E-code (Euro) lenses can be installed separately. They distribute the light much differently than the US DOT specification. The most important characteristics are: illumination focused down on the road, a hard horizontal cutoff, and a little extra light high and to the right (to illuminate signs, joggers and roadside hazards). I paid $100 each for the lenses and changeout takes less than half an hour. Mine are Volvo OE. Read the FAQs at Daniel Stern's informative automotive lighting site, http://www.lighting.mbz.org

Every US driver struggles for better lighting, and the first modification I put into any car is the lighting. The Europeans are very active in the area of automotive lighting, and they do it better the US or Japanese automakers.

The lighting on the Euro Volvos is better than it is here (why can't we get the cornering lamps that come on with the turn signals here?!?).