Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:59:54 -0400
Reply-To: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: '88 headlight upgrade options?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
Yesterday, I had the front bumper off my van, and noticed what I assume
are factory foglight bracket mounting holes in the top surface of the inner
bumper framemember. 2 pairs of 3-hole patterns are punched out (close to
the ends of the lower grill), apparently for auxiliary light mountings.
Could it be 2 holes for screws and one for wiring to pass through? Just a
thought, that seems to make sense.
Mike B.
----- Original Message -----
From: "joel walker" <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:37 PM
Subject: Re: '88 headlight upgrade options?
>> What I'd like is a reasonable cost option to get more light in the
>> low beam
>> range, without going with a new grill, etc. Are the 80/100W 9004
>> bulbs likely
>> to give me this? (I'd add a relay of course). I ran these on my
>> Jetta for a
>> while but had problems with short bulb life and overheated
>> connectors.
>> Any other options out there?
>
> the only thing i know of that will help, without replacing the grill
> and headlights with the round versions AND halogen bulbs/lights, is
> additional lights on the bumper ... fog lights or those Hella XL
> (half-fog/half-driving). and the quality of the added light depends on
> the brand/model of the extra lights. but it is cheaper than the
> grill/etc. well ... can be. ;)
>
> one advantage of this method is that if you wire the added lights
> somewhat 'illegally' (most states require that fog lights go out when
> high beams come on) and have the added lights triggered by the parking
> lights, not the low beam lights, you can click the headlight switch to
> the first click and drive on the fog lights (no headlights). this is
> VERY much better in dense fog and blowing snow ... you don't get any
> reflected light from the headlights, and you can see better.
>
> the DISadvantage of this method is that you don't have much room on
> top of the bumper. don't even think about putting the lights under the
> bumper ... they won't last two weeks. :( but on top of the bumper,
> you need to be careful where you mount them, and be ever more careful
> when driving so you don't smack someone, even slightly, and waste the
> lights. :( they are also vulnerable in parking lots for those idiots
> who can't judge where the front of their gawdawful pickup truck
> bumper-winch is. :(
> so it's not exactly the best of all possible solutions. but it is a
> good one.
> and if you work it right and buy TWO sets of the fog/XL lights, you
> put one whole light kit under the rear seat as a spare, and the 3rd
> light on the REAR bumper as a backup light! makes backing up in the
> dark woods a whole lot easier! :)
>
> joel
>
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