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Jimbug57
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2002
Posts: 817
Location: Mid Michigan
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 Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:09 pm Post subject: Headlight choices |
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I had to drive out of town yesterday and drove home after dark. I need brighter lights. I have it narrowed down to 2 choices, but I think the Hellas might be the ones for me. The other brand is Cibie. My problem is I have no knowledge about headlights. If someone has some advise that would be great.
https://www.westcoastmetric.com/i-22963811-70477.html
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094YP3M6W/
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Repeat after me "I am smarter than metal!" |
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 36271
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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Several recent threads on various forums here are discussing them. Check them out and decide.
My take: Hella "E-code" H4 work great, and have for many years.
https://www.busdepot.com/0301600118
Hella DOT H4 (the "legal in all 50" versions) have an inferior "sealed beam-like" pattern. The E-code pattern is far better.
I've had the Cibie and they are good as well, though I am less familiar with their lens patterns to verify if they are E-code or not.
Last edited by KTPhil on Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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toxicavenger70
Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2019
Posts: 882
Location: CO
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| The newer Cibie's are not the same as the previous ones. Follow the info Phil posted. |
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Starbucket
Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007
Posts: 4215
Location: WA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| Hella e code with 55-100 bulbs, if someone comes at you with their brights on just give them a blast of your brights and they will quickly turn theirs down. Those bulbs turn night into day. |
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Jimbug57
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2002
Posts: 817
Location: Mid Michigan
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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Thanks KTPhil
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Lingwendil
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3999
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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Jimbug57
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2002
Posts: 817
Location: Mid Michigan
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| Lingwendil wrote: |
| Starbucket wrote: |
| Hella e code with 55-100 bulbs, if someone comes at you with their brights on just give them a blast of your brights and they will quickly turn theirs down. Those bulbs turn night into day. |
You know, after dailying my super I never had good luck long term with high wattage bulbs. |
Ya, I got the 55\60 bulbs.
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Lingwendil
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3999
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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60ragtop
Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006
Posts: 7801
Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| Starbucket wrote: |
| Hella e code with 55-100 bulbs, if someone comes at you with their brights on just give them a blast of your brights and they will quickly turn theirs down. Those bulbs turn night into day. |
This is what I have been running for years in my bug. Bought the e code from the bus depot. Light up the road pretty good
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Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
| tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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| sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked  |
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Starbucket
Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2007
Posts: 4215
Location: WA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 4:18 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| Lingwendil wrote: |
| Starbucket wrote: |
| Hella e code with 55-100 bulbs, if someone comes at you with their brights on just give them a blast of your brights and they will quickly turn theirs down. Those bulbs turn night into day. |
You know, after dailying my super I never had good luck long term with high wattage bulbs.
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They only draw 3.75 amp.s more per bulb (and only when on high) and each bulb has their own fuse, ran them for over 10 years with no problem, but hay the 60's give good light too. |
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creative native
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007
Posts: 1233
Location: WNC
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 9:49 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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If I use the 55/100 bulbs, can anybody advise if I would need to use a relay in a '74 SB?
I bought LEDs and have never installed them, but am now considering these E-code H4s. |
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robcy04
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2018
Posts: 207
Location: FL
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:12 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now. |
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60ragtop
Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006
Posts: 7801
Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| creative native wrote: |
| If I use the 55/100 bulbs, can anybody advise if I would need to use a relay in a '74 SB?. |
I didn't use one in my 70 bug, going on 8 + years with no problems.
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
| tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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| sb001 wrote: |
| maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
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beanlover
Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2018
Posts: 370
Location: PA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| robcy04 wrote: |
| Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now. |
Since these are LED lights...any other modifications needed for them to work? I too have a '71 but mine is a Super (obvs. no difference in electric for headlights between your friend's and mine).
Do you know if your friend just did a plug-and-play or if he needed anything additional to make things play nicely? |
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creative native
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007
Posts: 1233
Location: WNC
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| 60ragtop wrote: |
| creative native wrote: |
| If I use the 55/100 bulbs, can anybody advise if I would need to use a relay in a '74 SB?. |
I didn't use one in my 70 bug, going on 8 + years with no problems. |
Thank you for that information. |
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johnnyvw164
Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2020
Posts: 626
Location: South of Raleigh
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| robcy04 wrote: |
| Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now. |
Looks interesting, but $150 each? Ouch! |
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beanlover
Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2018
Posts: 370
Location: PA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| johnnyvw164 wrote: |
| Looks interesting, but $150 each? Ouch! |
After driving for a while and having modern cars with their very bright, ultra white lights shining in my low-to-the-ground eyes (compared to their SUV) and that basically preventing me from seeing the road at all on my side until they pass...I'm totally in the market for them if they work without much fuss!! |
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robcy04
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2018
Posts: 207
Location: FL
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| beanlover wrote: |
| robcy04 wrote: |
| Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now. |
Since these are LED lights...any other modifications needed for them to work? I too have a '71 but mine is a Super (obvs. no difference in electric for headlights between your friend's and mine).
Do you know if your friend just did a plug-and-play or if he needed anything additional to make things play nicely? |
I rushed to put them in my 79 SB convertible. They are plug-n-play and required nothing other than installing them as you would a normal H4. Even the plug is the same. |
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robcy04
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2018
Posts: 207
Location: FL
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| johnnyvw164 wrote: |
| robcy04 wrote: |
| Used the H4 Hella's for years and was very happy with them. Then one night last year I took a ride in my friends 71 Std Beetle, and it changed my life. Grote 90941-5 are simply amazing. They have a modern cutoff so you are not blinding oncoming traffic and they are still twice as bright as my old 55/100 Hellas. Totally different driving at night now. |
Looks interesting, but $150 each? Ouch! |
Yes, they are on the pricey side, but I do not lie when I say that the difference is night to day (literally  ). With my Hellas I would have to point them at an angle and would regularly get oncoming drivers flashing me, with these there is a sharp cutoff of light and everything below that line is lit up in a cool white color that creates a semi circle in front of you, and I have never had oncoming drivers flash me. I know I sound like an ad for Grote but any future VW's (already planning on a Ghia) I get will also get those lights as soon as possible.
Last edited by robcy04 on Thu Jan 20, 2022 3:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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robcy04
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2018
Posts: 207
Location: FL
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight choices |
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| beanlover wrote: |
| johnnyvw164 wrote: |
| Looks interesting, but $150 each? Ouch! |
After driving for a while and having modern cars with their very bright, ultra white lights shining in my low-to-the-ground eyes (compared to their SUV) and that basically preventing me from seeing the road at all on my side until they pass...I'm totally in the market for them if they work without much fuss!! |
The Grotes are simply plug-n-play. It took me all of 30 minutes to have them installed, and correctly pointed. |
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