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galexander
Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2003
Posts: 524
Location: Round Rock, TX
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 Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:07 pm Post subject: LED replacement H4 headlight |
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There are multiple threads, most are old or go down a rabbit hole when looking for a LED bulb that can replace a H4 55/60Watt bulb in a Hella "E" series 7" round headlight.
Seems the issue is the LED that are/were available send out the incorrect light pattern for the Hella headlight.
So, my question, has anyone found a good LED replacement for the Hella 'off road' headlight?
thank you!
Gary
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enjoy the journey,
Gary
Check out our YouTube Channel, VW Life |
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mdege
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2018
Posts: 939
Location: Niederkruechten, Germany
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12848
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:35 am Post subject: Re: LED replacement H4 headlight |
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I’m using the Type-S bulbs available at Autozone for $60-ish. The pattern isn’t ideal, but they are far brighter than the Sylvania LEDs & really even the playing field with modern cars & trucks using HIDs & LEDs.
https://www.autozone.com/electrical-and-lighting/f...lsrc=aw.ds
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Erik G
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Joined: October 16, 2002
Posts: 13270
Location: Tejas!
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galexander
Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2003
Posts: 524
Location: Round Rock, TX
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:22 am Post subject: Re: LED replacement H4 headlight |
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I perused that Phillips site and was unable to locate H4 LD replacements.
I'm liking the Type S alternatives.
I run my lights 24-7 when I'm driving Jerry, and the H4 55/60watt halogen pulls a pretty good amount of power, so that is my main reason for looking at LED's as an alternative.
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enjoy the journey,
Gary
Check out our YouTube Channel, VW Life |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12848
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:52 am Post subject: Re: LED replacement H4 headlight |
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| Erik G wrote: |
can you get us some beam pattern pictures? and which headlight bowl/lens you're using? |
Hella H4 headlights.
I need to make a few more adjustments, but I aim the low beam slightly to the right so the beam focuses primarily to the right shoulder/ditch, the high beam on the other hand skews high & to the left… it really sears the retinas of those assholes that won’t dim their lights.
I’ll try to get some pics tonight, but we’re supposed to get lots of rain & that definitely doesn’t show as well.
The only downside with this combination is that on high beam, you will blind yourself with reflective street signs. 
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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garym999
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2022
Posts: 97
Location: Oxfordshire, UK
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: LED replacement H4 headlight |
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I run these in new Hella pods. A really authentic warm white colour and very bright. Because of that need good alignment but the pattern is OK to work with.
Just one note, do not necessarily expect the LEDs to last much longer than halogens. Not many manufacturers quote lifetimes but if you look at Osram and Phillips you will find some quotes that are 3000 hours. This is because in a retrofit package it’s really hard to wick the heat away from the LED chip so they fail earlier than they would in a LED headlamp designed from the ground up.
That is why the ones I have come with fan assisted cooling.
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1975 South African Fleetline |
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BonTonRoulet
Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2020
Posts: 359
Location: Mississippi
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: LED replacement H4 headlight |
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The H4's in my 66 run hot as to heat your open hand when positioned in front of the lense. Inside the bus the headlight buckets act as heaters and my light switch and wiring at the switch are on the edge of odoriferous hot.
I'm aware ....solder up the fuse box fit a relay system...just have yet to do that. I like the look and specs on those AutoZone LED's, I'm still running a 12V generator system wonder if that would be an issue?
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Erik G
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002
Posts: 13270
Location: Tejas!
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:02 pm Post subject: Re: LED replacement H4 headlight |
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| TDCTDI wrote: |
| Erik G wrote: |
can you get us some beam pattern pictures? and which headlight bowl/lens you're using? |
Hella H4 headlights.
I need to make a few more adjustments, but I aim the low beam slightly to the right so the beam focuses primarily to the right shoulder/ditch, the high beam on the other hand skews high & to the left… it really sears the retinas of those assholes that won’t dim their lights.
I’ll try to get some pics tonight, but we’re supposed to get lots of rain & that definitely doesn’t show as well.
The only downside with this combination is that on high beam, you will blind yourself with reflective street signs. |
This one?
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/552796100.htm?pn=55-2796-100-M44
I have some in my truck that are adjustable, meaning I can rotate the LED around once mounted, to get the best beam pattern available. These are not what I have but similar, I think the pic shows what I'm talking about. The problem I assume is how deep this makes everything, fans are great but if it's only venting to another sealed cavity, then a fan doesnt do much... anyways would something like this help?
https://www.amazon.com/LASFIT-Headlight-Bulbs-7600LM-6000K/dp/B081BF75NQ?th=1
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don.ville 
Samba YardMan
Joined: February 07, 2008
Posts: 2829
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: LED replacement H4 headlight |
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If only they would pay me to do spell check on them ads from overseas.
I would be rich and take my money and scoket away in a bank
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67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12848
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:12 am Post subject: Re: LED replacement H4 headlight |
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At dawn this morning…
High beam
(I’m sure those neighbors love me) 
The issue with the light pattern is due to the fact that the LEDs are mounted on either side of the “blade”, which when installed, is positioned vertically. This leaves a dark area that splits the light, right in the middle of the pattern. When looking at the lights on low beam, you can see a little pie shaped wedge at the top, roughly 11:45-12:15. This would be light that would be focused onto the ground in front of the car. The inverse happens on high beam.(The top of the reflector focuses downward, the bottom of the reflector focuses upward.)
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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