Hello,

For some time I have been thinking of buying Corvette C7. It will be my first Corvette (I am from Europe). The plan is to import it from the US. The best option would to by an EU spec model in Europe but it is a bit difficult to find the proper one.

I did some research about C7 I came across some comments about the problem with the conversion of US lights so that they meet EU requirements. Hence I have a few questions and I hope that you will be able to help me:

1. Is my thinking correct that C7 ( US spec) has Xenon Lights or are these LED lights?

2. I have read that the lights emit only 900 Lumens. In my home country there is a rule that if Xenons are below 2000 lumens there is no need for auto-leveling mechanism or washers. So in theory I should be able to drive with US headlights. The problem is that US lamps will by symmetrical and in Europe they should be assymmetrical. Is there any settings on the lamps to convert them to assymmetrical or do I need to install Euro headlights?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

I'm not sure what the correct answer should be. They're HID; there's an LED strip for daylight driving underneath the night lights. That's as good an answer as I can come up with.

You'll need to install different lights. The US lights cast completely differently as you know, and there's no "switch" or electronic option in the car to change that. I don't know if you'll be able to find a parts counter employee at a dealership who will know how to help you...

I think another big problem will be the extra exterior lights required in Europe. The Corvettes made for US-domestic sales are not equipped with side marker lights that will pass EU requirements, and there are no provisions made for the rear fog lights. As far as I know, the US-domestic wiring harness for the tail lights aren't even set up with an extra plug to adapt an 'optional' OEM rear fog light harness.

I tried to set up my c7 with a rear fog light, but no one (forum members nor 3 different dealership parts employees) knows enough nor can figure out by the schematics if European tail lights are equipped with a provision for a rear fog light. 'It is said' that EU rear tail lights provide for a rear fog lamp. However... There was a US domestic seller on E-bay with a set of "European tail lights", and he couldn't tell me where the fog lamp was installed. Obviously, a rear fog light is not a requirement by US DOT. Not one of the three dealerships knew how to find nor order a rear fog light harness. They couldn't find a listing in their parts software. Hell, they none of them had ever heard of a rear fog light.

 

Where are you from Soul85? I am a UK owner with a Euro C7.

In the UK headlights can either have a 'kick-up' to the left or be completely flat with no 'kick-up'. Luckily USDM cars have no headlight kick-up so this part is completely ok for the UK at least.

Then there is side indicators. There is a rule that turn indicators must be visible from the side of the car. My Euro C7 rectifies this by having indicators on the edges of the wing/side mirrors. That said, before my C7 I had a US imported C6 with no side indicators at all and it passed our yearly MOT tests without any issues.

I haven't tested the fog lights on my C7 yet, so I'm not sure how they work, but I'll have a look and report back.

 

Nevermind...I was wrong about the rear turn signals, post below says they are amber (required for Europe), I thought they were red, like most US cars.

 

I was looking at my turn signals the other day and the LED behind the clear center lense flashes amber. Running lights and brakes are obviously red.

 

There's no headlight washer on them either. If that's a requirement in your country, that could be a real pain.

 

Hi All,

Thanks for all replies.


Originally I am from Poland. But I live in Edinburgh. I wanted to buy C6 or C7 and keep it in Poland as my summer car. The problem is that Polish regulations require asymmetrical headlights. Another problem is the washer and auto-levelling system which is compulsory for Xenon lights. If I was keeping the car in the UK there would be no problem

Could someone please confirm what lights does C7 have ? Is it DS3 xenon ? If it is how it is possible that GM mentions only 900 lumens on their website? I would expect DS3 to emit at least 3400 lumens.

The reason why Lumens are important to me is that xenon lights which are below 2000 lumen does not require washers or autolevelling. So this means that I would have to tackle the asymmetry problem. When it comes to tail lights + fog light there are a few Polish specialist companies that can sort out this problem for me. Indicators are not a problem either.

The biggest challenge is the headlights autolevelling system and washers.

 

The main beam and the dipped beam are xenon. Yes, the light source is a DS3. The 900 lumen rating is for the headlamp assembly low beam, not the light source (bulb).
The signal and stop/tail are LED. Cars built for export receive different lamps, for Europe and for the UK. Obviously with different beam patterns. Replacement headlamps are VERY expensive (more than $1000 US/lamp) and it would be extremely difficult to find/purchase EU spec lamps. Sorry to rain on your parade.....