TheSamba.com :: View topic - H4/LED Headlamps What's New/Good These Days?

Tue Jul 22, 2025 5:29 pm

Hey all,
I was doing a search for threads on H4 conversions. I did one on my previous but but that was over 10 years ago. And I only found 1 thread here from 2006. Maybe using different search words there are more, nonetheless.

I see a few kits from the usual top vendors we love, and various brands on Amazon and Ebay. I have the full headlight bucket assemblies already, minus a few clips, so for the H4 conversion Id need the new glass housing and the bulbs. Fairly straight forward but lots of options it seems.

Q1: I am curious over the last few years what you all have installed, what shocked you and was a good price, off brands, random brands, name brands, looking at all the options before pulling the plug, a good deal is always nice, but if reliability is at hand, thumbs down.

Q2: Back when I did my 65' bus in 2013 (drive in peace of a new owner somewhere), I remember some talk on a thread about wiring something in-line from the main headlamp harness, it was a fuse, or little capacitor? I can't recall, ting any bells?

Top Choice:

I did some deals and swaps with Ronnie at BusDepot years ago, his set sounds nice, and, well some people have paid more for a pair of socks, AKA: Awesome price point on this set.

https://www.busdepot.com/nl910ch4

Thanks all, happy cruising.
8)

Tue Jul 22, 2025 7:25 pm

Bug and ghia people seem to talk about them more, and here's a relevant thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=794958

updated earlier today:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=783088

I had Bus Depot H4s in the bay and in the 65 but threw one out because it fogged so bad (you can clean them, but I am trying other options). 10 years old, tho. Put some LEDs from
https://www.vintagetraderaz.com/
in the 65 he loaned me, but haven't driven in dark enough to give a report! And i bought a set of those Toyota LEDS later in first thread to try in the bay.

Wed Jul 23, 2025 7:26 am

70bus wrote: Bug and ghia people seem to talk about them more, and here's a relevant thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=794958

I ordered a set of these for my 67. They're ridiculously great quality for the price, and it even includes a relay kit! If you're still 6v the price still allows you plenty of budget for the best 6v H4 bulbs you can find.

Kinda amused that both of my vans will have Koito lights :lol:

Wed Jul 23, 2025 8:53 am

vwuberalles wrote: 70bus wrote: Bug and ghia people seem to talk about them more, and here's a relevant thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=794958

I ordered a set of these for my 67. They're ridiculously great quality for the price, and it even includes a relay kit! If you're still 6v the price still allows you plenty of budget for the best 6v H4 bulbs you can find.

Kinda amused that both of my vans will have Koito lights :lol:

I have H4's in all of my buses but for the price of the Toyotas i bought two pairs to try.

Wed Jul 23, 2025 6:23 pm

vwuberalles wrote: and it even includes a relay kit!
Is your '67 6 volt?

Where would you tap in for the relay that would make a better circuit than the foot switch?

I have H4s in my 6 volt bus.

Thu Jul 24, 2025 7:55 am

BarryL wrote: vwuberalles wrote: and it even includes a relay kit!
Is your '67 6 volt?

Where would you tap in for the relay that would make a better circuit than the foot switch?

I have H4s in my 6 volt bus.

oops I didn't consider that, my bus is 12 volt and the high beam switch is on the column.

Thu Jul 24, 2025 8:51 am

If you order the Hella Euro versions, they have a small second bulb, (for Euro City lights), they can be wired as daytime running lights. I have them in my '96 Mexican Beetle.

Thu Jul 24, 2025 1:28 pm

hopkin wrote: If you order the Hella Euro versions, they have a small second bulb, (for Euro City lights), they can be wired as daytime running lights. I have them in my '96 Mexican Beetle.

This looks like a lens for a RHD car.

Fri Jul 25, 2025 5:02 am

KTPhil wrote:

This looks like a lens for a RHD car.

Yes, the lens is for RHD cars, it's an old pic from my car, I posted that one as it shows the City light quite nicely.

Fri Jul 25, 2025 5:53 am

I went with these for my 6v car. They're expensive, but worth it in my opinion. They're very bright, and only take 3.5v to work, which means at idle there's none of that annoying flickering/dimming and no need to wire in any additional load resistors inline.

https://vintagecarleds.com/shop/bulbs-only/vcm3-bulbs-only/

Fri Jul 25, 2025 7:21 am

PeteSC wrote: I went with these for my 6v car. They're expensive, but worth it in my opinion. They're very bright, and only take 3.5v to work, which means at idle there's none of that annoying flickering/dimming and no need to wire in any additional load resistors inline.

https://vintagecarleds.com/shop/bulbs-only/vcm3-bulbs-only/

I can't speak to that particular bulb, but I have used their other H4-style bulbs (12V) on two of my cars, paired with the Hella H4 housings from Bus Depot, and the vision is fantastic. They are one of the very few who get the LED locations most similar to the halogen filament geometry, so the pattern is very good.

I tell myself the low-cost Hella from BD, coupled with the pricey bulbs, makes for an only slightly exorbitant combo.

Fri Jul 25, 2025 6:18 pm

PeteSC wrote: I went with these for my 6v car.
https://vintagecarleds.com/shop/bulbs-only/vcm3-bulbs-only/

Finally. We been needing these for a long time.