Hella 500 vs. Optilux 1900 (by hella) Help me decide !

[JoshuaTest]

OK,

so with the recent addition of my TJM T-17 front bumper... I need some off road lights to fill it in some...

So I was gonna pick up a set of Hella 500's, which i've seen local at Walmart of all places for $62.00... BUT, then I was in Advance Auto Parts the other day and found the Optilux 1900 (by hella) off road lights for $39.99 on sale...

The Details...

Hella 500's - $62.99
55w H3 halogen bulbs
stone guards included
http://www.autoanything.com/lights/69A1325A0A0.aspx

or...

Optilux 1900's (by hella) - $39.99
100w H3 halogen bulbs
stone guards included
http://www.buyautotruckaccessories.com/product.cfm/cf-bin/pn.optilux-model-1900-off-road-ramps/


The links listed are not the sites i plan to buy from, just the first results on google to post the specs for each light...


Now of course at this point the Optilux 1900's sound like a better deal... They are $20 cheaper, and higher wat bulbs.... However something tells me that i'm missing something... There has to be a reason that the Hella 500's, dispite the 55w vs. 100w bults are more money EVERYWHERE...

I did some quick google searching, and apparently there are differant types of lences that differant lights use... But could not find a comparison of the two...

Hopefully i can find some help here...

Thanks in Advance...

 

[asteffes]

The 1900s look like knock-off KC lights. Given that the 500s suck rocks, the OptiLux are probably worthless. I've used 500 driving beams, Hella 4000 driving beams with 100 watt bulbs and I'm still blown away by how much more effective the IPF 968s (with 100 watt bulbs) are.

I would skip both of these and, if your budget allows, get some 968s and use the included 100 watt bulbs. Best bang-for-the-buck lights, IMO, and they aren't rediculously huge or ugly like some lights can be.

 

[Nullifier]

the reflector and lens is the most important factor in good lighting. just remeber you get what you pay for. Witht he price range of non HID lights running betwenn $25 - $200 per light you are aa the bottom of the scale.

The IPF 968 lights are $116 on 4x4 connection. roughly $58 per light. Although still on the lower side of the scale the few extra dollars spent on the lens and reflector quality will allow better performance no doubt.

I believe that the consensus was on some tests, that addiing hella 500's to a really new rig with state of the art headlights ment that you would not really be able to tell that 2 500 were even on.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I'm just a clueless rube, but I like my Hella 500 fog lights a lot. I currently have standard 55W Osram H3 halogen bulbs in them, which are basically the same as the H4 bulbs in my headlights (Hella Vision Plus units). The light color and intensity is darn even between the headlamps and the fogs.

 

[drbandkgb]

I see this is a very old thread but... I love my 1900..and as far as some one calling them a cheap knock off. These are the same as KC's Mounts and all are the same...Im running 4 and they are very bright