| Author |
Message |
VdubVanner
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2017
Posts: 734
Location: Cowtown AB
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Paulbeard
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2015
Posts: 2604
Location: Seattle
|
 Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: CVC NEW Rectangular Headlights |
 |
|
+1 on that. The headlight is an assembly — a reflector and a lens as well as a light source. If the reflector and lens are garbage, a brighter bulb doesn't get you much. Look at the H4 threads on here or look at a complete system.
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs
— dhaavers |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VdubVanner
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2017
Posts: 734
Location: Cowtown AB
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:02 am Post subject: Re: CVC NEW Rectangular Headlights |
|
|
| So I take it that NEW square headlight units have to be bought along with the $$$ LED upgrade kit? Ouch! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VdubVanner
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2017
Posts: 734
Location: Cowtown AB
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:30 am Post subject: Re: CVC NEW Rectangular Headlights |
|
|
Well, I certainly don't have to worry about that with the old light system.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10251
Location: N. Idaho
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:44 am Post subject: Re: CVC NEW Rectangular Headlights |
|
|
Interesting that the CVC folks complain about the factory lighting on their vehicle. It's European lamps, which are the best in the world IMO so a little puzzling. The lights we got in the US were quite literally the worst in the world thanks to our incompetent DOT folks requiring a specific lamp with "our" specs for all US bound cars.
So, I'm wondering what they are complaining about. Also these euro H4 lamps generally respond VERY well to higher output bulbs as they have a correctly controlled beam pattern. Wire upgrades are a separate issue but brighter bulbs in the CVC lamps I'd expect their "factory" vans to have should kick butt. Wonder what's going on there? Maybe it somehow has/had a set of US bulbs in it with all the vans going back and forth overseas?
On LEDs, if you are a serious driver who wants foul weather vision, do a quick test so you understand what you're getting into. Walk outside on a rainy or foggy night with an LED flashlight or head worn headlamp and a conventional halogen flashlight to compare and see how much light blowback you get. Now imagine driving behind that light blowback for hours in poor or dangerous conditions. Anyhow, they're still working on LEDs but I don't think they're up to snuff yet versus a pair of H4s and quality halogen bulbs.
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
T3 Pilot
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1507
Location: Deep South of the Great White North
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:46 am Post subject: Re: CVC NEW Rectangular Headlights |
|
|
Hey VdubVanner,
If you have some tools and spare time you could make your own...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
I got involved on page 8 of the thread and have been running hella h4 main beam reflector/lense assemblies modified to fit in the stock position. I also installed LED H4 bulbs and they work very well with the H4 lenses. Zero flashes. I left the inner Driving light H3 bulbs stock/halogen because I have not found an LED bulb yet that I like for that position. The Van has headlight relays installed.
Either retrofit a set of H4 headlamps or install the bus depot reproduction stock H4 assemblies and in both cases you will have vastly improved headlamp performance. You can then swap in the bulbs as you see fit.
_________________
1988 Vanagon
The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel...... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
1988M5
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2016
Posts: 674
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
T3 Pilot
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1507
Location: Deep South of the Great White North
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 1:26 pm Post subject: Re: CVC NEW Rectangular Headlights |
|
|
Interesting. Really all you need are the main H4 headlamps that BD now seems to be selling. Simple drop in replacement, plus a wiring/relay upgrade and you are out of the dark ages!
_________________
1988 Vanagon
The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel...... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VdubVanner
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2017
Posts: 734
Location: Cowtown AB
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: CVC NEW Rectangular Headlights |
|
|
| djkeev wrote: |
It has been demonstrated over the years that you cannot just slap "better" bulbs into an old light assembly and expect amazing results.
The problem is much deeper than the bulb. The decayed reflector, the lens design, etc.
|
Wading through the back pages of the Samba archives, I can see what you mean. Wow!
Thanks for all the advice put forward. Those eBay headlights look interesting because they're labelled as E code and come with outers AND inners. I ran into a Westy owner at my mechanic's shop last week and he'd mentioned buying squares off eBay and I assumed he was talking "used" items. I'm guessing these are the ones he bought.
Last edited by VdubVanner on Sun Apr 14, 2019 4:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
