people don't give enough credit to reflector halogen headlamps...
i don't blame them though, because the American system (9004, 9007, H13, etc) is markedly inferior to the European system (H4/HB2/9003 [all the same bulb]), and the American system has been more prevalent here... because we're in North America.
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Each system has its advantages and disadvantages. The American system historically permitted a greater overall amount of light within the low beam, since the entire reflector and lens area is used, but at the same time, the American system has traditionally offered much less control over upward light that causes glare, and for that reason has been largely rejected outside the US. In addition, the American system makes it difficult to create markedly different low and high beam light distributions. The high beam is usually a rough copy of the low beam, shifted slightly upward and leftward. The European system traditionally produced low beams containing less overall light, because only 60% of the reflector's surface area is used to create the low beam. However, low beam focus and glare control are easier to achieve. In addition, the lower 40% of the reflector and lens are reserved for high beam formation, which facilitates the optimization of both low and high beams.
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Thankfully, Canada allows E-code lamps. Example, if I drove an older car with sealed beams, I'd ditch them and go with European Hella,Bosch or Cibie lamps, or Japanese Koito or IPF lamps suitable for H4 bulbs (and right-hand traffic).
Also funny enough, Daniel Stern Lighting also produced this document for CVSE regarding vehicle lighting...
http://www.cvse.ca/vehicle_inspectio...g_Protocol.pdf
Once you get to the section regarding headlamps... you'll see that installing/retrofitting projectors is (unfortunately?) not an acceptable solution... not here anyway.
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Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS
I meant the lens specifically. On some cars, you can replace just the lens. And if it's not DOT stamped, well, you cant run it in the case of an inspection. But it's literally just the lens.
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As long as the markings are present (DOT or SAE or ECE), you will be fine. Most models out there come with the markings on the headlamp lens. Some come with the markings on the housing. But, IMHO, if it is as such designed to allow replacement of the lens (is it plastic?) and you are afraid of losing the markings on the lens, you'll probably save a lot more work/hassle and some money by giving the faded/hazed lens a proper refinish/polish (recommend a 3M product or similar) and then spraying it with a anti-UV clear coat. My concern with a non-certified or non-OEM plastic headlamp lens is you don't know how long it will even last... Glass is another thing.