E-code versus Dot OEM Light
- Thread starter moribundman
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Vehicle: my '96 Audi A4
Location: parking lot
Time: one hour after sunset (two different days)
Position of the car was identical on both days
Camera position and angle were identical (at least very close)
Shot on film (Fuji 800 ASA), exposure was manually set and identical
The second picture has no "cones" (cans), because it was too windy
The distance to the island with curb clearly visible straight ahead was 50 meters (164 feet).
Picture 1: OEM Bosch DOT headlights, US import version ('96 version)
- Osram H7 55 W low beam
- free form reflector (no projector) lights
- plastic lens
- integrated headlight aiming aid (bubble level), set according to specs ("level," no dip)
Picture 2: OEM Bosch e-code headlights ('96 version)
- Osram H7 55 W low beam
- free form reflector (no projector) lights
- glass fresnel lens
- aimed according to specs (1.5% dip)
I have marked curbs and a reflective traffic sign with red arrowheads.
I don't think I have to comment on the obvious differences between the beam patterns.
Mori,
Both pitures are low beams only correct? No fogs correct?
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If the fog lights were on, you'd see a much wider spread left and right close to the front of the car.
The fog lights do not increase range of the low beam at all, because they are dipped down more than the low beams in an effort to keep the "beam" as close to the ground as possible (Fog tends to be a bit off the ground). The fog lights have about half the range (measuring forward) of the left low beam. They fill in left and right near the front of the vehicles what the low beams don't light up.
In these headlights, only the low beams are adjusted; the high beams and fog lights cannot be adjusted separately. Each headlight unit has two adjustment screws. One for let and right, one for up and down.
The fog lights do not increase range of the low beam at all, because they are dipped down more than the low beams in an effort to keep the "beam" as close to the ground as possible (Fog tends to be a bit off the ground). The fog lights have about half the range (measuring forward) of the left low beam. They fill in left and right near the front of the vehicles what the low beams don't light up.
In these headlights, only the low beams are adjusted; the high beams and fog lights cannot be adjusted separately. Each headlight unit has two adjustment screws. One for let and right, one for up and down.
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If I remember correctly, an ECE fog light will aim 8° more outwards than a low beam.
Interesting link with some general and a bit more specific information. In German only.
By the way, I see the reflector of my Audi lights on the linked page, and it shown as FF (free form).
reflector identical to the one in my '96 Audi
Interesting link with some general and a bit more specific information. In German only.
By the way, I see the reflector of my Audi lights on the linked page, and it shown as FF (free form).
reflector identical to the one in my '96 Audi
Big difference between OEM DOT and E-code. Much wider so you can see especially when no lighting around.
I've never seen the headlight switch/control in an Audi. Does it have 3 positions Off, park(city), and On? I know US spec VWs have 2 Off and On, you pull the switch toward you for fogs.
Did your E-Codes include that city light (small bulb in headlight)? I think the US specs ones have the amber turn signal/sidemarker dual fillament.
I've never seen the headlight switch/control in an Audi. Does it have 3 positions Off, park(city), and On? I know US spec VWs have 2 Off and On, you pull the switch toward you for fogs.
Did your E-Codes include that city light (small bulb in headlight)? I think the US specs ones have the amber turn signal/sidemarker dual fillament.
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Newer Audis have a conventional dial light switch. Older Audis like mine have an extra stalk on the left side of the steering column that has two settings: parking lights and low beams. The high beam and flasher work via the blinker stalk. The fog lights and rear fog light have separate switches in the center console. The front blinker is not integrated into the headlight and uses a dual filament bulb. The brake light bulbs are also dual filament. All blinker and brake light bulbs are still the factory bulbs (11 years old)!
My e-codes do of course contain the city light. You can see it in the the picture under the shrouded low beam bulb:
My e-codes do of course contain the city light. You can see it in the the picture under the shrouded low beam bulb:
The DOT spec allows the EU city light feature and allows a white bulb for all functions except front turn lights which must be amber. The DOT spec allows light fill, intensity and cutoff that is very close to current EU practice, but does not require such performance. The basic difference in requirements is that the DOT spec requires distance fill while the EU spec requires fill that is closer to the vehicle. A different point of view on regulation. Dispite what you may read over and over again, both DOT and EU require some upward spill for sign lighting.
It is the pressure of the industry to have different standards to perhaps make it more difficult to import and export vehicle between markets. If the EU and DOT regulators had the customer in mind the DOT would prohibit amber except for signal lighting, and otherwise adopt EU lighting requirements, inclucing side signal repeaters, and EU would adopt US side lighting and reflector requirements which are vastly superior. Heck, even between EU members there are significant differences; enough to dive everyone a bit nuts.
Richard.
It is the pressure of the industry to have different standards to perhaps make it more difficult to import and export vehicle between markets. If the EU and DOT regulators had the customer in mind the DOT would prohibit amber except for signal lighting, and otherwise adopt EU lighting requirements, inclucing side signal repeaters, and EU would adopt US side lighting and reflector requirements which are vastly superior. Heck, even between EU members there are significant differences; enough to dive everyone a bit nuts.
Richard.
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I don't see a need for the city light feature, so I'm not using it. Never used it where it was legal either. I do however miss the one-sided parking light feature.
The car makers are not making the issue more difficult. That's why so many Asian and Euro cars have now (have had for years, actually) DOT/EC hybrid lights that have DOT and EC approvals stamped right on the headlamp lens.
Some US states (Oregon and Washington come to mind), specifically allow EC lights.
The car makers are not making the issue more difficult. That's why so many Asian and Euro cars have now (have had for years, actually) DOT/EC hybrid lights that have DOT and EC approvals stamped right on the headlamp lens.
Some US states (Oregon and Washington come to mind), specifically allow EC lights.
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