[nyc212]

hey,

new here on the forums and got to say this place rocks. getting my 2005 v50 t5 tomorrow and wanna do the famous r design facelift on it cause the body is really in not that good of shape.

i live in europe and i always have family members coming out to visit me so was wondering if i buy headlights in the states would they work on my euro v50 or would i have to rewire?

has anyone done the facelift? would love to hear there thoughts on the process and how to do it.

thx

 

[daim]

There aren't any "US" or "Euro" lights for the V50. They are the same... The only difference being, that US cars have DRL switched as a standard (unless removed).

The orange reflector is also always there. No matter if facelift or prefacelift. US or EU.

 

[nyc212]

cool thx for the info

 

[daim]

Oh, and the facelift is something rather "normal" now A few have done it, like crossie.

 

[TG]

I was looking at the face lift for a while (going from 2005 to more recent years) but then I always fall in the same dilemma of money spending . . . Is it better to spend your money on facial improvements that makes the car look really nice but will stay fresh for only a few years, or to spend it on performance which aren't appreciable by others but makes the ride a lot more fun to drive . . .

Ideally you'd do it all but then for the same price of that improvements you can get a better car
I guess it always depends on preferences, and passion, but I always seem to fall back on performances

The best is to do it like Crossie did: when it gets bad and you need it fix, rather then just fix it you improve it! That goes for a lot of wear items from body work, to lens aging, to suspension and brake ware...

Final thought: Does anyone think it is sometime nice for a vehicle to keep it's styling from the year(s) of fabrication so it retains its original history? just a thought... (that doesn't really apply for the sport trims obviously if within the same year)

 

[daim]

I was looking at the face lift for a while (going from 2005 to more recent years) but then I always fall in the same dilemma of money spending . . . Is it better to spend your money on facial improvements that makes the car look really nice but will stay fresh for only a few years, or to spend it on performance which aren't appreciable by others but makes the ride a lot more fun to drive . . .

Ideally you'd do it all but then for the same price of that improvements you can get a better car
I guess it always depends on preferences, and passion, but I always seem to fall back on performances

The best is to do it like Crossie did: when it gets bad and you need it fix, rather then just fix it you improve it! That goes for a lot of wear items from body work, to lens aging, to suspension and brake ware...

Final thought: Does anyone think it is sometime nice for a vehicle to keep it's styling from the year(s) of fabrication so it retains its original history? just a thought... (that doesn't really apply for the sport trims obviously if within the same year)

Well, here in Germany, a classic car (H plates) must have either its original design, or an at least 20 year old change/modification in order to be classed as a proper classic (Oldtimer).

I personally like the car's look outside to be more individual (hence my car being different). A facelift will sometimes fake the cars age from a distance, but a simple look up close will give it all away. Small mirrors, unpainted side trim, old interior. Outside: Yay, Inside: Nay!

 

[inlinevolvo]

Is your car RHD? This would be the only thing that may lead to an incompatibility with US headlights. The right headlight is aimed slightly higher than the left, wouldn't the opposite hold true in Europe? The S40 beam pattern looks something like this __/ __/. The cutoff tapers up and to the right, I would think it would look like this in a RHD vehicle \__ \__

 

[nyc212]

Final thought: Does anyone think it is sometime nice for a vehicle to keep it's styling from the year(s) of fabrication so it retains its original history? just a thought... (that doesn't really apply for the sport trims obviously if within the same year)

i´ve had this thought running through my head also. should i respect the cars original integrity or should i revamp it for personal satisfaction? in my case i am leaning towards the facelift because the t5 im going to get doesnt have any type of sport trim on it and i just think that it doesnt do it justice for the bad ass car that it is. one of the reasons im considering the facelift is that the car needs some minor body work so might as well take advantage of the new paint job its eventually going to get.

Is your car RHD? This would be the only thing that may lead to an incompatibility with US headlights. The right headlight is aimed slightly higher than the left, wouldn't the opposition hold true in Europe? The S40 beam pattern looks something like this __/ __/. The cutoff tapers up and to the right, I would think it would look like this in a RHD vehicle \__ \__

no its LHD. but thats a good point.

I personally like the car's look outside to be more individual (hence my car being different). A facelift will sometimes fake the cars age from a distance, but a simple look up close will give it all away. Small mirrors, unpainted side trim, old interior. Outside: Yay, Inside: Nay!

i see what u are saying but the differences here are quite subtle and i definetly think the facelift front bumper with splitter looks good.