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Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:09 pm

I had to drive out of town yesterday and drove home after dark. I need brighter lights. I have it narrowed down to 2 choices, but I think the Hellas might be the ones for me. The other brand is Cibie. My problem is I have no knowledge about headlights. If someone has some advise that would be great.

https://www.westcoastmetric.com/i-22963811-70477.html

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094YP3M6W/

Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:21 pm

Several recent threads on various forums here are discussing them. Check them out and decide.

My take: Hella "E-code" H4 work great, and have for many years.
https://www.busdepot.com/0301600118

Hella DOT H4 (the "legal in all 50" versions) have an inferior "sealed beam-like" pattern. The E-code pattern is far better.

I've had the Cibie and they are good as well, though I am less familiar with their lens patterns to verify if they are E-code or not.

Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:31 pm

The newer Cibie's are not the same as the previous ones. Follow the info Phil posted.

Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:41 pm

Hella e code with 55-100 bulbs, if someone comes at you with their brights on just give them a blast of your brights and they will quickly turn theirs down. Those bulbs turn night into day.

Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:43 pm

Thanks KTPhil

Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:56 pm

Starbucket wrote: Hella e code with 55-100 bulbs, if someone comes at you with their brights on just give them a blast of your brights and they will quickly turn theirs down. Those bulbs turn night into day.

You know, after dailying my super I never had good luck long term with high wattage bulbs.

Wed Jan 19, 2022 3:00 pm

Lingwendil wrote: Starbucket wrote: Hella e code with 55-100 bulbs, if someone comes at you with their brights on just give them a blast of your brights and they will quickly turn theirs down. Those bulbs turn night into day.

You know, after dailying my super I never had good luck long term with high wattage bulbs.

Ya, I got the 55\60 bulbs.

Wed Jan 19, 2022 3:06 pm

The included H4 bulbs that came with my E codes were great, but a nice upgrade are the Silverstars.

Wed Jan 19, 2022 3:30 pm

Starbucket wrote: Hella e code with 55-100 bulbs, if someone comes at you with their brights on just give them a blast of your brights and they will quickly turn theirs down. Those bulbs turn night into day.

This is what I have been running for years in my bug. Bought the e code from the bus depot. Light up the road pretty good

Wed Jan 19, 2022 4:18 pm

Lingwendil wrote: Starbucket wrote: Hella e code with 55-100 bulbs, if someone comes at you with their brights on just give them a blast of your brights and they will quickly turn theirs down. Those bulbs turn night into day.

You know, after dailying my super I never had good luck long term with high wattage bulbs.

They only draw 3.75 amp.s more per bulb (and only when on high) and each bulb has their own fuse, ran them for over 10 years with no problem, but hay the 60's give good light too.

Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:49 pm

If I use the 55/100 bulbs, can anybody advise if I would need to use a relay in a '74 SB?

I bought LEDs and have never installed them, but am now considering these E-code H4s.

Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:12 pm

Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now.

Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:22 pm

creative native wrote: If I use the 55/100 bulbs, can anybody advise if I would need to use a relay in a '74 SB?.

I didn't use one in my 70 bug, going on 8 + years with no problems.

Thu Jan 20, 2022 7:24 am

robcy04 wrote: Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now.

Since these are LED lights...any other modifications needed for them to work? I too have a '71 but mine is a Super (obvs. no difference in electric for headlights between your friend's and mine).

Do you know if your friend just did a plug-and-play or if he needed anything additional to make things play nicely?

Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:22 am

60ragtop wrote: creative native wrote: If I use the 55/100 bulbs, can anybody advise if I would need to use a relay in a '74 SB?.

I didn't use one in my 70 bug, going on 8 + years with no problems.

Thank you for that information.

Thu Jan 20, 2022 1:53 pm

robcy04 wrote: Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now.

Looks interesting, but $150 each? Ouch!

Thu Jan 20, 2022 2:03 pm

johnnyvw164 wrote: Looks interesting, but $150 each? Ouch!

After driving for a while and having modern cars with their very bright, ultra white lights shining in my low-to-the-ground eyes (compared to their SUV) and that basically preventing me from seeing the road at all on my side until they pass...I'm totally in the market for them if they work without much fuss!!

Thu Jan 20, 2022 3:20 pm

beanlover wrote: robcy04 wrote: Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now.

Since these are LED lights...any other modifications needed for them to work? I too have a '71 but mine is a Super (obvs. no difference in electric for headlights between your friend's and mine).

Do you know if your friend just did a plug-and-play or if he needed anything additional to make things play nicely?

I rushed to put them in my 79 SB convertible. They are plug-n-play and required nothing other than installing them as you would a normal H4. Even the plug is the same.

Thu Jan 20, 2022 3:31 pm

johnnyvw164 wrote: robcy04 wrote: Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now.

Looks interesting, but $150 each? Ouch!

Yes, they are on the pricey side, but I do not lie when I say that the difference is night to day (literally :-)). With my Hellas I would have to point them at an angle and would regularly get oncoming drivers flashing me, with these there is a sharp cutoff of light and everything below that line is lit up in a cool white color that creates a semi circle in front of you, and I have never had oncoming drivers flash me. I know I sound like an ad for Grote but any future VW's (already planning on a Ghia) I get will also get those lights as soon as possible.

Thu Jan 20, 2022 3:34 pm

beanlover wrote: johnnyvw164 wrote: Looks interesting, but $150 each? Ouch!

After driving for a while and having modern cars with their very bright, ultra white lights shining in my low-to-the-ground eyes (compared to their SUV) and that basically preventing me from seeing the road at all on my side until they pass...I'm totally in the market for them if they work without much fuss!!

The Grotes are simply plug-n-play. It took me all of 30 minutes to have them installed, and correctly pointed.