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Well, at last it can be told. How I volunteered to assist in testing how e-code headlights on the 9-5 may soon be within reach of all 9-5 owners at a reasonable price. But first some terminology:
E-code headlights - headlights which meet European code specifications, providing more defined beam cutoff and more favorable light distribution characteristics than the US DOT specification headlights which are OEM specification on the Saab 9-5 in the US.
A while back I linked up with Daniel Stern, who sells aftermarket headlights and bulbs - reference the TSN classified ads where Daniel Stern offers a variety of European Code headlights for Saabs. Daniel had noted that the H-7 headlight bulbs on the 9-5 with US DOT specification headlights were the identical bulbs used for the european code 9-5 headlights; so now the question was, were the headlight reflector units also identical, and if so would then replacing the US DOT specification headlight lenses result in producing a European Code beam pattern?
Well, to answer this question, David Stern needed a guinea pig to test this theory, and which is where yours truly came in to the picture.
Daniel shipped a pair of European code lenses to me and asked that I swap them for the US DOT specification lenses in my 2000 9-5 for the purpose of determining whether the result would be a European code beam pattern or something that would be truly strange.
The result of the switch in lenses? A perfect European code beam pattern, with more clearly defined beam cutoff, far better light thrown to the right side on the road on low beams, and an teriffic high beam pattern, compared to the stock US DOT lenses. This will present all 9-5 owners with the option of obtaining the performance advantages of E-Code headlights at a cost which is anticipated to be far below that of the $360-450 price per pair for the complete European Code headlight assemblies. While David Stern has not yet set pricing for purchasing the European Code lenses, it should be significantly lower than purchasing the entire European Code Headlight assembly.
For your reference, David Stern's websit is http://lighting.mbz.org and his e-mail address is dastern@vrx.net
For the record, the writer is not affiliated, nor do I have any financial interest in, David Stern Lighting. My posting here is to inform fellow TSN readers that by replacing only the headlight lens on your 9-5 with European code lenses you will achieve European code beam patterns (and superior light distribution characteristics) on your headlamps.
posted by 158.252.42...
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