Anyone using LED headlights?

[inorganic]

[quote="OB Rat"]

[WestyWanter]

Pretty sure that is a south african bumper, Gowesty sells one i'm pretty sure its like 400-800$ depending what all you need to go with it

[quote="inorganic"]

[averyo]

Like Skidub I went with SUITECH 7" but I got the newer version that has RGB color options with a Bluetooth controller and app

These on Amazon $122.80 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0727ZNSSF/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They came with everything I needed to hook up to the GoWesty South African Grill kit connectors. I bought the SA Grill kit with no exterior lights but did buy the exterior light brackets separately. I am using the smaller interior incandescent lights from the GoWesty kit, they go on with high beams and the LEDs brighten up as well.

The Suitech kit comes with wire and connectors to hook up DRL power to the halo rings (any color you like) plus wire to hook the halos into your turn signals so they swap to amber on turn. I chose to use better wire and connectors but otherwise the kit is complete and includes what I believe they used to sell separately as an anti-flicker unit.

There is quite a bit of volume of adapters, wire, the bluetooth controller, etc. but it does all fit it you take your time.

I hooked the turn signal halos with a piggy back connector just as Skidub described by threading a wire through the turn signal boot and then connecting to tab with a piggy back.

For DRLs I plugged into G5 on the back of the fuse panel.

The RGB color is pretty cool, the kids love it. You can program different patterns and save them with shortcuts so you can set to all sorts of flash or gradient fade through a few colors.

I've tested it all out and it works, final test and headlight adjustment after dark. I will try to post a video to show all the functions.

[averyo]

Videos, on dropbox:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ma8hnwlstdnu9lf/IMG_2591.m4v?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wqsy9jtjahysrj4/IMG_2593.TRIM.m4v?dl=0

[torbot]

Necro posting I know, but didn't see mention of this in any of the other LED posts and felt this was an appropriate place for this question (actually 2 questions).

Question 1: It seems most of the LED replacement units use polycarbonate or similar materials for the lens, vs. glass which the originals had (I have an '82 with the original round sealed glass housings). Has anyone had issues with the plastic lenses yellowing/fogging over time? It's about the only concern keeping me from pulling the trigger on LEDs vs upgrading to HIDs.

Question 2: Anybody had any experience with these units? I like that they're chrome and they have glass housings, but at $71/pair they're almost in too-good-to-be-true range.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J4GG6L2/?coliid=I1W3Q..._lig_dp_it
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'82 Westy w/2012 Subaru EJ25 (AKA "Dave").

[tristessa]

[?Waldo?]

I have had these on one van for ~a year. No perceptible difference in appearance (no yellowing or fogging) although it would be surprising if there was in a year. They are an amazing lighting upgrade. Much better than e-code H4's with relays and high wattage bulbs. They are so good that I got another set and installed them in my '79 Rabbit also. At <$100 for the set and plug and play install for the rounds, that is one of the best bang for buck upgrades I have ever done.

I have no personal experience with the linked housings.

[torbot]

[IdahoDoug]

My 944 uses these rounds. I called Daniel Stern Lighting and asked what the best I could possibly put in there would be. Beam pattern, quality optics, high beam penetration, etc. The best. Answer was Koito H4s. He found me a set and I’ve been very pleased for more than a year now. Hard to find and not cheap. Would enjoy a side by side comparo some time.
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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

[xclemjustinx]

I’m using inner and outer led lights front Transporter Werks. I have the inner lights and halo wires into the turn signal.

[Birdrocksweeper]

[dhaavers]

LOVE 'em...hugs & kisses! (XOXOXO)



- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[ledogboy]

On Waldo's recommendation, I got myself a set of the LED headlights. I am sure that I am missing something painfully obvious, but I don't see how to mount them. My H4 headlight has three tabs that screw in to the bucket, which the LED's do not have. What am I missing here?

_________________
1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
Some people call him Maurice...

[?Waldo?]

As far as I know, your current headlights are not stock Vanagon headlights. Vanagon headlights do not have those metal tabs on the perimeter and instead are held on by a chrome trim ring around the light. The trim ring screws to the bucket. You'll need to get a set of the stock Vanagon trim rings to mount the LED's.

Here's a set: https://www.ebay.com/itm/79-93-Vanagon-Gl-Westy-Ra...xyEIJTemP7

[ledogboy]

Many thanks!
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1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
Some people call him Maurice...

[thatvwbusguy]

The chrome ring with the mounting tabs is not integral to the headlights you removed. Gently pry the rings off and put them on your new 7" LED's.
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Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH


If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

[Zeitgeist 13]

I don't think this is apropos of this current issue, but factory 7" round E-code lights do not have a separate trim ring. They have integral tabs spot welded to the light housings. If these are the lights you currently have, then if the desire is to swap in LEDs or any other non-factory 7" round lights, you will need to source those NA spec trim rings.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Kirsche Wasserboxer]

Anyone have experience with the LED round grille kit from Van Cafe?
https://www.vancafe.com/VCLEDLIGHTGRILLKIT-p/vcledlightgrillkit.htm

I'm looking into changing out the stock square bulbs/grille on my '90 Westy with this kit. I have the relay and higher wattage bulbs now, and it is still not bright enough for me. I'm not wedded to the square look, and don't want to drop the money needed for the SA grille set-up, so this looks like a good option. I could always hit the junkyard for the grille and buckets I guess, but this looks like a much easier way to get to the same thing when you're lazy like I am.
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1990 Westfalia Vanagon
2.1 Wasserboxer

[DeadSetMonkey]

I just upgraded.
I sourced LEDs from JWSpeaker. 8700 outer. 8630 inner.
Other parts were from GoWesty.
Ultimately had the stuff installed by RMW in FtCollins.
Inner buckets required modification to accept the JW 8630 lights.

Major improvement in night driving.
Only major difference is the clean horizon the LEDs make.
Prior square lights sort of faded away.
New LEDs have a very straight beam, makes more of an on/off horizon... if that makes sense.

Pleased with the result.

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'90 Syncro Westy 2.5Subi Turbo, BFGs 215/75/15 Rheins

[oldskewlsk8ter]

Cheap LEDs off eBay/amazon. Only problem I have now is everyone flashes their high beams at me because they think my lights are on high.
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1986 Hightop w/EJ25 DOHC & 4EAT auto
1965 Kombi project