New headlight options

[Dylanhat]

What are some options for new head light bulbs? Thanks in advance.

[roadhog0]

Sealed beams or H4's? If you have sealed beams dump em for a set of Hella H4's, makes a BIG difference!

[SteveJ]

There are plenty of options for the temperature of the replacement H4 bulbs. Just stay away from the blue tint bulbs...unless you like that look. Go with a good brand name lens/reflector like bosch or Hella. Also with a name brand bulb by the same or at least PIAA or Sylvania.

If you are upgrading to H4's, look for the info on the FAQ for wiring or fuses that you may need.

[SantaBarbara02]

Yo! Message me there are a couple good deals out there. I'm upgrading to H4 with Euro Bosch. Peace

[Harv]

If you want better headlights, start with a relay kit first. This makes a big improvment even with stock headlights. Check out danialstern.com for info.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/relays/relays.html

John

[jgerock]

Hella H4 lights, new relays and super simple harness from Susquehanna Motorsports in PA. No more dim headlights and less strain on the stock light switch.

[stymee]

Hella H4 lights, new relays and super simple harness from Susquehanna Motorsports in PA. No more dim headlights and less strain on the stock light switch.

That kit looks great, which one is it? Does it handle your driving lights as well?

[jgerock]

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=1247

I think it was the HL28200 kit. Contact them for proper harness lengths. Very friendly!

This kit just handles the high and low beams. My driving lights were installed by the PO with separate relay.

[bnam]

If you are looking at H4s -- BusDepot has a good deal on Bosch H4s -- $45 for pair. That was the best I could find for namebrand H4s.

B

[napa02]

If you want better headlights, start with a relay kit first. This makes a big improvment even with stock headlights. Check out danialstern.com for info.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/relays/relays.html

John

According to his sig. he has a 76, they already have headlight relays...

[Harv]

According to his sig. he has a 76, they already have headlight relays...

While that's true, one of these setups with beefyier wire and relays and shorter runs is still a big improvement.

But I hear what your saying.

John

[SteveJ]

I built the same harness as the Susquehanna (slowly I turn...) harness for my car. The improvements are that you are pulling a fresh, good ground and +12 connection to the relays. The harness just plugs into one of the existing headlight connections so all the switches operate as stock. I actually found the connectors for the back of the headlights on clearance at a Wal-Mart.

A plug -n-play harness allows you to keep the original wiring in place to go back to stock at any time.

You would build a similar harness for your auxillary lights, but could probably use only one relay.

[SantaBarbara02]

Steal the suggestion right outta my mouth According to the site the Bosch h4 euros do not require relays.

[AustrianVespaGuy]

John

According to his sig. he has a 76, they already have headlight relays...

That's only half true. While the later models indeed have headlight relays, the circuit doesn't really work the way a relay circuit *should*. BMW uses them to interrupt one another so that the low beams cut off when the high beams are on, however they left it such that the dash and stalk switches STILL switch the FULL current load. Crazy, yes, but there you have it. So the key here to rewiring (or using a new/different harness) is to use the switches only to work the relays and let the relays do all of the high current handling. So even in a late model, if you rewire things, you should see an improvement in the stock headlights just by cutting out the extra losses from the old, not-so-great circuit. Email me if anyone would like some wiring diagrams.

-Carl

[fjord-tii]

The busdepot.com headlights are European motorcycle lamps. The German bulbs they sell are an off-brand, made in (East) Germany. Don't ask how I know. I also bought a set of E-Code Hellas from Susquehana with 70/80W yellow H4 bulbs for my 944. Difference is night and day, pun intended. Neither are as focused as the H1 bulbed Euro headlight conversion from Taiwan that I put in my son's E36.