> I bought a set of Hellas (I think? Maybe H4s?) maybe 10 > years ago, that angle the beam so the light is more focused. > How do these compare to the Bosch you are talking about?

It depends on which Hellas you have. To explain this I probably have to start with what the Bosch is, and is not. The Bosch is a true H4 headlight. Thanks to arcane U.S. D.O.T. FMVSS 108 regulations, you're not supposed to use H4 headlights on a car in the United States. (For this reason, I and all other vendors sell all H4 headlights as for "offroad use only.") However, according to the same regulations, it's perfectlly fine to use them on motorcycles, as long as the manufacturer has obtained the proper D.O.T. approval. Bosch makes two versions of their H4's - one which is strictly E-code (European and Canadian street legal), and a very similar one that is D.O.T. approved for use on motorcycles. The latter one can be identified by the D.O.T. marking on the lens, and is the one that is generally preferred for Vanagon or Bus use. (See http://www.ratwell.com/technical/BoschH4.html). It is our good fortune that Bosch makes this D.O.T. version because that's the only reason we are all getting this bargain. One of Bosch's customers (Harley Davidson) experienced a sales downturn, resulting in an overstock of these headlights, which I in turn bought for way below wholesale.

Hella makes their own conventional H4 headlight, which is relatively comparable to the Bosch (although some would argue that the Bosch has a slightly preferable beam pattern). If that is what you already have on your Vanagon, I can't say I'd bother replacing them. But Hella also makes a "Vision Plus" model that is also often erroneously referred to as an H4 headlight. A better description would be "H4 style," as it actually uses an HB2 rather than an H4 bulb. Since it is not actually an H4, it is U.S. D.O.T. approved for automotive use, so anyone concerned about enforcement of FMVSS 108 can use it worry-free. But the downside is that the HB2's performance is widely considered to be inferior to that of a comparable H4, and the cost is higher. If this is the Hella that you have, you might notice some improvement using the Bosch, although certainly not as substantial as if you were upgrading from sealed-beams, as the Vision Plus has already gotten you half way there.

In between these options are a wide range of bargain priced H4 headlights, mostly made in India or Taiwan. They all come from a few factories that private-label them and build to spec (or to price). Most are neither ECE (E-code) nor D.O.T. compliant, so they have to meet no recognized standard at all. As a result the quality and performance are all over the place, and cannot be predicted by brand name or price. The worst of them can leak when it rains, blind oncoming traffic, or in some cases illuminate the shoulder better than the road (as some sold in the U.S. were actually designed for Indian, UK, or other right-hand-drive markets). The best of them are actually pretty decent, and a few even meet ECE specs, although I would not put them on the par with a good Bosch, Hella, or Cibie.

As for having to upgrade your wiring, the standard 60/55 watt H4 bulbs draw about the same current as the stock sealed-beams and will work with your existing wiring (although cleaning up or replacing grounds, or adding a relay, can only improve things). If you move up to an 80/100w bulb you will need to add a relay. Most people find that upgrading to the H4's with the standard 60/55w bulbs is already a big improvement, and it's a five-minute drop-in installation that way, so I tend to advise starting there. If it doesn't cut it for you, you can always add a relay and brighter bulbs afterwards

Bottom line for all this is, at regular price ($80 to $120 for a pair of Bosch, Hella, or Cibie H4's, $35-$50 for a decent generic set), there would be a number of options well worth considering. But right now, while you can get the Bosch's for the price of the generics (and half the price of any comparable top-shelf alternatives), there's nothing else to consider. This is a no-brainer.

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