Headlight Replacement
- Thread starter JKPhoto
- Start date
Ryanc
SE Expedition Society
Bill, I'm running the cibies with osram bulbs, not Hellas. Not sure if there is much of a difference.
Bosch European H4 Headlights - BusDepot.com - I have been riding motorcycles for years and have used these lights and they are quality - the
light dispersion pattern is phenomenal... I swapped mine out a year ago and I am extremely happy - the relay kit is definitely worth it as well...http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=0301600118
VisionKit - Performance Headlight Upgrade Kit http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=VISIONKIT1
Dim headlights are a thing of the past, with this simple kit. Complete upgrade kit makes a HUGE lighting improvement, with
minimal cost and effort. SAVE 50% off individual prices! Theses are identical in size to the Jeep TJ wrangler - plug & play.
Kit Includes:
- Two German Bosch European spec H4 headlights (the highest rated on the market for Bus and Vanagon use - see this independent review)
- Two high quality German 90/100 watt H4 bulbs (roughly twice as bright as your stock bulbs)
- Two Headlight relays with wiring harnesses and fuses
- Simple, fully illustrated instructions.
Here is a great link on headlights.
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/BoschH4.html
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Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
Huge difference; the Cibies blow away the Hellas for overall spread of light, lack of hotspots, and general quality.
The Hellas have too much foreground light and the highbeams are too high; you can't adjust them in the middle to work best. This results in fantastic highbeam performance but substandard lowbeam work.
Actual photometry on those would dispute that. You'd do much better by replacing that Bosch with a Cibie or a new TruckLite.
Bosch makes some fantastic lighting products, like Hella. But their H4 reflectors aren't on that list.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?332580-bosch-7-quot-motorcycle-lens
In these links:
Mind you, the new TruckLites aren't perfect. The SPD, CRI, and CCT all have room for improvement as does the light distribution. I'd also like a replaceable convex glass lens and method of warming the lens to prevent ice-over.
But, taken as a whole, what these lights offer is excellent. Lots of light where you want it, low power draw, easy install, no need to replace a lens. Ever.
Rovertrader
Supporting Sponsor
I ran Cibies back in the 80s racing 911/930s, and loved them!!
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
Coventry West sells them as well as Daniel Stern Lighting.
A full relayed harness will net you more power to them as well.
RubiconGeoff
Adventurer
I couldn't get a response to any of multiple emails to Daniel Stern, so Rallylights is the route I went and I'm very pleased. I didn't want to spend a fortune on lighting, but I wanted to make a substantial improvement while getting the electrical load out of the wimpy OEM wiring harness. I run 80/100 watt H4s in the Hella housings, and with the supersharp vertical cutoff to the beam pattern, I'm able to put all the light onto the ground and keep it out of oncoming drivers' eyes. Worlds better than the cheapo drop-in HID replacement kits I've seen and used myself, and oncoming drivers don't hate me now.
I supplement my Hella low beams with some Warn fog lights. I have them wired to stay on when I go to high beam, and I have some PIAA driving lights triggered to come on automagically with the high beams. With 480 watts of well-aimed high beam lighting, I can't imagine needing more than this in a big slow Jeep. Sure, I could have gotten a single fancy small LED light bar for the same cost as the two sets of auxiliary lights I'm using, but I already had these Warn and PIAA lights lying around unused. A nighttime racing sports car or trophy truck would use more light, but not a street-driven rockcrawler.
Heading Out
Adventurer
Late to the party but, I've run both Cibies and Hellas over the years, both work great on the road or off and last well.
For my YJ, I've chosen Hella H4 conversions for the headlights and a set of Pro Comp 130's on the bumper.
the Pro Comps have a switch and are set to come on with the high beams.
I will be adding a set of Hella 500's on the windshield pillars aimed to each side of the headlight beam, to widen the field of view.
I like the Pro Comps because the're inexpensive for the light they put out, so if one should be damaged, it's
not a big loss, and the light output and beam pattern works for me. Where I live, lamps mounted on the bumper tend to suffer a lot of stone damage,
so, this is a consideration.
I feel this will be plenty of light, with several configuration options that will be work for the exploring I do.
I don't run fog lamps on the Jeep because, I find the beam pattern too flat to be of much use off road, the jeep is a toy and really see no use in the little fog we get.
John.
For my YJ, I've chosen Hella H4 conversions for the headlights and a set of Pro Comp 130's on the bumper.
the Pro Comps have a switch and are set to come on with the high beams.
I will be adding a set of Hella 500's on the windshield pillars aimed to each side of the headlight beam, to widen the field of view.
I like the Pro Comps because the're inexpensive for the light they put out, so if one should be damaged, it's
not a big loss, and the light output and beam pattern works for me. Where I live, lamps mounted on the bumper tend to suffer a lot of stone damage,
so, this is a consideration.
I feel this will be plenty of light, with several configuration options that will be work for the exploring I do.
I don't run fog lamps on the Jeep because, I find the beam pattern too flat to be of much use off road, the jeep is a toy and really see no use in the little fog we get.
John.
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RubiconGeoff
Adventurer
I don't like windshield-mounted lights because they illuminate the hood, which kills my night vision.
Heading Out
Adventurer
I wondered about that, has anybody here run shields on the lights to reduce glare on the hood/body?
I've seen it done on rally cars, I just wonder how much it helps, and would like some input from people with
a similar mounting set up.
Heading Out
Adventurer
That's what I'm looking for, and as the clear coat on my jeeps hood is shot I may give this a try.
Sorry for the Hijack.....
John.
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
Don't use Hella 500s on the A-pillar; pick a better light and you won't have as much splash.
Oppositelocker is going to experiment with these:
http://www.amazon.com/ABL-Series-In...automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1335848348&sr=1-3These
I'd pull the big 100w bulb and fit a 55w burner. But you can't beat the price and they have a decent rep in Europe.
I'm eager to see how they work.
Oppositelocker is going to experiment with these:
http://www.amazon.com/ABL-Series-In...automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1335848348&sr=1-3These
I'd pull the big 100w bulb and fit a 55w burner. But you can't beat the price and they have a decent rep in Europe.
I'm eager to see how they work.