Soon to be Proud owner of an ST205 Options

[Artega]

Hi everyone

As some of you know ST205 are available for import to Canada since Feb of 2009. There's just one thing that stands in the way of me enjoying my car. This pesky OOP inspection (Out Of Province) in Alberta. (other than finding the perfect car in Japan)
There's quite a few things that needs to be modified before being fully register on Canadian soil. This is why I'll need the forum member's expertise on this topic.

-Daytime Running Light
There's probably a DIY instruction on the forum somewhere right? That shouldn't be a big issue. Can someone post the link?

-DOT approved headlights
This is the bulk of my problem at this point. JDM headlights are not DOT-approved. Does anyone know what it means for headlights to be DOT approved? (i know there's something to do with the direction of illumination and what else?) Where can I get a pair of DOT approved headlights? Do I have to buy a pair of 6th gen GTS headlights, modify for fit, to pass the inspection?

So far these are the questions that I have.
Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[Valo666]

For the DOT headlights, most places wont check then. They usually have the letters and a bunch of numbers etches into the glass on the housing. You might be able to get around the DOT thing. As for the Daytime running lights thing, go to crappy tire and buy their kit. Its like $20..its super easy to install. All you do is hook up the possitive, the negative, one of the wires u wrap around a parkplug wire as an induction probe essentialy, then you use self tapping connectors on 1 of the headlight wires and one of the sidemarker wires. You only actually need to have them installed for your inspection. When me and Keroppi imported her ST from the US, we hooked that kit up in like 20 min with just having the hood poped open, no need to get at any of the fenders or take the bumper off.

[ZenAutoworks]

The headlights are required to be DOT or E-code and most inspection facilities in Alberta will check for this. There is a good reason to have right-hand-traffic lenses .... the Japanese headlight lenses are molded with a blinder pattern into the glass so you do not blind oncoming traffic. Since we drive on the opposite side of the highway in Canada, Japanese lights will definetely blind fellow motorists.

The later projector lights would get around this as the light does not "scatter" like a halogen headlight; however, the lenses are likely marked as JIS and not the required DOT or E. I have not seen a set of ST20X projector lenses up close though so maybe someone can confirm the actual markings for us?

Another reason you will want to have legal headlights is if you drive into BC, it is common to be stopped for a routine highway safety check. Officers look at your headlights and also confirm you have day time running lights installed. You should also carry your customs Form1 with you as I have been asked to present it. It just makes the inspection go smoothly if you have everything in order.

Valo666 is correct .... a simple DRL module which you can purchase from Crappy Tire will work fine. They are now about $40 though ....