Dodge Dakota/Durango ECE Lamp Option?

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Hokiefyd

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Apparently, some Jeep ZJ owners have the option of converting their plastic-lensed SAE head lamps to glass-lensed ECE head lamps with parts from a dealership. I'm interested in doing this with my Dakota, as much to have a glass lense as anything else.

Nobody seems to know if there are "export" lenses available for the 97-04/98-03 Dakota/Durango. Does anyone have a lead on a direct-fit option? Anyone here a parts guy at a Dodge dealership that might could check? Around here, you ask and it's immediately, "naw, we ain't got that." And maybe they're right, but the answer came back awfully quick...
 
I'm not sure if they're available for the Dodge. I'll warn you of this: if they are, chances are they're $250+ like the Jeep ones (a planned upgrade for mine).

Kolak (well known on many Jeep forums, considered "the guy" to get dealer-type parts from) might be able to find out for you. His email is kolak(at)aol.com.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Apparently, some Jeep ZJ owners have the option of converting their plastic-lensed SAE head lamps to glass-lensed ECE head lamps with parts from a dealership. I'm interested in doing this with my Dakota, as much to have a glass lense as anything else.

Nobody seems to know if there are "export" lenses available for the 97-04/98-03 Dakota/Durango. Does anyone have a lead on a direct-fit option? Anyone here a parts guy at a Dodge dealership that might could check? Around here, you ask and it's immediately, "naw, we ain't got that." And maybe they're right, but the answer came back awfully quick...


That's because certain Chrysler Corp products was sold in Europe (Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty, Minivans, Neon, Caliber, and probably some other ones)

Unfortunately for you, the Durango was never sold in Europe
 
I was hoping that the Durango was sold SOMEWHERE that may have used ECE lighting standards. I also don't know if the Dakota was exported anywhere. Even SAE lamps that are GLASS would be nice, but I can't find anything like that. I've already polished my plastic lenses once, and they looked great, but after a year and a half, they've yellowed pretty bad again.
 
YOU MIGHT CHECK WITH DANIEL STERN, WHO HAS A LIGHTING WEB SITE AND SEEMS TO KEEP UP ON THIS TOPIC, AS WELL AS SELLING SOME LIGHTS, BULBS, AND WIRING PARTS. HE IS ALSO AN ACTOR AND PLAYED THE BAD GUY ON HOME ALONE AND SEQUELS.THE LIGHTS ARE MORE A HOBBY THAN BUSINESS.
 
Honestly if you plan on spending $250 or more on glass lenses why don't you just go ahead and retrofit (Not plug and play) HID projectors, and OEM hid bulbs? Trust me ECE has it's downsides. Many ECE lighting in some cases has a very sharp cutoff causing undesired flicker. Many newer projector, are hybrids giving you the best of both worlds.
 
Well, a few comments:

1) I never said I was going to spend $250 on glass lenses, I was only asking if anyone knew of their availability.
2) A retrofit isn't easy without also changing the housings because the OEM housings have the "fluted plastic" lenses, which would booger up the beam pattern from a projector. There are some aftermarket projector setups available, but they are *****.
3) I'm not interested in HID. I actually don't like HID lamps. I would prefer a good projector setup with an H11 bulb or similar (but then I would lose high beams).
4) The best lights I've ever owned are in my Camry, which use a hybrid type projector, with a slight step, but still mostly flat across. Love 'em.

My best option is probably getting some NOS OEM lamp housings. They'd stay clear for a long time (as much as I use the lights on this truck), and cost would be minimized.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Well, a few comments:

1) I never said I was going to spend $250 on glass lenses, I was only asking if anyone knew of their availability.
2) A retrofit isn't easy without also changing the housings because the OEM housings have the "fluted plastic" lenses, which would booger up the beam pattern from a projector. There are some aftermarket projector setups available, but they are *****.
3) I'm not interested in HID. I actually don't like HID lamps. I would prefer a good projector setup with an H11 bulb or similar (but then I would lose high beams).
4) The best lights I've ever owned are in my Camry, which use a hybrid type projector, with a slight step, but still mostly flat across. Love 'em.

My best option is probably getting some NOS OEM lamp housings. They'd stay clear for a long time (as much as I use the lights on this truck), and cost would be minimized.


Newer european cars have a step/slope pattern for both HID & halogen projectors, except the euro versions tend to have larger steps to illuminate side road signs.

the Camry halogen projector, also has what is referred to as a "squirrel finder" which on the shield, just below the cut-off, is a rectangular opening that allows some light to escape above the cut-off which illuminates overhead road signs. The older RX330/350 HID projectors (AFS & Non-AFS) have squirrel finders also
 
Yes, I love the squirrel spotters. The light below the cutoff is mostly flat, though on the 6.5 gen Camrys (2010 and 2011), the edges do rise slightly for better side road illumination. So far, this is my favorite implementation/design of a head lamp.

Those projectors with simply an upper right "sweep" rather than a true "step" are really blinding to me (as I often drive in the right-hand lane, and they often drive in the left). Reflector systems with a sweep don't tend to me nearly as blinding, at least in my experience.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Yes, I love the squirrel spotters. The light below the cutoff is mostly flat, though on the 6.5 gen Camrys (2010 and 2011), the edges do rise slightly for better side road illumination. So far, this is my favorite implementation/design of a head lamp.

Those projectors with simply an upper right "sweep" rather than a true "step" are really blinding to me (as I often drive in the right-hand lane, and they often drive in the left). Reflector systems with a sweep don't tend to me nearly as blinding, at least in my experience.


The projectors on my Entourage have both a step and a sweep. I've never seen any lamps with both. The step is right at the center of the beam pattern (say 50% from the left) and then at about 75% from the left there is the classic up-sweep of an E-code headlight.
 
Interesting. Can you post a picture of it shining against a garage wall or something? I don't think I've ever seen anything like that either. Do the headlamp housings have the SAE/DOT markings on them also?
 
This is what the Camry's lamps look like. These are actually from a Venza, but it's the same pattern (and probably the same projector itself).

You can see how the pattern angles up slightly on either side of center (good side road light on both sides of the road), and the squirrel
spotters light up all the road/overhead signs with minimal glare.

sp1250798.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Interesting. Can you post a picture of it shining against a garage wall or something? I don't think I've ever seen anything like that either. Do the headlamp housings have the SAE/DOT markings on them also?


beam_pattern.jpg
 
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