Cibie H4 headlights?

mascrappo · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 7:50 pm Post subject: Cibie H4 headlights?

Any of you use Cibie E-code H4 headlights? RockAuto has new for $38 each, I think that is reasonable, but don't anything about Cibie (except usually very pricey). I use Hella now, and no complaints, but 4x4 crowd says Cibie even better? Now let's hear the real (VW) experts opinions.

insane68 · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:06 pm Post subject:

I bought a set of these for mine, I am using some cheap EMPI housings, at least it has a glass lens and metal backing. I plan on buying the Sport Headlights from Mamotorworks to be able to add two extra colored lights to the housing. After installing these H4 lights I did notice that the view was 80% better over the sealed beam original and roughly 30% better than the previous installed Silverstar (crap lights). These lights has a very faint blue glow in my housings but the light it emits is nearly pure white.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131073569382?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
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68 bug, 1500 single port
83 Mercedes Benz 300SD Turbo Diesel
87 Pontiac Trans Am (original with 5 speed)

mascrappo · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:11 pm Post subject:

Wow, those should shine into the next county! I do love seeing at night and headlight brands/differences interest me (as everyone on here knows).

insane68 · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:15 pm Post subject:

Well I am all about lighting lol
I have installed all LED lights except headlights on my 68 (all plug in OE plug led lights) and I am very happy with the results. I have tested quite a few different brands and it seems the off brand headlights always seem to out perform the name brands (imagine that right?)
I even used some Yellow H4 Headlight bulbs and could see better than the Silverstars. I could see my yellow on road signs even if I was behind someone before the person in front was past the sign. Although here it it is "ILLEGAL" to have yellow headlights even if you can see better with them. So I chose those to replace the yellow ones for now.
_________________
68 bug, 1500 single port
83 Mercedes Benz 300SD Turbo Diesel
87 Pontiac Trans Am (original with 5 speed)

mascrappo · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:35 pm Post subject:

I like LED, no tried in bug yet, converted my motorcycle over to them and much brighter. What did you use for flasher?

Yellow bulbs, who would have thought? Everyone going white as they can get these days. Lol

insane68 · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:44 pm Post subject:

I still have the original flasher relay in the car, the bulbs I used were all LED 1157 and 1156 from Autozone. Flashers and turn signals work fine without anything extra. I am not sure if this is something they fixed with the bulbs itself or not but everything seems to be okay. I even put a LED tag light bar from Autozone on it which I am about to swap for 4 LED license plate fasteners as soon as weather permits me to do so.
_________________
68 bug, 1500 single port
83 Mercedes Benz 300SD Turbo Diesel
87 Pontiac Trans Am (original with 5 speed)

hitest · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:20 pm Post subject:

mascrappo- funny you mention the 4x4 crowd with these lights. I've cibies in a bug- with stock 6v bulbs behind nonfluted lenses and they were okay. However, I bought a pair of 12v cibies for my '77 FJ-40 and they turned night to day! They were clearly up higher- and had a terrific period-correctness to them. I sold that rig and forgot to pull them! Otherwise- they would be in my '66 deluxe already. Buy the Cibies.
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BugMan114 · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:39 pm Post subject:

I went with HID's, and some projector conversion lenses off ebay. the projectors distribute the light evenly, and don't blind the oncoming car. Its a radical difference from the old style glass headlights, and much better then regular H4's

I've used both 4300K and 6000K. 4300K is called OEM white which is as the name suggests just pure white light, and 6000K have a slight tint of blue. 8000K and up are just progressively deeper/ darker blue. 3000K is yellow, for that rally look I suppose. I stayed with the 6000K as it matches with my sky blue paint.
_________________
1974 Super Beetle: Custom resto in progress
1972 Super Beetle: Daily Driver
1971 Std. Beetle w/ 1929 Mercedes Benz Gazelle kit
1960 Baja Bug
1969 Baja Bug
Sand Rail- Homemade
Sand Rail- FUBAR

Aircooled Airheads

Why the hell do they call it a gland nut. its obviously a big fat bolt!!!

Joel · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:11 am Post subject:

Don't expect miracles from the blue bulbs, they throw off a nice cool blue light but that blue glass actually acts as a filter and reduces light output in most cases.
Not only that most of them are cheap garbage made in China.

I got a comparison pic somewhere of my bug with a blue bulb in one side and standard but same wattage in the other, the clear bulb had far more intense light and range.

Theres plenty of reviews on the net of all the different type H4 bulbs.
I'm very fussy with my lighting doing so much country driving at night.

I've found 100/90w H4s through relays and 6000K HIDs in hella driving lights leaves even the upmarket euro cars lights in the dark so to speak.
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Quick little bug, you got a Porsche motor in that?
1974 Germanlook 1303 2.5 Suba-Beetle

insane68 · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:45 am Post subject:

Yea these "Platinum White" H4s I ordered are 100/90w and I tried the Sylvania Silverstars (about $60 per set) and these cheaper Korean made are alot brighter. I did notice one difference in these new lights and the yellow bulbs I replaced. The yellow light looked as if it shined further to road signs and reflectors on the road, I mean I swear I could literally see signs from nearly 1/2 mile away on a flat road and reflectors about the same. The new lights do work well but it is more of a white reflection on signs that looks about 1/4 mile away but the light itself is brighter and a little wider on the road. I believe the yellows were 3500k lights.
_________________
68 bug, 1500 single port
83 Mercedes Benz 300SD Turbo Diesel
87 Pontiac Trans Am (original with 5 speed)

Captain Jacques · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 5:18 am Post subject:

mascrappo · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 6:52 am Post subject:

mascrappo · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 6:52 am Post subject:

mascrappo · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 6:56 am Post subject:

mascrappo · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 6:57 am Post subject:

mascrappo · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:00 am Post subject:

insane68 · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:48 am Post subject:

I don't exactly but I do remember the ones I used in the tail lights were 1157 socket for the brake/parking light socket, 1156 socket for the turn signal and reverse lights and they were all red LED for the rear. The front was 1157 socket that was amber. They don't offer too many if not but one brand LED replacement lights which I believe Pilot was the brand name.
_________________
68 bug, 1500 single port
83 Mercedes Benz 300SD Turbo Diesel
87 Pontiac Trans Am (original with 5 speed)

hitest · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:56 am Post subject:

mascrappo · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 9:12 am Post subject:

hitest $2???????????? You suck! Smile

Maybe I will shop around the swap meets and see what turns up!

I like the rounded look on a bug, round bug, rounded headlight! The flat Hellas are OK, but personal preference is rounded.

insane68, pay no attention to hitest, I appreciate your LED input, albeit, I think we were talking about headlights? LOL

I will drop by Autozone this weekend and see what they got. The last thing I want to do is go through flasher issues, bike was a pain in the a$$.

insane68 · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 9:16 am Post subject:

Well I still have original wiring, flasher relay, and still running the generator and I have had zero issues. Yes we were talking about headlights. lol
_________________
68 bug, 1500 single port
83 Mercedes Benz 300SD Turbo Diesel
87 Pontiac Trans Am (original with 5 speed)


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