JDM headlights used to be black on the inside, MY99-01 had them. Starting in MY02, they chromed the projector section. Actually they chrome the plastic section and then paint it black. In MY02, they just chrome it better and left it unpainted.

If you do a search, you will see that the older posts with JDM headlight have them all black, and only in the last two years could you get them with the chrome projectors.

I have seen both.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Stratocaster
JDM headlights used to be black on the inside, MY99-01 had them. Starting in MY02, they chromed the projector section. Actually they chrome the plastic section and then paint it black. In MY02, they just chrome it better and left it unpainted.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RazorV3
the jdm headlights look like the USDM headlights except it has the clear diffuser with orange insert.

 

But, I can move the beam lower and position it so that they are even right?

 

No, you can't. Since the Japanese drive on the opposite side of the road, the pattern of the beams is completely wrong for here in the US.

No matter what, it will still be higher to the left, in the eyes of oncoming traffic. If you do lower it to the point where the left side is even with the US headlights normal pattern, then you will have completely compromised your ability to see down the right side of the road, you know...where pedestrians and street signs hang out.

 

Wow, no wonder my headlights were uneven, I thought it was just out of whack. But there is actually logic to the madness.

 

They can be uneven, they all are. Each US light has a pretty sharp pattern with a notch on the left in order to reduce the glare to oncoming traffic; conversely, other countries that drive on the opposite side of the road have the notches reversed.

The pattern should illuminate the side of the road more than the middle so if you installed real JDM lights in your car then you've reversed the pattern and run the risk of really blinding other drivers.

 

Yeah, too many owners don't realize the logic to the light pattern on our headlights. Even the Honda service rep at the dealer couldn't explain it. I found out here on the website (like just about EVERYTHING I've learned from here), and actually went back to expain it to the dealer.

Wonder if anyone has installed the JDM just on the driver's side - to "even out" the pattern. Then you would have the notched overlap in the middle! Or the opposite, with both sides lower, but adjusted so the middle shines further down the road?

Anyone tried it?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Stratocaster
JDM headlights used to be black on the inside, MY99-01 had them. Starting in MY02, they chromed the projector section. Actually they chrome the plastic section and then paint it black. In MY02, they just chrome it better and left it unpainted.

 

yeah, thanks so much for all the info. I might just get regular headlights now. I have 2 sets of stock headlights for sale, but one set has some minor water damage, and the other set is scratched. Anyone interested?