I've seen these on a lot of cars, but mainly ones overseas. What do they do?

 

washers for the headlights...

 

Can't be. I would rip those things off first and foremost. Many people leave them on, so I'm thinking they're a type of regulation.

 

Headlight washer. It is mandatory in many European countries.

 

Wow, I'm glad I live in the US. That sucks, it's kind of an eyesore.

 

The funny thing is that if they were JDM, people over here would give their right hand to have them

 

Painted body color, they wouldn't be bad.

 

what?

those are headlight washer

 

"Regulation" = "Law, legislation, rule, requirement, compulsory"
"Regulation" doesn't mean it's a car part.

 

Good concept, ugly execution. On the new 3 Series BMW's, you can get optional headlamp washers - I have them on my 'other' car, a 330i. There are two unobtrusive squares, painted body color, bellow each headlamp group. If the lights are turned on when you activate the windshield washer, then the little squares pop forward, and the liquid sprays out onto the headlamps for a couple of seconds. It also sprays up and onto the hood, which gets a bit damp.