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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 10697
Location: Black Forest, CO
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 Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 1:35 pm Post subject: H4 headlights |
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I have a set of sealed H4s that I originally had on my KG. They work wonderfully but are now on my type-3. I like tham very much, but it occurs to me that if I needed to replace one somewhere in the middle of the country I might have a problem.
So I'm looking for halogen headlights for the Ghia that takes a modern bulb. It needs to look good, be well made and be a direct replacement for the original 7" round headlight. And I'd really like to avoid those with plastic lenses.
Suggestions?
Max
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cool karmann collected
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Joined: November 23, 2008
Posts: 631
Location: Oxford, U.K.
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| Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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Don't be too harsh on the plastic lenses, I just investigated my 7 year old headlight today to see if I could do anything about the de-silvering reflector and found it was completely rotted, my fingers went straight through it when I got it out. I looked at some Wipac quad-optics as replacements, they have a plastic back, accept a H4 bulb and have a slightly old-school domed lense. Other options are Hella's, but they have flat lenses, or Cibie IODES - probably the best of the bunch.
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76901
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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I've had Cibie Z Beams since 1980 and always worried about breaking one. i was able to find 2 singles as spares if one ever breaks.
You can check listings for motorcycle or off road since they are technically not legal for cars.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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Disc
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2009
Posts: 558
Location: Europe
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| Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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I have the solution, but shipping to USA is VERY expensive 
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Nick
Last edited by Disc on Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
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Max Welton
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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OLD VW NUT
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Joined: February 23, 2011
Posts: 2776
Location: High Desert of Washington 98823
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| Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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I had a Marchal 7" headlight with H4 bulb and a cool looking flat lens for years just laying around. I could never find a match for it so I stuck it in a motorcycle that had a 7" sealed beam. I wish I still had that - I'd stumble on one eventually on ebay. Didn't have the internet back then.
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philermonic
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Joined: November 09, 2010
Posts: 361
Location: Orange County, California
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| Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Disc wrote: |
I have the solution, but shipping to USA is VERY expensive
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How "very" expensive?
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swavananda
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Location: Can o' Scruz
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retrowagen
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Joined: October 11, 2004
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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I like the older Cibie and Marchal units myself. Have retrofitted those on many of my cars over the years.
One of the things about the newer 7" round H4 units (the Bosch units included) is that the lenses are virtually flat. While this looks fine on a motorcycle such as a Ducati Monster, or the pop-ups on a 1st-gen Miata, it looks absolutely terrible on the leading point of a voluptuous Karmann-Ghia fender.
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John Moxon
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Max Welton
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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philermonic
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Joined: November 09, 2010
Posts: 361
Location: Orange County, California
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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| John Moxon wrote: |
| retrowagen wrote: |
| ...it looks absolutely terrible on the leading point of a voluptuous Karmann-Ghia fender. |
My thoughts too.  |
May I please see a profile view of these lights?
Difficult for me to tell how flat they are.
I love the Ghia's lines too, but where am I going to draw that line between style & functionality & safety?
"But I want to sing"!!
"Stop that!! Stop that music, there'll be no singing"!!
Sorry, meant to say "But I want to SEE"..... 
Granted my car will no longer be lowered which will by itself have to improve the lighting throw a little bit, but sometimes I felt like I needed to light a match to see if the headlights were on...high beams always, 12 volt, good generator, 14.2 at the battery.
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hosspowerinc
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Joined: December 12, 2005
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Location: Murphy NC
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Ive got a set of the rampage style on mine. The lens is flat as mentioned but I have a somewhat german look ghia and they really suit it. Ive only driven at night once but they are as bright as any other modern car and an excellent investment. |
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philermonic
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Joined: November 09, 2010
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Location: Orange County, California
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| hosspowerinc wrote: |
| Ive got a set of the rampage style on mine. The lens is flat as mentioned but I have a somewhat german look ghia and they really suit it. Ive only driven at night once but they are as bright as any other modern car and an excellent investment. |
Do you have a picture - from a few angles perhaps? I want H4's but I want to see what the car looks like
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Max Welton
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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philermonic
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Joined: November 09, 2010
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Location: Orange County, California
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks....I do see the difference, and though it might to some diminish the "line" of the KG front fender, it's NOT a deal breaker to me....I'll be a lot of places with no one around where I still need to see really well haha
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Max Welton
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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swavananda
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Joined: February 14, 2009
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Location: Can o' Scruz
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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here are the bosch h4
never actually noticed the flat vs. curved before so it never stood out obvious to bother me
but these lights work great, i drive 3 or 4 nights a week in a heavily populated deer area in the rural hills, even better the low beams have a very sharp cut off that work really well in the fog ,and a pretty good deal:
http://www.busdepot.com/0301600118
if some could also do a cibie side shot that would be great comparison
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