Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2006 12:05:00 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: cibie lights
In-Reply-To: <44AE4700.7060202@charter.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
John,
I have not checked with Aardvark to see what they offer but there are several ways to improve your lighting depending on how much work and money you want to invest.
You can:
Clean your current lenses and install new ground wires.
Install relays and new ground wires.
Install higher wattage bulbs.(you must install relays for this choice)
These choices will make some improvements but you will always be limited by the stock lenses which are the real problem.
Swap out the original lenses for Ecode fixtures.
This takes care of the problem with stock lights. If you choose this route you should still install relays and new grounds and you will have to change the connectors at the bulbs. With Ecode lights you will have a much greater choice of bulbs and/or wattages. Ecodes run about $250.00 used when you can find them(check with Ben T for some) and over $350.00 for new, replacement parts will be harder to get. Some people are reported to have made their own version of Ecode lights by finding a way to make a different but similar light mount into the van. I have not tried this yet but do have some lenses that I could try with if I ever have enough spare time.
Install a set of driving lights and leave the stock lights alone.
May not be legal in some areas but is an option that costs less then Ecodes but more than cleaning and rewiring the stock lights.
Install the South African grill and lights. This is one of the more expensive options but you do get headlights with round reflectors which are more efficient the the rectangular ones.
Get eye surgery to restore your eyesight to its original glory.
This is the most expensive option and will not solve the problem created by the stock headlight lenses.
What is wrong with your current lights, besides the fact that they are stock US market lenses that is. Are they broken??
I have good used ones in my parts van if you need to replace broken lights, this may not be your best option but they are available for a nominal fee.
If you think that your stock lights are bad you should have been with my wife and I when we had to drive hoem from Denali Park in September a few years ago. My alternator died and I had to drive with a mini maglight aimed at the center line of the road to see!
Of course if you were in ALASKA right now you would not need headlights, nor would you have been struck by lightning!!!
Mark in AK
----- Original Message -----
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Date: Friday, July 7, 2006 3:46 am
Subject: Re: cibie lights
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> This raises an interesting question for me. I need to replace the
> lighting on my Burgundy 88 GL Is there anything at Aardvark this is
> direct replacement for the crummy DOT lighting I now have? If not, who
> sells the direct replacements. My 88 GL has the square inner
> lights and
> the rectangular outer lights.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Alex Towner wrote:
> > Regarding the use of HID lights and fog lights:
> >
> > The HID lights are so good that fog lights are pretty much
> rendered redundant. You'll barely be able to tell the fogs are on.
> VW often deletes foglights on cars that come equipped with factory
> HIDs. The Golf 4 is one example. I bought a set of factory HIDs
> for my R32 and the foglights that are included in the headlight
> cluster on the non-HID car are replaced with an extra set of turn
> signal lights. The single signals would barely show up next to the
> HIDs otherwise.
> > http://forum.vwsport.com/pics/data/500/headlight2.JPG
> >
> > The Golf 5 is the same way. If you look at the picture of this
> R32, you'll notice low and high beam lenses, but no fogs. None on
> the Ferrari, either.
> > http://vorsicht.org.hk/photos/data/500/medium/DSC00130i.jpg
> >
> > Mark C, what is the website you are looking at with the Cibie
> HIDs? A Euro site? I bought a set of round E-codes for my Vanagon
> from Aardvark International, which I thought was the only US
> vendor at the moment.
> > http://www.cibieusa.com/cibie_main_frameset.htm
> >
> > -Alex
> >
> >
> >
>
