Anyone have these headlights in their 83-86?

[kas83]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item335817aca0



Had one burn out on me, and was looking at the prices of some available. These caught my eye simply because they come with replaceable H4 bulbs, so from now all I'd have to do is get a bulb instead of replacing the whole light. Just wondering if anyone has installed these, and how you like em.

 

[The Warden]

Never tried those, and I would be a bit wary because the lens doesn't seem to do much about directing the beam around any. Might not be legal, and you could end up blinding other drivers.

I've been running these since 2004: http://www.rallylights.com/Hella_200mm_H4_Headlamps.aspx They're not DOT-approved, but the DOT HAS begun to approve OEM lights with a similar pattern, and these ARE street-legal in Europe...so, at least they meet the requirements in part of the civilized world I've found these to make a considerable difference....they don't blind oncoming traffic and at the same time give you a great light pattern in front of you, with low and high beams. They also use H4 bulbs, so you can run higher-wattage bulbs after you do the headlight wiring mod. FWIW, the beam pattern also makes it a lot easier to adjust the lights evenly...take a look here for a good guide on how to "properly" align them.

Just my $.02. Hope that helps...good luck!

 

[Devilish]

I got a pair for 8 bucks when Kragen was clearancing them out. They look great on my 300sd and the lights are brighter because of the bulbs

 

[f-two-fiddy]

I'll agree with the Warden. And add.

The projector headlights You posted would be cool.But, and this is a big but, there would be no way to get 2 good light patterns. You'd either have good low beams, or good high beams. It's nearly impossible to get both out of a single projector.

Now, if You used them in a 4 headlight system, that'd be great.

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

The best projection headlights I have seen for vehicles that werent factory equipped were custom built with two projectors per side. In our application the headlight design just doesn't allow it. Also, I hate those projection head lights. Everyone and his brother with a BMW around here have them and they are ridiculously bright. If they are too bright for me when I'm 5ft higher than the headlights of that BMW then they are TOO BRIGHT. They should be outlawed.
I'm running a headlight relay system in my brown truck with the standard sealed beam Sylvania Silverstar headlights and they are as bright as I'll ever need.

 

[lpennock]

Spend the money and get some Hella E-code headlights. The quality of the light and focus of the beam is much better than the American blob pattern you are use to. Once you go to E-code you will never use regular American blob lights if there is any way to change them out. You are on the right track going to H4 bulbs as you can the build a relay switched harness and get much brighter lights. In my jeep I'm running 90/130W bulbs and it is brighter and better focused with less bother to oncoming traffic than the HID lights in my Mustang.

The E-code lights have a very defined low beam pattern that puts even wide light on the ground. It is so much easier to see things rather than the two hot spots you see with American blob lights. The E-code pattern is used by the rest of the world while the DOT light is only legal in the US which should tell you something.

Here is a picture I found that shows the difference in low beam pattern.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=39727&d=1167244460

 

[sootman73]

i like my hid's....... dont need high or low beams. you can see everything all the time. and i dont bother other drivers because no one has flashed their brights at me yet. well when i was working on aiming them right they did but i got that taken care of.

HID

 

[timothyr1014]

personally, to get good light cheap I like the silverstars, if I am spending money, the hella e-codes, either way you ar much less likley to get bothered by local laws officers

 

[lpennock]

I've been running E-code lights since 1977 and have never been bothered by a LEO. The only time I've even had a comment was a state that required headlight aiming as part of the inspection. The E-code lights don't have the alignment tabs for the machine so they couldn't check the aim and complained. If that is a worry the Hella vison plus have the tabs and a modified E-code pattern. Not as good as the E-Code but still better than any of the sealed beams on the market including Silver Star.

 

[Diesel_brad]

I dont know about those on ebay but i got mine thru LMC http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fd/full.aspx?Page=60. they are a glass lens, not plastic like a lot of those lights and they work GREAT. I dont blind oncoming drivers but i can see at night. I also upgraded to LMCs headlight harness to lake the load off the already weak FORD headlight switch

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Also, I hate those projection head lights. Everyone and his brother with a BMW around here have them and they are ridiculously bright. If they are too bright for me when I'm 5ft higher than the headlights of that BMW then they are TOO BRIGHT. They should be outlawed.

I had some moron with a newer Lincoln Navigator that had those behind me on the freeway on Friday night, he was a good mile back so according to DOT rules he was clear to run the highs, only them things were so bright that I had to move the mirrors to where they were for all intents and purposes useless to me, just to reduce his blinding effect. I flashed my marker lights on and off a few times to let him know, he couldn't care less... 10 miles later I finally had enough of it so I pulled over and let him pass me, at least he was nice enough to switch to lows as he approached and passed me, but still those projector lights he had were a royal pain

 

[Diesel_brad]

O and for all of you complaining about projector light, You should be complaining about HIDs. Almost every vehicle from 02 and newer use projector style light. BMW LEXUS and alot of the other high end cars use HID, and they have that blinding effect, not the projector style

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Okay, maybe it was HIDs then - that white-bluish ghostly light that is stupid bright, that's the one!

 

[Diesel_brad]

Okay, maybe it was HIDs then - that white-bluish ghostly light that is stupid bright, that's the one!

Yup! Thats HIDs

 

[kas83]

Thanks for the replies so far. I wasn't set on getting the projector lenses, I'm just sick of taking the complete light assembly out every time I have a burnt out bulb. Was looking to upgrade so that all I need to remove and replace was the bulb itself. Wound up just getting a cheapo light to get by without a ticket, but will definately be looking into the differents ones posted.