Date:         Thu, 22 Jan 2004 09:00:36 -0600
Reply-To:     Andrew Gies <andrew_gies@CANGENE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Gies <andrew_gies@CANGENE.COM>
Subject:      FW: Automotive (Vanagon!) Lighting Query
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

As per a suggestion from a listee I emailed Daniel Stern Lighting for ideas
-

The response is below.  All the suggestions he gives below have been
discussed before on the list  BUT he rates the upgrade rectangular E-code
lights the lowest (in terms of lighting quality).

Does anyone on the list use (and have an opinion on) the replacement
rectangular E-code lights on their vans?



On Wed, 21 Jan 2004, Andrew Gies wrote:

> Do you have any headlight modification suggestions for later model
> Volkswagen Vanagon vans?

Yep. Please pardon my "canned" text; I get this question a LOT. Please
feel free to respond with whatever questions you might have.

Greetings.

Yes, the '86-up Vanagon headlamps are junk.  Part of the problem is poor
wiring, but the headlamp optics themselves are very poor.

You've got several options for gaining good nighttime visibility with an
'86-up Vanagon:

1) Purchase the European-spec outer headlamp units in your same existing
rectangular format. Expensive! About $250/ea. Performance is from "decent"
to "good", depending on wiring and bulbs. Definitely better than what you
have now.

2) Purchase an '85 or earlier front grille and headlamp buckets. Toss the
sealed beam junk in the trash (though it is better than the junk you're
currently stuck with!) and come rattle my cage for a set of E-code round
headlamps; $104/set of two. Performance is from "very good" to "excellent"
depending on wiring and bulbs. Way better than what you have now.

3) Purchase the South African grille setup, which uses 7" round outer
headlamps like the '85-down stock grille, but which also has 5.25"
diameter inboard driving beams (auxiliary high beams). Same headlamp
route as in (2). Same low beam performance as in (2), stronger high beams.
If you do this, be careful -- some of the guys bringing in the SOuth
African grille setup are either supplying wrong-side-of-road H4 headlamps
(for RHD countries like South Africa, UK, Australia) or are supplying
Bosch *Motorcycle* H4 headlamps, which are sub-optimal in two-track
vehicle service. Pass on them.

4) Purchase the Projektzwo quad rectangular setup with projector low
beams. VERY expensive. Very good performance, but not significantly better
than (2) or (3) unless you're rallying and can run very high power bulbs
because you needn't worry about oncoming traffic.

With ANY of these options, you'd want a relay installation package to feed
full power to the headlamps and save your headlamp and beam selector
switches. The kit doesn't cost much, $45 to $60 depending on which
headlamps you're trying to wire up.

Let me know how I can help!

DS

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