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Team WorldTour
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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 Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:10 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Why did I stay with the square lights instead of "upgrading" to the 7" round?
Well....... I've the newer body style.
I don't really want to step backwards in time to make my Van look like a 1983 unit.
Dave |
The body is relatively unchanged.
Also, I feel the need to repeat that the square headlights you love so much were a North America Market Only feature.
Here, in the Domestic Market, there are 99.99% round lights, with a rare square light here and there.
Now, if only the 7" Jeep LED's weren't 500 euros apiece! 
It took me a little while to get over my own preferences and embrace the round headlight.
But now that I have, I find I like them better.
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1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
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piledriver
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2003
Posts: 184
Location: In my bunker, beside my wall. (Howe, Tx)
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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Bumping old thread for recent info..
The newest Hella 5x7 freeform lamps are sae AND. Ece dual code lamps, and are us and euro legal.
The 7" Hella round ones have not been updated yet, but you can get dual code 7" rounds from KC Hilights. Make sure they arent last years version which are sae only freeform reflector/ clear lexan lens but lack ece approval. They still have a very nice pattern and sharp cutoff, just put a pair in my cabby.
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Current daily driver---73 Square, 1.8L T4, MS3+MS3X/sequential w/LS2 coils 80 miles/day. |
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Team WorldTour
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 12:59 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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I've recently bought a pair of 7" LED bulbs, but found a new problem.
I already have the H4 bulbs. The H4 bulbs have the mounting bracket integrated in the bulb housing, so no spare mounting ring for the new LEDs that have no mounting hardware included......
So, anyone upgrading and interested in 'Parting Forward' a set of mounting rings?
anyone?
_________________
1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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piledriver
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2003
Posts: 184
Location: In my bunker, beside my wall. (Howe, Tx)
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 5:57 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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| Team WorldTour wrote: |
I've recently bought a pair of 7" LED bulbs, but found a new problem.
I already have the H4 bulbs. The H4 bulbs have the mounting bracket integrated in the bulb housing, so no spare mounting ring for the new LEDs that have no mounting hardware included......
So, anyone upgrading and interested in 'Parting Forward' a set of mounting rings?
anyone? |
Sounds like you either ordered the wrong bulbs or are due a refund.
H4 bulbs have never had removable mounting flanges.
LED retrofit bulbs are still worse than sealed beams, unless you spend hundreds, and even those have marginal patterns.
The only not stupid expensive but decent led headlights I have found are the Grotes and the Trucklights. These are actual properly engineered LED headlights, but still not cheap.
NAPA actually has a line of "LED Sealed Beam" headlights that are a bit cheaper but have very poor reviews. Have not tried them myself.
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Current daily driver---73 Square, 1.8L T4, MS3+MS3X/sequential w/LS2 coils 80 miles/day. |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 6:16 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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| piledriver wrote: |
LED retrofit bulbs are still worse than sealed beams, unless you spend hundreds, and even those have marginal patterns.
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The LED Bulbs are getting better
Here is a test I did around February this year just to find out if the LED bulbs have improved.
The vendors have been changing their designs from the junk ones that first came out a few years ago.
"Hikari" is now making an acceptable LED bulb that works much better in E-Code rectangular headlights.
https://www.amazon.com/HIKARI-Conversion-Halogen-R...mp;sr=8-19
This is the test I did making sure I had the rectangular headlights aimed properly.
The end result is not blinding oncoming traffic with the LED's.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=751234&highlight=
"TeamWorldTour" note that there are plenty of pics of the H4 mounts here to see how they mount.
Need to see pic's of the bulbs you bought to know what problem they are giving you.
It does sound like you bought the wrong bulbs. If you tried to add H4 mounts to them you would probably have the LED chip out of position and then get a bad light pattern from them.
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a914622
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 840
Location: Westend of HWY2 , Wash
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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I’m with you I like the look of the square lights. I did the h4 encode write up year’s ago. At the time worked good, better than stock.
Fast forward to hids, I had a set in the e code housings for about a minute. I thought the light was way uncontrolled.
Then leds, same thing , just a puke of light .
I have changed to the truck light style. Night and day difference. No blinding traffic and real light.
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Team WorldTour
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 10:44 pm Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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Ok, I see I am not being understood.
When I bought my van, *it already had H4 headlights*.
The H4's *have integrated mounting tabs*.
The LEDs *require* a mounting ring that I don't have.
_________________
1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
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piledriver
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2003
Posts: 184
Location: In my bunker, beside my wall. (Howe, Tx)
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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Oh, gotcha. Thought you just had bulbs. You bought sealed beam conversion lamps.
I admit to never having seen OE h4 lamp assemblies with mounting ears, every one I have ever seen or replaced had a separate hold down ring with ears, probably all conversion lamps.(ring was on car already, not with the lamps)
You should be able to get the clamp rings almost anywhere in US, same as for sealed beams. Fortunately they weigh almost nothing. They have cutouts for the alignment notch lumps on the sealed beam lamps, i dangerously assume the h4 lamp holders are same.
