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Date:         Mon, 13 Feb 1995 19:28:27 +0000
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Harry Yates" <hyates@bcit.bc.ca>
Subject:      Vanagon taillights

I ran into an interesting time when it came to replace the taillight bulbs in the van a while back. The bulbs are 5 watt, but nobody stocks the same bulb (other than the dealer!). The bulbs in Europe are rated by wattage. The bulbs here are rated by candle power (cp) or amperage depending what make they are. Well, after many phone calls, and converting, nobody in North Anerica makes a 5 watt bulb to replace the taillight on the Vanagon. An easy compromise, and cheaper one as well, was to change both bulbs to a GE89. They are about 9 watts each. The electrical circuit hasn't complained of the extra load, and they are brighter (safer) when in fog, rain, etc. BTW, the 5 watt German bulb was over $2 each, and I purchased 3 GE89 bulbs for $2.43 with tax.

If anyone wants to use the correct German bulbs, BMW dealers stock all of them. The BMW's MUST use correct wattage bulbs so that the computer knows if there is a bulb burned out or not, and to turn on a dash light. Apparently, the BMW's computer counts the load on a circuit and that's how a failed bulb is detected..


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