TheSamba.com :: View topic - Hella H4 replacements with city/position lamp

Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:44 am

I'd like to upgrade to the Hella H-4's and I think it's be cool to have the extra city/position lamp built in. My question is: Do I need a right and a left hand unit. I was looking at these and it appears that the position lamp is on the side. What have others installed so everything is properly oriented?

http://www.amazon.com/HELLA-002395991-Type-Single-...BP0V0VTBM9

Tue Mar 01, 2016 12:08 pm

The lights are the same on each side. I have Hella H4's with City in my Beetle:

The photo in your link appears to show lens cut for countries that drive on the left (like the UK), be sure you order the correct ones:

Countries that drive on the left (UK):

Countries that drive on the right (US):

Tue Mar 01, 2016 1:10 pm

If you look at the middle picture above you can see the little arrow on the glass pointing in the direction the headlight beams are angled.
Should point at the kerb when you are driving on your normal side of the road.

Tue Mar 01, 2016 2:40 pm

mikedjames wrote: If you look at the middle picture above you can see the little arrow on the glass pointing in the direction the headlight beams are angled.
Should point at the kerb when you are driving on your normal side of the road.

You can see the arrow that Mike refers to below the 'E1' symbol in my first picture:

Tue Mar 01, 2016 8:25 pm

Thanks Hopkin and MikedJames. Where are your city lights located? In the Amazon pic they are oriented on the left...I assumed that proper orientation would be one on the left, and one one the right.
Thanks for the input!

Tue Mar 01, 2016 8:29 pm

hopkin wrote: mikedjames wrote: If you look at the middle picture above you can see the little arrow on the glass pointing in the direction the headlight beams are angled.
Should point at the kerb when you are driving on your normal side of the road.

You can see the arrow that Mike refers to below the 'E1' symbol in my first picture:

Nice Bug Too!
I'd love to see a pic with the city lights...I'm hoping for a nice ambient glow

Tue Mar 01, 2016 8:50 pm

Here's a couple of pictures from my gallery with the City lights on. The pictures don't do justice to the effect, the glow at dusk is eerie, not something any other cars have:

The addition of City lights to my car ('96 Mexican Beetle) was done by the German importer when the car was new. This was to meet the German lighting requirements. (My car was sold new in Germany in Feb '97 and imported to the UK in '02, I brought it to Canada in 2012).

The importer disconnected the parking lights and used that circuit to power the City lights; the City lights glow on the first position of the light switch. Just the 2 City lights are on, no amber parking lights, which adds to the eerie effect. When the headlights are on, the City bulbs are also on, no amber parking lights. I've discussed this with other owners of Mexican Beetles (that were modified by the same importer) and they are all wired the same way.

I plan to install a couple of relays, so that when the headlights are, the City lights will turn off and the parking lights turn on.

Tue Mar 01, 2016 9:00 pm

johnsilverlakes wrote: Thanks Hopkin and MikedJames. Where are your city lights located? In the Amazon pic they are oriented on the left...I assumed that proper orientation would be one on the left, and one one the right.
Thanks for the input!

Notice the triangle cut on the lens, for RHD (UK) lens, the cut is on the left side of the lens, on the LHD (US) lens, the cut is on the right. You have to look a close at the second picture to see the difference.

That cut 'kicks' the light toward the curb (depending on the side of the road you are driving) and will dazzle oncoming traffic if you have the wrong set. The LHD lens should be easier to find, I'm surprised that amazon link shows a RHD lens.

This link shows some more pictures of what the lights look like, it's in German :( :
http://1600i.de/1600i-mechanik/scheinwerfer/scheinwerfer.html

Tue Mar 01, 2016 9:07 pm

hopkin wrote: Here's a couple of pictures from my gallery with the City lights on. The pictures don't do justice to the effect, the glow at dusk is eerie, not something any other cars have:

The addition of City lights was done by the German importer when the car was new. This was to meet the German lighting requirements. (My car was sold new in Germany in Feb '97 and imported to the UK in '02, I brought it to Canada in 2012).

The importer disconnected the parking lights and used that circuit to power the City lights; the City lights glow on the first position of the light switch. Just the 2 headlights are on, which adds to the eerie effect. When the headlights are on, the City bulbs are also on, I've discussed this with other owners of Mexican Beetles (that were modified by the same importer) and they are the same.

I plan to install a couple of relays, so that when the headlights are, the City lights will turn off and the parking lights turn on.

