Re: H4 e-code headlamps for 164

[Joe Elliott <jee@domain.elided>]

I'm fairly certain that all the lights on http://www.talbotco.com are 
all made by Cibie.  But that doesn't necessarily mean that they were 
the OEM when the 164 was being produced.  FWIW, Elma made the USA 
lights for the Milano, while European models had Bosch or Carello 
units.  In my opinion, proper lighting is always worth the hassle, if 
you can afford the $$$.  I would think that putting Euro lights on a 
164 would not be too difficult.  Any connectors you would need to 
hook up the running lights are available at Wal-Mart, and if the 
connectors for the H4 bulbs aren't available at your local auto parts 
place (they're the same as high/low American sealed beams), 
http://www.talbotco.com sells them for a rather pricey $10.  Screw 
DOT nipples, even a poorly aimed Euro light will provide better 
lighting and less glare than a perfectly aimed USA light.  But if for 
whatever reason you don't drive in the dark, it's probably not worth 
it.

At 4:15 PM +0000 7/26/02, alfa-digest wrote:

> Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 10:59:15 -0400
> From: <maxid@domain.elided>
> Subject: Re: H4 e-code headlamps for 164
>
> Steven Immel wrote: "Does anyone have suggestions for a vendor for H4 e-code
> headlamps for a
> '91 164, either in the states or in Europe? I'm looking for the original
> "full" style lamps made by Valeo (not the narrower Bosch types)".
>
> I believe some of those lamps were known as "Elma". Wheter Elma is a
> subsidiary of Valeo or vice versa, or whether they are different suppliers, I
> am not sure.
>
> I have vaguely considered getting these lights too but come to the conclusion
> that unless one needs to get these lamps for driving in Europe, it may not be
> worth the hassle. You will need to modify the car's electrical harness. The
> terminal you need is probably not available in the US but must be gotten from
> a European junkyard. The surrounding covers may or may not fit. The European
> lights may or may not go well with the US corner lights (combined parking
> lights/turn signals as opposed to the European ones that are turn signals
> only). They don't have the three nipples for the SAE/DOT aiming procedure. On
> the other hand, you may get a better bulb that is located more precisely
> relative to the focal point of the reflector. But how often does one drive on
> poorly lit roads in the US?
>
> If you decide to get the European lights, please let us know how the
> installation went, and how the result is.
>
> Sonny 91 164S, Baltimore
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