I've recently acquired a 2017 Ford C-Max Energi SE - plug in hybrid which had a previous incident with a deer. As such, it's in need of the full RH headlight assembly. Apparently in the US, 2013-2016 are all interchangeable, but not 2017. The result is that there are fewer available, and while I can get a used 2013-2016 for about $180, a used 2017 will set me back about $1200. I've been searching the Web to see what (if any) of the European models might be compatible. I know that I can't use an LHD unit (without modification to RHD), but the C-Max is in other places besides the UK.

If I know what part numbers might work, it'll give me a place to start. Or am I pursuing something that is just a waste of time? I know that the lighting requirements aren't going to be 100% the same, but so long as it's an RHD, I figure it's worth looking into.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

I'm confused 🙁

I would just like to clear up a few of things before perhaps being able offer some suggestions.

Q1: Which side of the road do you drive on ? (for example Left side like the UK or the Right side like the USA)

Q2: When you are sitting in the drivers seat, are you on the left (LHD) or the right (RHD) ?

Q3: Lastly, when sitting in the car looking forward, is it the headlight on the left or the right that is broken ?

When it comes to headlights there is very often confusion between things like RH-LHD and LH-RHD, so just want to be clear what you need.

This is a USA, left hand driver's seat, driving on the right side of the road situation, with the right (passenger) headlight out.

Perhaps I misunderstood the naming convention for RHD and LHD, I assumed RHD meant you drive on the right side and LHD meant you drive on the left side.

Whatever the UK is, it's the opposite! Hence my thought that other non-UK European cars may well work...

I had a similar problem (Honda CRV) but relevant here. I had a RHD (steering wheel on right) failure of our MOT (yearly test) as the headlights were getting dim due to them getting opaque with age despite multiple scrubs. So, I tried to buy new ones but could not hear in England UK. I found a supplier in Germany and after several emails to be assured they would send me the correct type, I received LHD instead of RHD.! However, it was only when my mechanic phoned me to say he could not align the beams, that we realised what was wrong. The company that supplied them did not want to know (no returns policy). Could not refit the old lights so the mechanic had to remove the headlamp alignment motors and force the lights to a position that sort of worked plus I had to fit headlamp deflectors as used by European cars coming to the UK!

They then all worked great. Just warning you of the pitfalls of what you are trying to do!

Edited January 23, 20251 yr by Kenny321
spelling error

11 hours ago, Decanus said:

This is a USA, left hand driver's seat, driving on the right side of the road situation, with the right (passenger) headlight out.

Perhaps I misunderstood the naming convention for RHD and LHD, I assumed RHD meant you drive on the right side and LHD meant you drive on the left side.

Ah OK, thanks for clearing that up.

LHD means the driver sits on the left of the car to drive, and then of course you then would drive on the right side of the road.

So you need a headlight from a LHD car which is most of Europe but not the UK or Ireland.

The headlight will have labels saying LHD - RH meaning it is right hand side light (viewed from inside the car).

The headlight will have labels saying LHD - RH meaning it is right hand side light (viewed from inside the car).

Not in my case- German supplier swore blind mine were for UK RHD but NO markings on packaging nor headlights - even the garage that fitted them could not tell.

Thanks for clarifying this LHD RHD thing. It would seem now that my title is wrong, unfortunately.

In any case, if anybody knows if German lights for instance would connect and function correctly, I'm game to try...

54 minutes ago, Kenny321 said:

Not in my case- German supplier swore blind mine were for UK RHD but NO markings on packaging nor headlights - even the garage that fitted them could not tell.

I can't answer for them not knowing what they are selling and what the markings mean. I say with 100% certainty that all headlights for use in the UK will be RHD and the one on the right side of the vehicle will be RH. Not that helps Dean who is in America 😉

55 minutes ago, Decanus said:

In any case, if anybody knows if German lights for instance would connect and function correctly, I'm game to try...

Yes LHD lights from Germany/France/Spain/Italy/Poland etc. etc. should be OK. Just be careful when checking which side you need. You need the Right Hand (RH) light for a Left Hand Drive (LHD).

Sometimes people will say things like it's the drivers side, or it is the 'near side' but that changes depending which side the driver is sat on.

Now the real trick is to find one with a compatible connector.

I have a 2017, and here in the USA, the only years that are compatible are 2017-2018. While the 2013-2016 are the same physical shape and mounting points apparently, but the wiring connector is different, and presumably the wiring configuration as well.

If I knew how to convert it, I'd be interested in doing that potentially.

This is the connection I have.