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I installed euro style lenses today

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ViriiGuy

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
As the topic says, I replaced my headlight lenses today with euro spec lenses from .. http://cgi.ebay.ca/Volvo-V70-C...wItem
My drivers side lens was cracked and therefor would not pass inspection.

The installation was very simple and the whole job took me 20 minutes from start to finish. I however, did not use the seals that came with the lenses. They were generic cut to fit gaskets and my original gaskets were still fine. So I just reused them.

I had wanted to take some before and after pictures of the light output, but my camera is on the fritz. But it looks to my wife and I as if these lenses do indeed look a lot brighter than the original lenses were.
 
#2 ·
Re: I installed euro style lenses today (ViriiGuy)

Not a matter of brightness so much as light distribution.
I noticed a welcome difference when I swapped. Good Stuff!
Another big improvement was replacing the stock H-7 lamps with SilverStars.
There are plenty of nice upgrade lamps out there like them and
everyone has their own preference. I like the slightly bluer tham stock.
Pick a color temperature that you like and check'em out.

If you haven't seen it out, here's a helpful site for more info http://********************/smile/emthup.gif :
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
I had Silverstars in our Saturn and they were definitely a lot better, but I also found that they got me high beamed a lot, because folks thoughts I was always running my brights. They even got me pulled over once because the cop thought I was using my brights.
 
#4 ·
Re: I installed euro style lenses today (ViriiGuy)

Your reflector is different.
I would suggest you stand in front of your car and see if now you're blinding oncoming cars
 
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Discussion starter · #5 ·
I will check that tonight, however the lights did not seem THAT much brighter. I found the low beams to be very dim before changing the lenses, after wards they seemed to be bright but not blinding. However, I will check them tonight and see what it looks like.
 
#6 ·
Re: (ViriiGuy)

This has been done before.
The Euro reflector is designed to have a cut off low beam and not blind oncoming cars, the US reflector does not.

I would have someone drive YOUR car and you drive the other car (towards each other at night) and YOU see how bright and possibly blinding your lights may be.
They may be just fine...or not!
Image
but you should know what your own lights do to oncoming drivers, (if anything).
These are REAL E Codes
 
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#8 ·
Re: (ViriiGuy)

Then they're not E codes, E codes are CLEAR you got taken
 
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#9 ·
Re: (JRL)

Quote, originally posted by JRL »
Then they're not E codes, E codes are CLEAR you got taken

No, the old E codes can have grooved lenses. In fact all S/V70's here in Europe have grooved lenses (E codes). Only the later C70's got the clear lenses, and some people retrofitted them to their S/V70's.
 
#10 ·
Re: (Alex960)

Quote, originally posted by Alex960 »


No, the old E codes can have grooved lenses. In fact all S/V70's here in Europe have grooved lenses (E codes). Only the later C70's got the clear lenses, and some people retrofitted them to their S/V70's.
Ok.
No idea why anyone would want those but with the fluted lens he's probably Ok
 
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#12 ·
Re: (Alex960)

Quote, originally posted by Alex960 »
Yeah, well they don't look very nice, but then if you're just concerned with improving the beam pattern, they'll do the trick...
They actually look much better. My e-codes were a huge improvement over the stock DOT lenses (and no they weren't scratched up).

I couldn't take the guilt of driving with my 50w HIDs anymore. The glare was improved with the e-codes but still horrible. Just make sure that the bulbs you are using aren't longer than the stock ones, that's the one big problem why all HID bulbs give SO much glare (other than the extreme output).

And yeah, those are C70 'jewel' headlights pictured above. Direct fit to any 870 car. E-code lenses just have less fluting and more light is directed on the road rather than up in the air (there's a law in NA that a certain % of light has to shine up in the air to reflect road signs etc).
 
#13 ·
Re: (ViriiGuy)

I had to readjust my headlight aim when I switched to ecodes.
They were a bit high with the new throw pattern.
A short trip out to a nice lonely, dark, straight strectch of road
and I was in business.

The ecodes have a nice, sharp cutoff that makes them a breeze to set .
I just leveled the low beams to stay below the windows of what ever is
ahead of me and since the highs follow that adjustment, I was done.
I have never been flashed and I can see much better.

The new pattern was a HUGE improvement. The originals were dang near useless...
Image


Someday, I'll install some nice driving lights to improve the high beams. http://********************/smile/emthup.gif
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
I was not interested in appearance when I bought them, I was interested in function. However, having said that, the new lenses do look a lot better than my old ones. As soon as I installed them, the car just looked newer. The old lenses were dingy and one was cracked. Beyond that, they look basically the same as the old ones.

I would like to have some lenses like the one piece units for the 850 but they do not seem to exists for the S70. Eventually I would like to install projectors, but better save that for a year when I am NOT spending 5 grand on repairs and general upkeep.
 
#15 ·
Re: (ViriiGuy)

Quote, originally posted by ViriiGuy »

I would like to have some lenses like the one piece units for the 850 but they do not seem to exists for the S70.
They do, mine, $1000 (at least now)
 
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#17 ·
Re: (ViriiGuy)

The other thing you may want to consider for your fresh glass is protective film.
We have huge amounts of pea gravel here. We use it instead of salt for traction.
The film has undoubtly saved me from lens damage.
I went with the set from IPD and they still seem almost invisible.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Re: (BEJinFbk)

I had actually already started thinking about that
Image
Do you think that film would protect against another rock strike? I went out and adjusted my lights. I think they will be good in their current location and they do not seem to be blinding to oncoming traffic. Unless the high beams are on.. then wow look out! But that is what I want. If I need brights.. I need BRIGHTS!
 
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ViriiGuy
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