Headlight questions

[furgo]

I finally got around replacing the standard 40/55W bulbs with some 60/55W halogen ones on my bus. That got me wondering about a couple of things related to headlights.

I've got non-sealed standard (i.e. not halogen) headlights. The bus is a '79 one that got reimported into Europe and a PO replaced the sealed beam ones at some point.

Only bulbs with P45t socket fit there, but I bought an adapter to be able to use the more common P43t socket bulbs I can buy at any petrol station (I know I could get special halogen bulbs with the old P45t socket online if I wanted, though).

So essentially, I'm fitting halogen bulbs to a headlight assembly designed to work with plain old round bulbs, featuring a metal shield above the bulb to block direct light. IIRC ratwell did some tests with this same setup and appreciated no obvious issue with halogen bulbs and the metal shield.

• Out of interest, though, would someone have a picture of an H4 headlight assembly? I'd be interested to know if that also has a metal shield for the bulb, and if so, if it looks similar to the stock headlight.

Then I looked at the rims. They're made out of plastic and have a single screw to fit them. They also have a small hole on the vertical axis (top or bottom, depending on where you look)

• What's the purpose of this hole and should it be facing top or bottom? I could think it's to allow water to drain, but somehow I don't think it's the case, as the assembly is not sealed at all
• I've noticed at least on early bays (and bugs), the rim has 3 screws, which permit headlight adjustment. At which point did the bus migrate to a single screw rim and why?
• Is there a way to adjust the single screw headlights? I understand how the 3-screw system worked, but I cannot figure a way to do the adjustment with the 1 screw assembly (and the 3 other screws that fasten the headlight to the body)

Thanks.

[telford dorr]

My Cibie Z-Beam lamps using (p43t) H4 bulbs have only a metal shield in front of the bulb, such that all emitted light must come from the reflector. There are no other shields, except the one inside the bulb itself which shields downward light from the low beam filament. Thus, all low beam emitted light come from the upper part of the reflector.

In terms of swapping bulbs, as long as the bulbs filaments are in exactly the same location, they should work. Personally, I'd not mess with adapters, but buy H4 lamps with p45t bases (Philips, Osram, Narva).
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[Starbucket]

You really need to post a picture of what you have but my guess is the three screws that attach the head light to the body must have springs behind them as one screw will never be able to aim the head lights so the other three must do it. Try loosing one and see if the light beam moves.

[lil-jinx]

Remove the single screw,that removes the trim ring,then adjust the light with the 2 adjusting screws.
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[busdaddy]

Sounds like some sort of non sealed beam lens/reflectors installed in the USA spec sealed beam fixtures, the real bulb and reflector Euro spec ligts have adjustment screws on the chrome trim ring. You should be able to get 7" H-4's to fit those buckets.
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[furgo]

[VWsArent4Hippies]

It is a drain hole, face it down
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[busdaddy]

Ahhhh, I see, those must be late bay Euro spec lights, some sellers were offering a similar light a few years ago as a Mexican genuine VW part except they used H-4 bulbs. Break a lens and you have to replace the whole unit.
The early ones were part of the outer trim ring and the adjuster screws were visible when installed.

They both adjust the same, but you have to remove the ring on the later style to get at the screws, one controls tilt and the other pan.

Here's the North America sealed beam style for reference as well:

And yes, the little hole goes down to drain.
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[furgo]

Thanks a lot busdaddy for the pics and the info.

[telford dorr]

[busdaddy]

[Dana Champion]

European lights are cool. Im a fan. They were made for left and right hand drive vehicles. Different light pattern. You dont want right hand drive lights on a left hand drive vehicle. Typically the side of the light facing oncoming traffic shines a bit lower, as to not be in the oncoming drivers eyes.


I have Hella E code H4's on my US spec, '70 . They fit the US mount.Great light pattern. Just wish they had the factory parking "city" lights.

Here's mine.

[furgo]

[TDCTDI]

[busdaddy]

[Dana Champion]

Thanks TDCTDI, and busdaddy.

Hella had those kits for sale forever ago. I used to see them advertised in Hot VW's. Tried to locate the Hella's, they were called "city lights". Can't find/ haven't found em. I've seen the ones Cip1 has for sale. Guess I need to stop wishin' and just get some !

I would use piggyback connectors, as to not alter the original wiring.

[Blake412]

FWIW, I humbly offer the following: I made the jump to LED headlights about a month ago, and I have been very pleased with them. I'm getting a WHOLE lot more light from them, using a LOT less amperage and they look clean.

I used VintageCarLEDs.com and was very pleased both with the customer service and with their product knowledge. So much so that I not only gave them a good review on feedback, I specifically sought out this forum to let other Late Bay drivers know about a good company doing a great job.

I'm aware that some might take issue with not keeping the bus as stock as possible; but the benefits (more light and less amperage) far outweigh the asthetic for me personally.

[Ride_On]

A bit bigger investment and leap in terms of looks, but I installed some TruckLite 27027C LED headlights last summer and wow... what a difference! I really don't mind driving at night and in bad conditions and these make night driving so much easier. They were plug and play too, but do stick out about 1cm in front. Fully recommend them.
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[jtauxe]

[busdaddy]