Hella Map Light

[russelltatedotcom]

Hi guys, I don't know if the Hella Glove box / map light actually had a plastic cover to diffuse the light coming out of it, or if it was always just an exposed light bulb but I thought i'd share something I made.

Most of the map lights i've seen look like this.

I noticed when you pull the cover off the exposed barrel inside has a slight split on both sides

If you cut off the Lid off of a white plastic tub of butter (preferably with some silver foil on) you can insert it into the slot to difuse the light and also use the silver section to help reflect more light out from the back. My tub had silver all the way across so I removed a section that need to remain white with sandpaper

Here is the plastic sleeve pushed into place. It holds itself, so no glue needed

This is how it looks illuminated. As I say this may be old news and they all had a plastic cover, but I've just not seen one!

I'm making a Glove box out of Toilet paper and glue at the moment and intend to put the light inside bolted to the top. I know they were originally for a Type 181, but I like 'em

[jeffrey8164]

Very cool custom touch.
_________________
Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

[tisius]

originals did not come with a plastic cover for the bulb.
I assume that with the cover that you've fabricated, the diffused light is substantially less bright than originally.
_________________
drive it like you just robbed the bank
you don't have to be crazy to be into VW's, but it sure helps!!
.... if it ain't dutch, it ain't much!

[John Moxon]

[russelltatedotcom]

I'm not sure about "substantially" it may be little dimmer but certainly bright enough to see by. By adding the tin foil at the back of the bulb I am reflecting a lot of light forward as well (the original internals were a dull green)

In these times people have phones with lights and the maps are built in, so it's really a bit of decoration