Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 14:04:50 +0100
Reply-To: Peter Cassidy <pcassidy@APPLE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Peter Cassidy <pcassidy@APPLE.COM>
Subject: Kamei Vanagon lighting update
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi all,
Here's the continuing stoooory of Vanagon aftermarket lighting. I
generated a storm of interest from folks on the list as to how to get
the things and what they're like. So, here are the details;
- Lighting kit costs £150 (about US$215) + s/h. Shipping overnight
here to Ireland cost £40 - ouch!
- For that, you get a pair of Hella H4s + 60/55w bulbs, a pair of
Hella H1 auxiliary lamps + 55w bulb. It's also fitted and supplied
with Euro-style parking lights & bulbs. Both lights are actually
the same size and are both rectangular Hella E-code lights.
These appear to be excellent on inspection.
- Note that these lights appear to be replacements for the older
round H4s & thus require H4 connectors. I got a pair of H4
connectors from a scrapper & will blend them into the original
circuit.
- Provided with the two lights are two bezels and a centre
grille piece with a VW badge on it. This is where I was
really disappointed. The bezels have the lights directly
attached to them via cheapo wingnut adjusters. The plastic
is lightweight, bendy & looks cheaply made. There are no longer
any light 'buckets', a la Volkswagen. Given the quality of the
Hella lights and the fact that they're E-code (and that I've
already paid for them!), I'll give it a try. The VW grill badge
looks cheapo - I'm going to try to transfer over the VW one.
The grill may also benefit from a body-matched spray job.
We'll see .......
- Appearance-wise, I haven't yet fitted them to my '88 rectangular-
light Vanagon, but the appearance should be a lot like the famous
Projektzwo van. The dimensions are quite similar, tho' the grill is
a 3-piece one.
- I've nothing to do with any of these companies. I'm just passing
on useful information. YMMV. Indeed, a helpful lurker on one
of the UK T25 sites (www.club80-90.co.uk) passed on the tip to me.
- Whenever I get the conversion fitted (this weekend??), I'll post
pics of before, during and after & my opinions on the lighting
improvements. I'll also be upgrading the harness/relays to take
80w bulbs.
- Source of this kit? VolksMagic in the West Midlands, UK.
+44-121-541-2278. They can also provide the standard H4 replacement
lights (£250 - ouch again!)
More later!
Pete C
--
Peter Cassidy, pcassidy@apple.com
Sr. Dev. Engineer +353-21-4284316
WW Operations Engineering
Apple, Cork, Ireland.