JDM kouki headlight install w/pics

[superficialfilter]

This is my first write up so........

Tools Needed.

Flathead screwdriverPhillips screwdriver10mm socketwire strippers

Materials Needed.

Electical tapeTwo pairs of some type of 2 prong connectorsButt connectors

I really like the way JDM headlights look on a kouki and I finally had some cash to blow so finally got a pair. When UPS dropped them off today I ripped open the box and my first thought was "sweet, I cant wait to put them on". How hard can it be they should fit right in no problem, right? Wrong, my next thought upon further inspection was "WTF" when I noticed that the JDM high-beam doesnt use an H3 bulb like the USDM. It uses an H1, the same bulb the low-beam uses. Hmmm.......here check it out... the top one is the JDM...... I dont know why they did it I just know they did. Its those subtle defferences like that that get you everytime you go to put a factory JDM part on your USDM car. It doesnt happen all the time, just sometimes.

The wiring harness for the Jap headlight which has 2 H1s uses a 4 prong connector(2 wires per bulb). The US headlight only has a 2 prong connector(1 H1), the H3 bulb uses a seperate connector that plugs in directly to the bulb.Well thats nice...to bad I dont have the male end of the 4 prong connector.But that would be too easy wouldnt it?Heres what I did. I used the low-beam(H1) connector from the US headlight and put it on the JDM low-beam.Then I took the JDM harness and cut one of the H1 connections off at the plug.Then I went looking for some type of 2 prong connector, preferably one that was weather prove. Hording is a disease that runs in my family so finding a couple sets of 2 prong sealing connectors was as easy as walking out in the back yard and scavaging off an 84 celica for them. Then I connected one end of the plug, in this case the female end, to the H1 connector I got off the JDM harness.Now theres the matter of the H3 connector on the car.Its as simple as putting the other end of the connector in its place. Oh yeah I should'nt have to say this but I will anyway...try not to get any wires crossed up.Then just repeat the process for the otherside, install the headights and stand back to enjoy the fruits of your labor.Some of the first things that came to my mind when I was done were....."Was this s*#t really worth the time and money?"and " Now I gotta sell the old headlights the get back some of the money I blew"and "I should be saving for a motorcycle, gas aint getting cheaper".

Anyway I hope this will be helpful to somebody.

[ca18detgabby]

LOOKS GREAT. let us know how they project.......... that will be the deciding factor if it was worth it

on the right up

[jkirves]

really nice build! it was definetly worth the time & money, because the JDM headlights are so much better looking.i would also suggest installing 4300K HID xenons.trust me, once you have used xenon lights, you never want to have those ugly yellow halogens again.

[Kckouki]

So like, how much do you want to sell the old ones for ?

[Xdisaster240sX]

I have a S13, Whats the difference between the jdm and the usdm S14 headlights?

[numbnuts240]

the jdm projectors are bigger, and the light pattern is directed in the opposite direction, so you get the added satisfaction of blinding oncoming traffic.

[Clawhammer]

the jdm projectors are bigger, and the light pattern is directed in the opposite direction, so you get the added satisfaction of blinding oncoming traffic.

[Kckouki]

I have a S13, Whats the difference between the jdm and the usdm S14 headlights?

JDM :

USDM :

[Xdisaster240sX]

Got it. Thanks

[kornaz]

They both look the same to me. I mean, i wouldn't spend the dough on it. The USDM looks even better to me. + like numbnuts said, the JDM ones will blind oncoming traffic.

[Kckouki]

They both look the same to me. I mean, i wouldn't spend the dough on it. The USDM looks even better to me.

I have to agree. No offense, but it makes the kouki look like it has down syndrome.

[E7-S14]

waste of money?

there just not that different.

looks as good as the usdm ones...

[BrianHarte]

thank you

japanese lights are 100000 times better than the us lights.

[lunatyk]

wait...doesnt usdm high beams use 9005?but nice write up and nice headlights

[wynnEZ]

thank you

japanese lights are 100000 times better than the us lights.

Yes, Brian we all know JDM headlights are 1000000000 times better...

[ThuG LyFe]

i never noticed what the diff was but now i guess i do. still doesn't look like that much diff.

anyway does anyone know if jdm zenki lights are bolt on too or would i have similar prob. w/ the high beams?

[BaconLuver]

wow..what a waste of $$ that I'm sure could've gone to other mods... -1 for pissing off oncoming traffic.

[superficialfilter]

wow..what a waste of $$ that I'm sure could've gone to other mods... -1 for pissing off oncoming traffic.

They both look the same to me. I mean, i wouldn't spend the dough on it. The USDM looks even better to me. + like numbnuts said, the JDM ones will blind oncoming traffic.

the jdm projectors are bigger, and the light pattern is directed in the opposite direction, so you get the added satisfaction of blinding oncoming traffic.

Ummm........you guys do know that the headlights can be adjusted both vertically and HORIZONTALLY, right? They come from Japan preadjusted to the left. All you have to do is adjust them to the right.

But the rest is opinion so "To each his own".

[kamikazestorm420]

Ummm........you guys do know that the headlights can be adjusted both vertically and HORIZONTALLY, right? They come from Japan preadjusted to the left. All you have to do is adjust them to the right.

are you serious? i guess you dont know anything about lighting then.

LHD beam pattern goes like this

_____/-------

it flares to the right.

RHD beam pattern is this-------\_____

it flares to the left

its not a matter of just adjusting it down.

learn your **** before you start spreading misinformation

[JVkouki]

it does look pretty much the same..... but otherwise its JDM TYTE YOOOO

anyway, can you get any NIGHT shots so we can see how different it looks at nighttime?

[superficialfilter]

are you serious? i guess you dont know anything about lighting then.

LHD beam pattern goes like this

_____/-------

it flares to the right.

RHD beam pattern is this-------\_____

it flares to the left

its not a matter of just adjusting it down.

learn your **** before you start spreading misinformation

Well.....I stand corrected. So now I'm curious....Its the lens of the headlight that dictates the pattern right? You can adjust the beam but not the pattern.

[kamikazestorm420]

Well.....I stand corrected. So now I'm curious....Its the lens of the headlight that dictates the pattern right? You can adjust the beam but not the pattern.

a projector is consisted of the lens, reflector bowl, and the shield. the shield is what determines which way it flares up

[smocan]

These bickering matches make me laugh.

You know you can change the shields as well...or even make your own, its not hard. Yeaaaaahhhh.............................
Modified by smocan at 11:10 PM 5/16/2008

[White Comet]

These bickering matches make me laugh.

You know you can change the shields as well...or even make your own, its not hard. Yeaaaaahhhh.............................

hmm ive always wondered about that

[240sxdrifterS14]

nice writeup thanks

[240rhd]

Of course JDM is better.......... because I have a RHD S14 .. ha ha ha....

[s14aleXXX]

i just bought some jdm kouki lights. anyone know how i can make the more efficient by adjusting them to the right like a LHD car?

[wackawacka]

I would have gotten the JDM bumper instead.

[BrianHarte]

good mod.

Japanese lights look 10 times better.