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Date:         Fri, 30 Nov 2001 21:11:28 -0800
Reply-To:     David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Headlights
Comments: To: Julian Burden <jburden@CONSULTANT.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20011130191045.12800.qmail@mail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

What makes our lights more expensive that some others (80 USD / 120 CAD) is a few things... first Bosch quality - these are [seriously] nice lights, better than any other the brand name round H4 lights that I have seen and *especially* better than any of the aftermarket lights out there - Autopal, Silt etc. The output is better than the post 86 square light system on low beam and as good on high beam with 55/60W bulbs. Also these are true European lights with the 5W park light inside of the shell as the European T3s and T2s do not have park lights in the signal markers. In short you are paying for the quality and the novelty of having the real European lights for your Vanagon.

On the subject of brighter bulbs. Brighter bulbs are better, but not that much better in my opinion. Once you upgrade to a good set of e-code lights you will notice that it is the light pattern that makes the difference and no so much the brightness. Just a word of warning - stay away from no-name high power bulbs as I have seen a lot of problem with them breaking - stick with Osram (Bosch), Hella, Beru or Philips.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc. 4356 Quesnel Hixon Road Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3 mailto:info@fastforward.ca <mailto:info@fastforward.ca> http://www.fastforward.ca <http://www.fastforward.ca> Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160

• Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions • Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation • European Lighting for most Volkswagen models

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of Julian Burden Sent: November 30, 2001 11:11 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Headlights

Lights on my '85 Vanagon are bad, very bad. Rather than getting direct replacements I'd like to upgrade.

I don't mind the idea of rewiring to get more power up front, but if the gain over Halogen through the existing wire is minimal rather not go to the extra effort.

My research (including searching the archives!) to date has uncovered four options:

1. Bus Depot "Headlight Conversion Kit, H4 Halogen, Set, incl. 12 v bulbs, 63-79 Bus, 80-85 Vanagon" at US$34.95 for the pair.

2. Sylvania H6024 ("30% brighter") at around CAD$56 a pair, available locally.

3. Sylvania H6024XV ("three times as bright") while I haven't found a source for these it appears they would not be much more than option 2 (based on the same shop having H6054 and H6054XV at similar prices).

4. Fast Forwards H4 conversion at CAD $120.

It appears that there is little difference in the cost of the first three options. Someone would have to really rave about option 4 to make me shell out the extra.

So, I have two questions:

1. Which is the best of the above options?

2. Is the effort of rewiring worth it (I guess option one above would allow me to test the standard bulbs, and rewire if I want still more light)?

TIA, Julian. --

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