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.