Quote:
Originally Posted by rnln
Kevin,
What's E-Code? Is it European style headlight, meaning there is not a little shiny umbrella thing at the tip of the bulb?
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E-code or ECE is the rest of the world equivalent to the North American standards body, SAE, that governs automotive lighting. E-code lighting is typically superior in light direction, not necessarily output when compared to North American lights.
E-code lights offer a very sharp cutoff to reduce glare to oncoming drivers and provide light where drivers need it most. Basically an E-code light just indicates it has been approved for use in any ECE or EEC country that requires vehicles to conform with these safety regulations. While being E-code rated doesn't automatically mean its better, it just means it complies with the ECE or EEC countries approval organizations.
The sealed beams included on your car are produced with cost being the main criteria. The reflector, glass quality and thickness and bulb were manufactured with an eye on making an adequate product for the least amount of money.
The "umbrella thing", as far as I understand, is there to reduce glare for oncoming drivers. Its inclusion or not doesn't necessarily indicate whether it is an E-code light or SAE light. With this in mind, the pattern or light is directed by the lens and reflector of the light assembly. My E-code lights have no such umbrella thing.
Here is a link to a short informative article on the differences between ECE and SAE lighting.
http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature/tech/Motive_Tech_The_Difference_Between_US_and_European _Lights.shtml#
And seeing that this site is useless without pics, here are a couple showing the markings on some head lights. The Underlined mark is the stamp indicating SAE compliance and the arrows point out the E-code marking.
Hope that helps.
-kevin