LED headlight recommendations

[jnespor57]

Anybody have recommendations for upgrading my 78 super beetle convertible with LED headlights? Thank you

[67rustavenger]

Vintage car LED.
I think Mr. Duncan either owns the company or is a rep.

https://vintagecarleds.com/
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I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[squeegee_boy]

I have this one with the E code upgrade in my 71:

https://vintagecarleds.com/shop/7-inch/vc3500-classic-kit/

It's, in a word, wonderful. No complaints, sharp but not too sharp beam pattern. Excellent visibility. Consumes almost no power compared to the stock incandescents.

Robyn
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1984 FrankenSyncro Westy. EJ25 RMW kit
1971 Super Beetle with an EJ22. Oh yes. Daily driver

[nbvolks]

You have to be mindful of the H4 retrofit LEDs. More often than not, they're not well suited for the H4 lamp housing they're being shoved into and you end up with funky scattered light, that might look like it's illuminating a lot, but it's not focused, doesn't offer depth of field, and dazzles oncoming traffic.

The other, better, option is to get complete replacements. I use the GE rebranded versions of the Truck-lite replacements in another car and they are AMAZING. The cut-off is great, the light color is good (not blue-ish like a lot of aftermarket H4 LED replacements). They're DOT approved too.

The one downside about them is that they're not fluted, and the reflector material is a darker chrome, so it can make for the headlights looking pretty dark during the day.

https://www.truck-lite.com/27270c.html

[Beeble1]

[vintagecarleds]

[robcy04]

I put Vintage LED's into my H4 lens, and they are really bright. The beam is a little everywhere, and I had to point them way down to avoid blinding oncomming traffic. I replaced them with 7 inch Grote's, and they are way better. They are have a vertical cut off that the LED/H4 housing did not.

[67rustavenger]

[FlyAU98]

I bought a set of the 4000 Series, with the upgrade to the German H4 lens from Vintage Car LEDs.

https://vintagecarleds.com/shop/7-inch/vc4000-ultimate-kit/

They are the best upgrade I've made to the car. Period.

They are seemingly as bright as a 2021 car's headlights, yet look like they came from the factory in 1972.

They answered the phone when I called with questions.

Install was ridiculously easy.

They would likely be my first purchase if I bought another classic car.
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1972 Super Beetle

[vintagecarleds]

I agree.

Hella makes by far the best quality lenses and reflectors. They did switch production from Germany over to Turkey about 2 years ago.

However, the quality control and the product is still VERY close to "German standards"

We bulk buy our Hella lenses directly from Hella.
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713-853-9644

[jhicken]

I have a set of the VC5000 vintagecarleds.com mounted in the Hella H4 housings. Nice, light dispersion with a crisp cutoff. One of the best upgrades I have made to my '69.

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Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

[vintagecarleds]

[jhicken]

Sure, knock yerself out. Here are a few more.

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Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

I would not consider the LED headlights to be an "upgrade"- at least not the "drop in" style H4 LED bulbs.

Just like the carburetor must be matched to the distributor, the bulb must be specifically matched to the reflector(in the headlight housing).

There are 'one piece' units (Trucklite brand is a popular example) which are a purpose built, one piece unit where the LED diodes have been designed to match the reflector surfaces in the housing.

Drop in LED H4 bulbs do not match the light pattern of an H4 halogen bulb, thus you will not have proper light patterns by installing an LED bulb into a reflector housing which was intended for a halogen.

See here for a bit more discussion of this on a previous thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9414487&highlight=%2Ausable%2A#9414487


Honestly, my advice would be to ensure you are getting full voltage to the headlights first.

Consider adding in 'power relays' for the headlights (I did and my sealed beams are now nearly as bright as modern headlights)

See here my install of power relays
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=731542&highlight=


Now... with all that being said:

If you still would like to use LED H4 headlights, be advised that many retailers will overcharge you for the same products, so do a little investigation into what exact products you are being sold- then shop around and you'll find you can make the exact same "package" and purchase the same bulbs and same housings separately online for around 25-50% of the price of the "packages" which are being sold by many retailers.
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1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor

[jhicken]