp connection is simply plugging in the standard H4 plug
2) For the DRL, you tap the red wire into an ACC source. The VSV is a convenient source, as it's right under the hood. However, you can feed the red wire into the fuse box if you like. I supply you with the 3 input connector to save you a trip to the hardware store.
4) For making the DRL blink in concert with the turn signals, feed the yellow wires into the turn signal wires on both sides. The turn signal wire is green/black on the left side, and green/yellow on the right side.
As mentioned, the new version has DOT marking, and DRL. It has an aluminium colored housing, so the appearance is closer to a regular sealed beam light. For those who care, the protrusion is reduced, as can be seen in the photo.
Let's talk some tech. To hook it up, there are 3 connections:
1) The headlamp connection is simply plugging in the standard H4 plug
2) For the DRL, you tap the red wire into an ACC source. The VSV is a convenient source, as it's right under the hood. However, you can feed the red wire into the fuse box if you like. I supply you with the 3 input connector to save you a trip to the hardware store.
4) For making the DRL blink in concert with the turn signals, feed the yellow wires into the turn signal wires on both sides. The turn signal wire is green/black on the left side, and green/yellow on the right side.
- Thread starter
- #930
I'm glad you're in this conversation, as I've learned a lot about light bulbs based on the clues you've given.
Both of these lights have the vintage P45T bulbs. These are definitely semi-sealed beams. As you said, the fully sealed beam lights are crappy and nearly worthless. These lights cost a whole lot more:
Headlamp for Toyota Land Cruiser FJ55LV - Auto parts
Bulb profile/face looks a lot better , I see those are rear-firing chips , got any night shots yet ? What part lights up for the DRL , the cross bar ?
Also , interested to see what the rated wattage is on the chips, type , color temp and rated lumen output ...?
I've ran across a Rover guy south of me that was using the RHD lamps on his RHD Land Rover - really noticed the profile of that thing at night as it was blinding . Followed him to a gas station to chat - he had no idea why everyone was flashing their brights at him since he'd adjusted the headlights to the lowest possible angle they would go and he could hardly see the road . He's going to swap out his lamps since they are the older sealed beams anyway and going with LHD units instead . I didn't have my 40 at the time but showed some pictures - he's always wanted one and looking for a good used project truck , wished him luck and to be wary and let him know MUD is the best research tool available - maybe he will show up on the forum later...
After looking some more at the head-on picture those led's don't look too bad , at least the divider bar sort of blends in with the retaining ring enough to make it look more at home . Wish there was a way to make a vintage-looking led that would work properly but doubt that's going to happen just due to optics and limitations . I'm definitely interested as I let my H4 conversion bulbs from Shane go with the Taco when I traded it - they just didn't work all that well with the IPF lenses I have .
Just fyi - I found for some odd reason Amazon lists the non-city light Cibie 7" H4's as available and recent feedback says they are genuine , really tempted to just order a pair and keep them for grins , only $48 each...
Sarge
Also , interested to see what the rated wattage is on the chips, type , color temp and rated lumen output ...?
I've ran across a Rover guy south of me that was using the RHD lamps on his RHD Land Rover - really noticed the profile of that thing at night as it was blinding . Followed him to a gas station to chat - he had no idea why everyone was flashing their brights at him since he'd adjusted the headlights to the lowest possible angle they would go and he could hardly see the road . He's going to swap out his lamps since they are the older sealed beams anyway and going with LHD units instead . I didn't have my 40 at the time but showed some pictures - he's always wanted one and looking for a good used project truck , wished him luck and to be wary and let him know MUD is the best research tool available - maybe he will show up on the forum later...
After looking some more at the head-on picture those led's don't look too bad , at least the divider bar sort of blends in with the retaining ring enough to make it look more at home . Wish there was a way to make a vintage-looking led that would work properly but doubt that's going to happen just due to optics and limitations . I'm definitely interested as I let my H4 conversion bulbs from Shane go with the Taco when I traded it - they just didn't work all that well with the IPF lenses I have .
Just fyi - I found for some odd reason Amazon lists the non-city light Cibie 7" H4's as available and recent feedback says they are genuine , really tempted to just order a pair and keep them for grins , only $48 each...
Sarge
Amazons h4 Cibies are genuine, I picked up 2 pairs last year, made in belgium(good)
I am a huge Cibie fan, I love their 1980's(so they look correct on old cruisers)fog and driving lights(oscar, oscar plus), but it's getting harder to find them with amber lens (not bulbs) the chemical used to make the amber lens was banned in early 90's(or so I recall reading)
The Kioto h4 are a very high quality light, even with the wrong beam pattern I could see the cut off was very nice, similar to Cibie
I am a huge Cibie fan, I love their 1980's(so they look correct on old cruisers)fog and driving lights(oscar, oscar plus), but it's getting harder to find them with amber lens (not bulbs) the chemical used to make the amber lens was banned in early 90's(or so I recall reading)
The Kioto h4 are a very high quality light, even with the wrong beam pattern I could see the cut off was very nice, similar to Cibie
78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
Roger do you have uninstalled pics of the lights depicting connectors etc.?
I am also interested in night photos (maybe with a comparison) and specs as well...
Thanks,
Tom
Oh yeah, I am with you. I had Cibies back in the 80's and they were awesome lights. Back then, the US had the worst headlights on the planet. Europe was way ahead of the US in many safety features, like adjustable headlights from a dash knob, ABS brakes, rear fog light, etc. I had the CIbie bobbi lights on my 240z.
Just another note on the RHD vesus LHD lights ....
Euro spec lights that are designed for vehicles that drive on the left (and it must be noted that these should be used on ALL vehicles that drive on the left regardless of whether these vehicles left the factory as LHD or RHD) should have an arrow on the glass pointing to the left.
Firstly here's that arrow on the Cibie brand:
Near the bottom in this case...
And here's the same thing on a Hella light that is designed for use in drive-on-the-left countries:
So the converse applies too and when a vehicle is imported to the USA from a drive-on-the-left country such as here (New Zealand) or Australia, one of the first things done should be swapping out the headlights (so you don't annoy other motorists by blinding them while driving at night)..
Cheers
Euro spec lights that are designed for vehicles that drive on the left (and it must be noted that these should be used on ALL vehicles that drive on the left regardless of whether these vehicles left the factory as LHD or RHD) should have an arrow on the glass pointing to the left.
Firstly here's that arrow on the Cibie brand:
Near the bottom in this case...
And here's the same thing on a Hella light that is designed for use in drive-on-the-left countries:
So the converse applies too and when a vehicle is imported to the USA from a drive-on-the-left country such as here (New Zealand) or Australia, one of the first things done should be swapping out the headlights (so you don't annoy other motorists by blinding them while driving at night)..
Cheers
Last edited:
Back in the 80's we were into importing BMW's from germany into the US. Graymarket was the term used. When the cars came in, they had to be "federalized' and one of the first things to get changed was the awesome Euro halogen headlights for the crappiest sealed beams you could buy! Once they passed inspection, the first thing to go back on for my own car was the headlights.
interesting info
so racer's lights(and mine) are correct for folks driving on the right hand side with a LHD truck?
so racer's lights(and mine) are correct for folks driving on the right hand side with a LHD truck?
Yes I believe so.
I think the only problem would be if someone like me from a minority drive-on-the-left country decided to order and fit them.
PS. My input here could be raising some confusion (that some may think is unecessary) but I feel we're an international community here on ih8mud and vehicles and vehicle-parts are continually crossing international borders. Hence I think it's important that such distinctions be made.
Last edited: