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Actually, I prefer to call the Cibie lamps (like the assortment sold by Daniel Stern) that substitute for sealed-beam headlights "e-codes"; and the proprietary headlights that fit, e.g. '85-93 240s, "Euroheadlights".
But in any case, I have two '93s, one with the cheaper (relatively speaking, although still far more costly than e-codes) Euroheadlights made by and labeled (on the front lens) "DJAuto", and which I presume to be what you wrote that FCP is selling; and the other with genuine Volvo/Cibie Euroheadlights (and marked by such on the front lens). I'll be happy to share my observations regarding both.
Before that, however, I have to acknowledge that I've used Cibie e-codes or Euroheadlights on every one of my cars (many Volvos, some other American makes, and even two Mercedes) since the early 1970s because I just couldn't ever tolerate the American sealed beams, and especially the '85-93 proprietary USA DOT-mandated plastic headlights. As you wrote, it's dark at night! As a zoology professor (recently retired), I found myself over these years driving on many a dark back country road without a streetlight for tens, if not scores of miles; not to mention vacationing in ME where the local cervids include those that might weigh a full one-third or more of my car (and stand way above it :-).
When I bought my first post-'84 Volvo, which was a '93 for my wife (to replace her '84) it was hard to swallow the price of Euroheadlights (compared to the relative pittance for a set of e-codes), so I first went the relatively cheaper route and bought the DJAuto version. In retrospect I really wish I hadn't. By the way, I got them from a vender in Europe.
The first disappointment with DJAuto started with aiming. They are adjusted by moving the position of the parabolic reflector by turning bolts: the nylon nuts in which the bolts rotate were incredibly stiff (I needed a wrench to turn it, rather than just fingers -- try that when it's installed in the engine compartment); and on one headlight the fastener (to the corner of the reflector) sheared off -- but fortunately they're readily available from any Volvo dealer here as p/n 1307452-1, $1.94/1.75 each.
At the same time, the parking/turn signal light nacelle is supposed to clip onto the headlight body -- on both sides, the plastic "guides" or snaps (whatever you want to call these parts) never really matched between the nacelle and the headlight, so they have forever been slightly wobbly and therefore seem to lie in their "pocket" in the fender slightly skewed.
But the worst problem is the mounting bolts. In contrast to the Volvo/Cibie units (which I'll describe below), these are merely press-fitted (held by some friction and some shallow threading) into plastic holes; they promptly fell out, despite my certainty that their nuts were never overtightened. I first noticed this when, after my wife came home, I noticed that one of the headlight was literally hanging onto the car by the electrical cable! I spent the evening trying to "reglue" them in their holes to remount both headlights. They've each held for a while (a couple of years at a time), but it's a ongoing, repeating headache, as there are few adhesives that hold to the plastic when the housing gets hot. I've had some luck with RTV5200, a marine sealant, though.
Another disappointment has been the optics of these DJAuto lamps. They do have superior optics, and illuminate the road far better than the USA DOT plastic headlights: the low beam has the very desirable sloped (rising to the right) cutoff, and the high beam is terrific (again, compared to the plastic headlights). But I found that the optics weren't on a par to the Cibie e-codes that I was used to for so many prior years. Notably, the illumination was "blotchy" (the best way I could describe it), in that the illumination wasn't uniform, producing bright and dim areas that, when driving on a road, gives the impression of moving shadows. It's somewhat distracting until you get used to it, and can be disconcerting if you're worried about a moose (or even a deer or smaller) jumping in front of you from the side of the road.
When it was my turn to get a '93 (to replace my '80), I was reluctant to buy another set of DJAuto lamps. Happily, by that time, my daughter (knowing my frustration) had already become a well-paid lawyer, and on a business trip to Europe bought and had shipped to me (for a birthday present) a genuine set of Volvo/Cibie Euroheadlights!
These are fantastic products. First of all, addressing my biggest complaint, the mounting bolts are embedded into the plastic, as if they were dipped and submerged into the still molten plastic before it hardened, so that the attaching portion is deep in the plastic below the surface and cannot be pulled out. All of the adjusters move smoothly and almost effortlessly -- turning them is a mere two-finger task, making adjustment after mounting a no-brainer. The parking/turn signal nacelles snap into place securely, firmly and in perfect position to make the gap between lamp and fender uniform, like it was factory installed (not surprising, since this is OEM). And the illumination is flawless -- uniform light intensity (no blotches or shadows) just like my older e-codes were, and even (seemingly) brighter field than the DJAutos. There is nothing to apologize for, with these headlamps. And I can say that, IMHO, the front lens is actually nicer looking, seemingly more like intricate crystal, than the DJAuto's.
Feel free to ask me for more.
Hope this helped.
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