Which headlights? Not relays-opinions

[nac593]

I'm going to install the headlight relays, but confused on which headlights to buy. Any opinions?

[Dingfodgy]

I'm totally sold on my Hella H4's. They have a sturdy magnesium body and thick glass lens. Once I get some other things taken care of on the six-seven, I plan on doing a DS1 HID bulb upgrade. Cibie ("see-bee") also makes a nice H4 lamp assembly.

[nac593]

Does that bulb upgrade fit into the hella?

[Stocker]

Brand-name European H-4 headlamps are the best, imo. Hellas are very popular, affordable, and great quality. I prefer Cibies b/c their high beam pattern has a bit less vertical height and more width, and quality is at least as good -- but they do cost more. I haven't owned Bosch but they should also be very good, as are Marchal -- but they are very hard to find.


Edit: Just did a bit of searching; it seem Marchal is no longer in business, having apparently been bought years ago by Valeo. Too bad, they made the first E-codes I bought, back in the early Seventies. I scrapped them after many years of service when the reflectors became tarnished.

[basketcase]

I have some old Hellas I'm going to use in my truck. I have had them since the early '70s and they are like new since they haven't been in anything in 25 years. These have a very poronounced low beam cutoff line that keeps all of the light close to the ground. I'm not sure how the newer ones compare.

Tom

[Stocker]

Tom, the new E-codes are pretty much like your old Hellas -- sharp horizontal low beam cutoff, and flare up slightly on the right side to better illuminate road signs.

[snj8198]

a quick silly question... the lights you guys are referring to are stock location replacement upgrades corrrect?

[Dingfodgy]

Originally Posted by nac593

Does that bulb upgrade fit into the hella?

Yes- there are many HID kits that fit a standard H4 housing. I'll most likely get a Phillips or Sylvania/Valeo kit.

[Dingfodgy]

Originally Posted by snj8198

a quick silly question... the lights you guys are referring to are stock location replacement upgrades corrrect?

Yes these are easy-swap 7" modular headlights. You'll most likely have to fiddle with the adjustments- 'cause like "STOCKER" said- the Hella's and Cibie's have a different light pattern than the old-skool 6024 sealed beams.

[Brad]

Anyone know where a guy could get the Cibie's for less than $75/ea?

[basketcase]

Here's the Hellas. I was going to use eyelids on my lights but I think they would ruin the light pattern. I just put them in and one of the adjusters broke one of it's tabs off. Just old and brittle. I think I have some new ones around here someplace.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Brad

Anyone know where a guy could get the Cibie's for less than $75/ea?

Hmmm, unfortunately, no... I'm pretty sure I bought them for less at http://www.rallylights.com/, but apparently they no longer carry Cibies. As far as I can tell, Daniel Stern is currently the only outlet in the States.