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Upgrading to H4 headlights?
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hometurbine
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 6:20 am    Post subject: Upgrading to H4 headlights- seal fitment? Reply with quote

Hello,
I just got the Hella H4 headlights from Busdepot for my upgrade. They seem to overall fit really nicely. My question is regarding the seal in the back. It's gray and as shown in the post above. I pushed it all the way down and the prongs stick out nicely and the socket seems to fit well. My issue is that the seal doesn't seem to press against the housing to make a seal (see last picture). Did I miss anything obvious? I did try to flip it inside out as mentioned above but don't really see any issues. I can disassemble and take more pictures, if needed.


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Thanks
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jtauxe Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 7:38 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

For the OP (RatCamper), in Australia, and jalabert, in New Zealand...

If you are looking for the H4 lights with the integrated parking lights (aka city lights), I refer you to my thread on the subject:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=684259

I have two Type 2 pickups that are Euro-spec, with the extra gray wire in the headlight bucket for the city lights. I eventually figured it out.

You would need a RHD version, of course. Note that while the '78 doka is RHD, it is fitting with LHD headlights, since I drive on the right (to you, wrong) side of the road.

Hope this helps.
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Shonandb
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 11:49 pm    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Old post but I recently upgraded to H4 headlights from CIP1 and have a question on the light pattern. Low beams seem to shine farther in the distance and are more focused where the high beams are a wider pattern but don't shine as far down the road.

Here are the 2 patterns on my garage door.

High Beam
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Low Beam
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Does this look right?
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vwwestyman
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:58 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Low beams should have that cut off. That is what prevents the light from blinding oncoming drivers.

Hard to tell for sure, but it kind of looks like you need to aim them a bit lower.
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telford dorr
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:02 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Sorry, but those patterns look awful! What are you using for bulbs? LED, perchance?
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richparker
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:58 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

I have H4 and my pattern looks nothing like that.
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Jeff Geisen
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:27 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

You don’t want to blind oncoming drivers? Rolling Eyes

You’ll be the only one.
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Shonandb
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:28 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Thanks for your comments guys.

Something seems off with them, almost as if the light bulbs are not seated properly or the reflective internal surface is not focused where it should be?

I don't know what bulbs they came with but will investigate and make sure it is not something simple.

Additionally, I'll reach out to CIP1 and ask them for their thoughts on this and try to exchange them to see if it was just a bad pair.

I bought a sliding door latch mechanism from them last year that didn't have the latch part and no one noticed...
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ToolBox
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:51 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Shonandb wrote:
Thanks for your comments guys.

Something seems off with them, almost as if the light bulbs are not seated properly or the reflective internal surface is not focused where it should be?

I don't know what bulbs they came with but will investigate and make sure it is not something simple.

Additionally, I'll reach out to CIP1 and ask them for their thoughts on this and try to exchange them to see if it was just a bad pair.

I bought a sliding door latch mechanism from them last year that didn't have the latch part and no one noticed...


What kind of housings are they? If they are Autopal they just flat out suck. Hella, Bosch or Ciebie are what you want. Also dont go high wattage on the bulbs. A stock 55/60 will be all the light you need in a Bus.
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notchboy
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 11:44 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

What headlights do you have? Are they the same left and right?
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Shonandb
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:03 pm    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Not sure what maker or other details atm, so I'll have to check tonight and report back.
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Shonandb
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 7:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Looks like I bought the Empi's from CIP1.

EMPI 00-9311-0 PAIR OF 7 INCH HALOGEN HEADLIGHT BULBS - WITH 12-VOLT H4 55/60 WATT REPLACEABLE BULBS - SOLD PAIR

Pics of the housings

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Last edited by Shonandb on Tue Nov 23, 2021 11:31 am; edited 2 times in total
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richparker
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 7:15 pm    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

So you didn’t get Hella H4, you got a EMPI knock off.

I’d return them and buy the real Hella H4. You’ll have to buy the bulbs and the housings separately.

Here’s a link, I bought the H4 60/55W bulbs and they are pretty bright.

https://www.busdepot.com/0301600118
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notchboy
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 9:27 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Yeah those look like the garbage ones made in India. When it comes to headlights, Id only buy quality for sure. There are lots of inferior products out there to choose from.
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Shonandb
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 9:54 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Thanks everyone!

My original sealed beams were terrible so I thought these looked like a good upgrade but after actually using them at night, I realize that these are poor quality. Not sure if CIP1 will take them back as I bought them 6 months ago but I'll try.

On a positive note, the Can/US border is open now and no Covid 19 Test will be needed for short trips (under 72 hours) to the US as of Nov 30th so I can finally order from US suppliers again and have things sent to my PO Box in Washington State. We have gasoline restrictions due to the recent flooding here in the Lower Mainland BC that cut off all of our Hwy's connecting us to the rest of BC & Canada so it will be nice to be able to fill up and do some shopping while South of the border too!
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germansupplyscott
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 10:11 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

The Hella 70476 is not DOT approved. The Hella 70477 is DOT legal. There isn't a big difference in the prices, but the DOT legal are more $.

I agree with the comments above about the Hella H4 being pretty much the best option. There used to be a very good quality Bosch H4 unit but they seem to have disappeared.
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ToolBox
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 10:26 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Shonandb wrote:
Looks like I bought the Empi's from CIP1.

EMPI 00-9311-0 PAIR OF 7 INCH HALOGEN HEADLIGHT BULBS - WITH 12-VOLT H4 55/60 WATT REPLACEABLE BULBS - SOLD PAIR


Here is a great place to buy lighting and a decent deal on housings and bulbs.
https://www.rallylights.com/hella-7-round-e-code-hi-lo-conversion-headlamp-kit.html
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 10:53 am    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

If you've got H4 housings, 9003 bulbs may be used in them. They aren't 100% exactly the same, but are very, very close (to the point that most would never notice the difference) and 9003s are much more easily found at about any FLAPS or WalMart or whatever should you have a bulb burn out.

...A fact I wish I had known when, due to use on washboard roads, both low beams burned out on my Bus a few years ago. After departing the group I was with. And I didn't have a spare like I thought I did.

So I had to travel with high beams, but they are very bright and it was dusk and rainy. Ended up pulling the fuse for the driver side bulb to avoid blinding people as badly.
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wild Bill wrote:
I'm running 80/100 H4 lights and 100 watt Hella Driving Lights. Sure hope that someone doesn't dim those high beams....heh heh

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I have had 100/80W H4 quartz-halogen bulbs, with P45t mounting flanges (same as the 45/40W glass-envelope bulbs) in my RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 headlamps since circa 1988/89. Cool

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Emily's Owner
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Upgrading to H4 headlights? Reply with quote

Gotta say my H4's are the best upgrade my bus has had (came off our old Ford van in 1981 when my dad bought a new one) over the years.

I'm sure I'm running the not DOT approved bulbs, but no one has complained... yet Embarassed
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