************
Looks like the dual spec SAE+ECE lamps are currently limited to the 7" round KC Highlites lamps and the 4x6//165mm rectangular Hellas, wend to buy some for my vanagon and I must have misread. I'll do that after she's back on the road.
Of course the 4x6 free forms arent in the Hella 2021 catalog either so its probably just a matter of time.
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Current daily driver---73 Square, 1.8L T4, MS3+MS3X/sequential w/LS2 coils 80 miles/day. |
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Team WorldTour
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Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 5:35 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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| piledriver wrote: |
Oh, gotcha. Thought you just had bulbs.
I admit to never having seen OE h4 lamp assemblies, everyone I have ever seen or replaced had a separate hold down ring with ears, probably all conversion lamps.(ring was on car already, not with the lamps)
*You should be able to get the clamp rings almost anywhere in US*, same as for sealed beams. Fortunately they weigh almost nothing.
************
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As stated previously, the H4 bulbs were on the van when I bought it.
As for the buckets, they are stock VW. The LEDs are a *perfect* fit.
Just, ya know, *no way to hold them in*.
If I *were* in the US, I'm sure I would not be having this problem.
However, the required piece is an Evolutionary Holdover that nobody kept.
(My *last* van, *Domo* had H4 replacements as well. No sealed beam lights. And I bought him in 2008!)
_________________
1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3018
Location: MD
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 6:00 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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When I did this on my e30 I cut the OE ring down so it would fit over my LED headlights and hold them in place.
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piledriver
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2003
Posts: 184
Location: In my bunker, beside my wall. (Howe, Tx)
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 6:08 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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h4s became standard issue in the 80s or so?
6v cars might be a source, I honestly have no idea what was used in europe pre-ece.
At least the hella outer rings are all stainless.
Any local in EU shops selling those kind of lamps? Seems like the rings would be required on most installs.
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Team WorldTour
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Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 1:58 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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And therein lies the source of my problem.....
_________________
1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3018
Location: MD
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| Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 5:17 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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Break the tabs off your old lights and epoxy them to your new lights. Or bend up some new tabs with sheet metal. Or have a metal fab shop build you 2 rings with tabs. Come on man, think!
As far as Vanagon problems go, this an easy and enjoyable one to solve.
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Team WorldTour
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Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 5:55 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| 1.)Break the tabs off your old lights and epoxy them to your new lights. |
I'm not breaking anything off anything. Shit is hard to find around here...
| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| 2.)Or bend up some new tabs with sheet metal. |
Possible as a temporary solution, but it won't pass TÜV.
| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| 3.)Or have a metal fab shop build you 2 rings with tabs. |
Not as easy as it sounds. Germans are very resistant to new concepts and ideas, and will simply refuse to help rather than challenge themselves or do something that might not pass an inspection.
| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| Come on man, think! |
I have.
| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| As far as Vanagon problems go, this an easy and enjoyable one to solve. |
In North America, yeah I agree. But that's not where I am.
_________________
1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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4Gears4Tires
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Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3018
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Team WorldTour
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 7:56 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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My headlight buckets are stock. VW. Original. So, three tabs, just like yours.
The second link is more indicative of what I purchased.
The buckets don't fit on the VW, and the rings don't fit on the VW buckets.
Now that we've taken the long way around, I will repeat my question.
Does anyone have a pair of rings to Part Forward?
_________________
1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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a2wolfsburggli
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2018
Posts: 279
Location: WI
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| Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 8:09 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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They're making LED replacements now that have elements 360 degrees around. I don't see any for H4's yet.
These are for H7's: (not for our vans.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZR2GLQR/
I (and many others,) are using them in our older BMW motorcycles. The beam patterns are very good. Nearly identical to stock. They LED's don't need to be clocked in the lens.
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truepaul
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2017
Posts: 36
Location: Central Connecticut
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| Posted: Wed May 19, 2021 6:44 pm Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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| piledriver wrote: |
Bumping old thread for recent info..
The newest Hella 5x7 freeform lamps are sae AND. Ece dual code lamps, and are us and euro legal.
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Sounds promising! Is this the Hella 008888101 "conversion kit" ? Anyone have experience with it? |
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Team WorldTour
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 2426
Location: Der Vaterland
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| Posted: Thu May 20, 2021 12:43 am Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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To give you an idea, THIS is what is available in Germany.
God help whomever deviates from the norm!
So, this is what *I* have, and I'm looking for help getting what *YOU* have!
This is why I don't have a headlight ring, and can't easily find one.
_________________
1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
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Nicopeepee
Samba Member
Joined: March 15, 2023
Posts: 1
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2023 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: 90 Westy - square lights - LED's |
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@djkeev Dave, you mentioned that you didn’t have to modify your grill at all yet i think you are using the identical Hella unit to those used by Lemoncove in his guide. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=583876&highlight=hella
How did you do it without changing the grill? Thanks![/quote] |
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