Thanks! I like the effect...I think it's a warmish glow.

Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:37 pm

I use a Bosch 7" H4 headlight with city light. The glass sits a little more proud than the Hella unit. Works great, here is the part number too.

Wed Mar 02, 2016 11:28 am

otiswesty wrote: I use a Bosch 7" H4 headlight with city light. The glass sits a little more proud than the Hella unit. Works great, here is the part number too.

Thanks Otiswesty. The Bosch unit sure is more difficult to find!

Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:52 pm

Ya, agreed. I just did a search.
Mine are a few years old.

Sat Mar 05, 2016 8:14 pm

So, If anyone else is considering buying the same H-4's from amazon here's what I found out. The picture on the site is wrong. It must have been for a stand light used in Europe. What they actually sent me had the city light positioned under the main bulb. Quality is nice. It's super simple to install and the light it puts out is much better than stock.
However, I'm second guessing the "upgrade" now. The new Hella H-4 unit has a flat profile. I really miss the eyeball effect that the old lights had! It changed her face, and I don't like it for now...and I'm second guessing the light output too. I can see better, but the light lacks the warm glow the incandescents had.
Think about your own personal tastes before jumping on the "upgrade" bandwagon like I did...

Sat Mar 05, 2016 8:33 pm

You can see the flat profile vs. the eyeball effect in this picture...

Sat Mar 05, 2016 9:15 pm

I have Hella H4's on my '70 Westfalia. They throw a a nice light pattern. You can install aftermarket "city lights" in the standard Hella, as show in the picture below.

When buying European headlights, make sure you get the correct light pattern, depending on which side of the street you're driving on.

Thought we needed a bus to represent the Hellas. 8)
Great headlights!

These are on my list to install

Sun Mar 06, 2016 6:05 pm

hopkin wrote: You can see the flat profile vs. the eyeball effect in this picture...

Thanks for posting the pic. You can see how it changes the look. I'm sure I'll be happy the first time I need to drive at night. It's just something I never thought about. I was thinking all would be the same except for the increased lighting...

Sun Mar 06, 2016 6:08 pm

Dana Champion wrote: I have Hella H4's on my '70 Westfalia. They throw a a nice light pattern. You can install aftermarket "city lights" in the standard Hella, as show in the picture below.

When buying European headlights, make sure you get the correct light pattern, depending on which side of the street you're driving on.

Thought we needed a bus to represent the Hellas. 8)
Great headlights!

These are on my list to install

What a simple way to add city lights !

Sun Mar 06, 2016 6:13 pm

If you do European style lights, you'll really like them!

On my '78, I installed the lights along with relays and 100 watt (high beam) bulbs.

They are so bright, you can see the future!

But with the sharp cut off, I think I have only had one person flash their lights at me with the low beams on. So they don't seem to be too bothersome.

Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:40 am

johnsilverlakes wrote: The new Hella H-4 unit has a flat profile. I really miss the eyeball effect that the old lights had! It changed her face, and I don't like it for now...and I'm second guessing the light output too. I can see better, but the light lacks the warm glow the incandescents had.
Think about your own personal tastes before jumping on the "upgrade" bandwagon like I did...

That warm glow is just the inefficient light output you are used too. Please follow the aiming procedure too. Proper aiming will make all the difference and not blind oncoming drivers. once everything is set correctly it really is a night and day difference driving at night.

Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:41 pm

johnsilverlakes wrote: So, If anyone else is considering buying the same H-4's from amazon here's what I found out. The picture on the site is wrong. It must have been for a stand light used in Europe. What they actually sent me had the city light positioned under the main bulb. Quality is nice. It's super simple to install and the light it puts out is much better than stock.
However, I'm second guessing the "upgrade" now. The new Hella H-4 unit has a flat profile. I really miss the eyeball effect that the old lights had! It changed her face, and I don't like it for now...and I'm second guessing the light output too. I can see better, but the light lacks the warm glow the incandescents had.
Think about your own personal tastes before jumping on the "upgrade" bandwagon like I did...

H4s are incandescent. Any lamp with a filament is an incandescent lamp.

A fluorescent. .has no filament. An LED has no filament. Therefore they are not incandescent.

H4 are halogen with tungsten filament. The name/number H4 simply designates that it is a dual filament (high and low beam) bulb.

Most ....but not all.....of the H4s with spherical fronts ..are sealed beam H4. Most of the flst surface use a lead crystal lens with replaceable lamp. Ray