What differences are there between the 3rd gens in Europe as opposed to in the US? I heard the exterior lighting is different-turn signals must be amber, etc.. What other differences are there? Can anyone post pics of them?
Just curious.

Thanks,

Matt

 

Personally my IROC is still as it left the States.. Lights are still the same. Legally we have to have rear high intensity fog lights put on and turn signals must be amber (not a problem on mine luckily) Depends where you get it tested to a degree as well.

Anyone else has problems or major changes here?

Felix

 

think that there are no problems on camaros since they already have amber indicators... in theory the thing we DO need to modify are the running lights again didn't bother doing that since I like them!!!

it's a little different for firebirds/trans-ams obviously since the indicators are red buta friendly MOT man should be ok with them

 

Can't be sure if my lights have been re-aligned. The MOT guy just asks me to give 'em a quick flash!

 

Mine is an export version z28E which has different rear lights (indicators on the outside),different mirrors(square) and a few other differences which I can't recall.This has been mentioned before somewhere,maybe do a search.I don't think this model was specific to Europe but worldwide.By the way I swapped the gay looking lights and mirrors with my spares car.

 

yes hav to agree with the bit about the wing mirrors - UK regulations state that they must be flexible or moveabl/pivot in the event of an accident... not sure that anyone does that though... other things - must have a rear fog lamp... they are always baffled by the seats and seat-belts at the MOT place too

 

there was a Euro spec thirdgen at the Summer nats.

Note the faired in headlights, higher front indicators, fold in mirrors, different side markers, and different rear lights / numberplate.

 

no rear spoiler either.

 

Amazing still no rear fog light!! LOL Didn't they call it the Z28 E or something?

 

Those door mirrors are pants aren't they!!

 

truly ugly. bet they show more than the origional US spec thirdgen mirrors though

 

I have a 1992 Firebird, export model for Europe. It had:

- Ugly black folding mirrors
- Canadian gauge cluster (KM/H - mph)
- Hella H4 headlights.
- 4W bulbs in the headlight housings to replace the parking lamps. *
- Front side markers disabled, only used as blinkers.
- Rear side markers disabled. Lenses painted over to disable the reflectors.
- Third brake light disabled. It was illegal in 92. In 95 they changed their mind and it became mandatory on new cars.
- Radio with european frequencies.
- German owner's manual.

* Amber parking lights are illegal here. The wiring was modified so the headlights open when you turn the parking lights on. Also, the rear turn signals have to be amber, so T/A's and GTA's came with base Firebird lights.

I returned everything except the gauge cluster to stock US spec, but if you need any pics just tell me.

/edit: Some cars also got a rear foglight mounted under the bumper with a huge orange switch in the center console, but mine didn't. One less thing to remove.

 

Why are sidemarkers illegal? Don't those make the car more visible?

Yeah post pics if you want.

Thanks for everyone who posted.

Matt

 

Sidemarkers are legal now, but they have to be amber (not red in the back), and they can't be combined with blinkers or other lights. Pics will come in a minute.


Ugly.


Export vs. US.


Canadian gauges. Some cars also got a km/h only cluster.


Hella H4 housing with 4W parking light bulb.


Parking lights on. Notice the lack of side markers.


Rear sidemarkers and reflectors disabled.


EU-Radio with 5 band equalizer in Buick trim.


Manual in German.

 

Freaky!

Believe it or not, 99% of our thirdgen's are American spec, because

a) they were never imported here

b) most came over with US service personel, therefore were US spec.

 

...btw....some of our european "export" models even get a "pure" km/h-speedo and metric gauges...like here in germany...

 

...and for most "european" 91/92 thirdgen-birds they have done this terrible thing (especially in Germany):

...they put very ugly "Hella" turnsignal-"cubes" on the originally turnsignal-housing (by ripping out the cable and bulb-socket stuff inside the housing, drilling, spraying black and using as a platform for the "cubes")





....sometimes they even disabled the fog lights and painted them with black color, because the lamps donīt have a "E"-sign (...somekind of european standard like "DOT" or "SAE" in the US...)