US Spec 964 lights - need to make UK spec

[RLambert]

Hi,

Just bought a 964 from the states and naturally it has US spec lights. The headlights don't have sidelights as they are in the indicators and side repeaters.

Does anyone know what I need to do to convert it to UK spec? Do I need new headlights? The headlights are different to the ones on my previous 911 in that they mount into a faily substancial headlight aim cradle rather than hook over the top rim of the headlight bowl.

Also it has rear fog lights but no switch to turn them on, was that normal for US cars ?

Cheers
Richard

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Richard,

I'm sure there must be others more experienced at converting US cars but I suspect it's not simple. IIRC the US cars are fitted with H5 headlights as standard which have the adjustment screws showing on the outside of the bezel. It sounds like you have the vacuum aim adjust and you will need to buy complete aim adjust UK headlights in order to fit the cradle. You will also have to change the wiring substantially too since the connector for the H5 bulb is different to the UK H4 norm. You will also have to eliminate the orange sidelights (at the rear too I believe) and ideally introduce side repeater lights as well as the wiring for the sidelight bulb in the new headlights. You'll also need new colour coded bezels for the H4 lights.

To truly complete the conversion you'll also need to get rid of those silly "bumperettes" whch are fitted in place of the front reflectors.

The US cars are not fitted with the rear fog switch and do not normally have the rear fog bulbs either but it may be that the PO of your car may have replaced the rear reflector with a Euro unit.

Good luck with the conversion - and keep us posted.

Regards

Dave

 

[RLambert]

Thank you for your reply Dave.

I've bought two regular headlights with some wiring so I'll connect these up to the existing headlight wiring. Then I need to disconnect the sidelight from the indicator unit(it has a stop/tail bulb which acts as the side light and indicator) and redirect this to the headlight bowl. Next is to connect the indicator to the side repeater.

Then I'll need to find the fog light wiring, hopefully it is behind the dash somewhere and connect this to front spotlight switch and junk the spot lights as I'm putting in brake cooling scoops.

Should take about 10 minutes.... not !