Head light upgrade?????

Big B · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:22 pm Post subject: Head light upgrade?????

Any body ever install the Go Westy headlight upgrade kit. (square lights)
I'm thinking about it and wanted some feedback first.
It's about $100.00 and i'm asking if the results are great, then i'll be happy.
If lousy, then I'm going with the so africal round headlight grill.

gmasterv · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:53 pm Post subject:

Best $100 I spent on Voila. Not sure if the price is right, but it sure was worth the $100 to be able to see at night.

Tomswesty · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:54 am Post subject:

Gee, looks like they did raise the price, I think mine was $49 but worth every penny. You can really see at night and the switch won't melt down if you use your bright lights for any length of time. It truly is like night and day, especially on dark forest service roads looking for a place to camp.

Just my $0.02

molson88 · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:20 am Post subject:

You can upgrade the headlight wiring yourself by installing a couple of relays, for $20-$30. It more than doubles the output of the headlights, while eliminating headlight switch meltdown.
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supplicationjam · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:24 am Post subject:

I got mine from Terry Kay who sells this relay kit for $19.99. Then you just have to buy the bulbs at your local auto parts place. Makes a HUGE difference!!
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lilweasel · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:14 am Post subject:

I made my own kit- just get a couple relays and it's really simple to do. I basically used these directions- it's really simple:
http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/hdltrela.htm

gmasterv · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:36 am Post subject:

probably still a bit expensive but to be fair the $95 Gowesty kit does include the bulbs...

http://www.gowesty.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scre...gory_Code=

again, I think this a must have upgrade regardless of where you buy it/make it.

peace and SEE Shocked

you on the road (or beside it Rolling Eyes

)

Dogpilot · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:45 am Post subject:

I put the South African Grill kit on mine. It was a little brighter, but not earth shattering. However, when I put the relay kit in (I purchased it on Ebay for $19.00), the results were dramtic! Light output doubled, and everybody started flashing their lights at me (I need to aim them down a bit to boot).

Everyone is correct about doing it yourself, here is a listing of some relays:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Two-Bosch-Relays-Re...0451QQrdZ1
a few connectors and some new bulbs and your in business.

Cheers,
James
_________________
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Ericthenorse · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:48 am Post subject:

I did the SA grill, and added the relays and the difference was amazing.. Then you add a set of 100/80 bulbs and it is like daylight in front of you....
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r39o · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

The relays are the best upgrade. You should be able to get all you need via a FLAPS. I think Wallymart has relays too. I, as posted before, have mixed and matched parts from other VAG products and basically did it for free. There are plenty of ways to do it using boneyard parts. Cars are filled with really good relays so why bother to buy some.
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sc-surfer · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:34 am Post subject:

I bought my kit from www.van-cafe.com. I think it was $49.

Well worth it!!!!
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Ericthenorse · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:51 pm Post subject:

If you decide to go with making your own setup, I would at least suggest going with Good VW style relays.. That way, they will fit into the stack of relays that are there already.... Here is something for you do-it-yourselfers...

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The high beam and low beam wire up the same.. except one has white wires, and one has yellow wires. Even if you don't use VW relays, the principal is the same. Look at the diagram on the top of the relay to see where to hook up your wires. The wires to the switch come down right next to the fuse pannel. remove the stearing column cover to make sure you are cutting the right wires. the stock headlight system has the grounds for both high beam and low crimped together in one spade connector on the grounding tab. You should split them up into two seperate grounds with seperate spade connectors. To find the right grounds to split, turn on the headlights and pull ground wires off untill the lights go out... Twisted Evil

_________________
'69 bug--rusty as hell
'91 vanagon carrat-slammed,5 speed,4 wheel disks,17x8.5's

Phil G · Samba Member Joined: December 04, 2005 Posts: 331

Funny thing, just yesterday I ordered the GoWesty kit - for no other reason than to avoid having to dig though the stash for relays and such. Also ordered some other stuff. The other stuff arrived next day, but no headlight kit in the box!
I think Scott has new baby on the brain! Very Happy

No big, I'll call tomorrow and it'll be here Thursday – can’t install ‘til the weekend anyway.

Good to scrub out the lenses with vinegar or alcohol if they're a bit cloudy too, and of course avoid messing with the plastic adjusters unless adjustment is needed. You can always spend that $75 later . . . and some NeverSeize on mounting screws and any new adjusters might be in order.

66dalydrvr · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject:

r39o · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject:

Ericthenorse · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject:

I believe that both Go westy and Volkscafe(Van-Cafe) sell the same kit from the same place.. Both use VW factory relays...
_________________
'69 bug--rusty as hell
'91 vanagon carrat-slammed,5 speed,4 wheel disks,17x8.5's

Victoiagon · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:50 pm Post subject:

I am wondering about cloudy lenses as well, has anyone cleaned the inside of there lenses? How did you do it?

msinabottle · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:23 pm Post subject: Winston's Kit

Was Terry K's, he painstakingly marked which wire went to where, and his instructions were very clear and his price was low. I dug out from a closet a pair of Hella H4 headlights and bulbs my father had bought 20 years before...

I think I just washed them out with Window cleaner before I installed them, with the bulbs out, they're electrically inert. The results have been... Stunning. I can hear the relays click when I turn on the lights. The neat part about those old H4's is that they're drop-in on an '84, they're what Winston was meant to have. Nice thick quartz glass, too.

[email protected] · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:02 am Post subject:

That Porjektzwo grill I got has H-4's in it and what a difference, even with low wattage bulbs and no relays installed! Just an overall better projections and cleaner light over the stock units. The H-1 brights are pretty stout as well!
_________________
Markus

pjackman · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 12:48 pm Post subject:

About cleaning cloudy lenses see:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=140257&highlight=


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