Originally Posted by Nappyboy28

Hey guys I'm moving there in a couple weeks, quick question. My AP2 passenger headlight ...........

Originally Posted by Nappyboy28

I've talked to some guys who have brought their S to the UK. The headlights are fine once they're reaimed.

Originally Posted by Floppy

The 'step' that I refer to is actually inside the projector lenses so no matter how much fettling of the reflectors you do it won't change the direction of the step and dipped beam pattern.

Below are UK MOT approved beam patterns showing step direction.

This is a European 'E' approved beam pattern for standard halogen headlights. It steps up to the left.



This is the second example of what a beam looks like, generally found in Xenon or projector lens headlights. This also steps up to the left.



This is generally the beam pattern on most USDM market vehicles ONLY manufactured for The US market...but it's very doubtful the USDM S2000 will have this as its probably fitted with the same components as any other LHD S2000. This is known as a neutral beam pattern. My Navigator has this.



Now imagine the first 2 beam patterns above and then flip them over 180 so the 'step' goes up to the right instead. This is how all LHD cars will be that don't have a neutral beam pattern. That is how the XK8 had its headlights configured for the USDM and that is more than likely how the USDM and EUDM S2000's have their headlights configured. I have only ever seen a neutral beam pattern in an American manufactured USDM ONLY vehicle.

Now on a normal halogen headlight such as on a CRX you can cut the reflectors to manipulate a neutral beam pattern and pass an MOT. On other halogen headlights you can replace the glass section only and achieve the same result. This csn be done very cheaply. However, this cannot be done on a projector lens or Xenon headlight as this stepped beam pattern is actually inside the projector lens itself and is nothing to do with the reflector section. The reflector if cut will only manipulate high beam and not dipped.

To prove this theory, look at a pre-facelift S as the headlight design is simpler to look at and understand. There is NO reflector on the projector lens area just either a black or chromed surround depending on MY and then the clear headlight lens cover with no grooves or beam pattern manipulators. This shows that the surround of the xenon lens and it's colour is for cosmetic purposes only. The only reflector section is for the high beam

Now the only exception to this is some projector/xenon headlights have a switch to reverse the step for driving on the continent. This is very rare though from what I have researched into. Even the XK8 didn't have switchable headlights so it meant that we had to fork out nearly £700 for a new pair and trust me, if there was another, cheaper way to do it I would have found it!

The easiest way for the OP to check the direction of his beam pattern is to park the car facing the garage door or a wall, about 10ft away if possible and you will easily see the beam pattern and whether there is a step or not. I could clearly see this against a wall on my MY04 and my MY00 S when parking up in my driveway against next door's garage wall.

HTH