Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:30:43 -0400
Reply-To: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject: Re: Headlights: 2D1 types to Euro H4 types?
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2010062121020975@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> I recently got a pair of these for my '85 and I have very
> pleased. They rock! I already had H-4s (PIAA) and relays, but
> I went to BD's Bosch lenses and 80/100W bulbs. Big difference
> - better light distribution, and a sharper cut off at the
> edges. Not one other car has "flashed" me, either. You'll be
> amazed at the difference, and the increased safety that they provide.
I'll say it again - at about half price (way below factory wholesale), these
Bosch H4's are by far the best $45 improvement you will ever make to your
'80-85 Vanagon. Anyone still using the stock sealed beams would be crazy
not to upgrade at this price. Even if all you do is pop them in using the
existing wiring (a 10 minute install) the difference will be very noticable.
For this you will need 60/55 watt H4 bulbs, which are brighter but draw no
more current than your stock headlights, so no relay or wiring upgrade is
needed. (We have German bulbs for $3.95 each - about 1/3 cheaper than the
Amazon ones that were mentioned.) Checking and cleaning up your existing
terminals and (especially) grounds can also help improve headlight
performance and isn't a bad idea. If you still want brighter headlights, you
can always add a relay and move up to 80/100w bulbs at any time. Some
people do this, but others find the improvement with H4's and 60/55w bulbs
more than sufficient.
As for the question of blinding oncoming traffic, there is a useful review
of these Bosch's at Richard Atwell's excellent Bus site -
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/BoschH4.html . Properly aimed, these will
not blind oncoming traffic. (At least with 60/55 watt bulbs. I can't say I
have any personal experience with the 80/100w ones, although that wouldn't
affect the beam pattern.) These are intended as street headlights, and are
commonly used all over Europe and Canada. Unlike most H4 headlights, which
are not D.O.T. approved at all, these particular ones are also widely sold
(and D.O.T. labeled and approved) for highway use on motorcycles in the U.S.
However, due to arcane U.S. laws no H4 headlight is D.O.T. approved for car
use in the U.S. (despite their widespread use). Therefore, if you are a
U.S. resident I am obligated to advise you that these (and all other H4
headlights) are "sold for offroad use only."
Link to the Headlights:
http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=0301600118
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
(215) 234-VWVW
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