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CMXXXI · Joined: 05 Nov 2002 Posts: 1939 Location: Vicksburg, MS

I'd like to convert my car to use Halogen headlights with the replaceable H4 bulbs. I see a bunch of different offerings on Ebay, and wanted to know if there is any particular ones to either seek or avoid. I'm not real keen on the "crystal cut" style, but if that is all that is out there, I suppose I can live with it. I have seen some (?) OEM (?) units by either Hella or Bosch with a flat, "plain" face that are more to my liking, but they are 2-3 times the cost. Actually the car had Hella units originally, but during the DOT conversion I had to have them replaced with standard US Sealed beam units

Who has replaced their sealed beam units with these aftermarket things, and do you have any input/feedback on the subject?

TIA -
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'79 Eurospec 931

My924gtc · Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 1362 Location: 248

I have had 2 different styles of the "diamond cut" conversions found on ebay. If you can find the ones that do not have the small "city light" go for those. Otherwise you have to modify the headlight bucket slightly to accept the housing. Most of the really cheap ones on ebay have these small lights. Both were obviously better than the dim lights

The Bosch offerings look nice, but for $150 you can almost get "true" HID conversion kits, well not really but its a start.
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MJ
'81 924 2.0L T
'82 924 2.3L SC/EFI <---online fall '06

Sponsor of the 944 Cup and Super Cup
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Smoothie · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 9:32 am Post subject:

I've been using a pair I got from JCWhitney for approx. 10 years. They're "intended for offroad use only", but they've been passing NJ MV inspection all these years. They have "H-4" molded right into the center of the lenses and "top" at the top of each - everything but "DOT"... They're current offerings sell for just over $20 each with your choice of bulb included - and the choices include regular halogen or Xenon and varying wattages. I can't claim to remember exactly what strength I went with all those years ago with brain cells dying off at the furious pace they are and all, but if I know me, I probably got the 55/100's and Xenon wasn't available at the time, so regular halogen's what i wound up with. Look here and scroll down to the round 7 inch'ers - http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-363/c-10101
Xenon 55/100 - http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/c-10101/s-10101/p-194773/mediaCode-ZX/appId-386083

Here's a pic of one of the ~10 year-old reflectors on my car (I haven't had to replace either bulb yet) - http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smoothies931pics/detail?.dir=7a86&.dnm=82d7.jpg&.src=ph
Physically, they're flatter on the face than the sealed beams they replaced and on low-beams, they seem to direct the light more downward, but I have no complaints and rarely think to or need to switch on the high-beams. -And the high-beams are more than adequate.
Of course I can't guarantee that you'll pass your states' inspection with them, but no problems up here.
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"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

Joes924Racer · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 9:56 am Post subject:

I bought some a while back and both lens cracked I used them till the
bulbs got wet and burned up Im thinking craftsmanship here as in the material they used was bogus. I replaced them with something from autozone till I figure out a lens replacement I got the halos with h4 bulbs a while back I dont know if youve seen those they were kind of cheap I guess 50 bucks though the bosch units look good. They cracked for some reason now the replacements have been fine so far.
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1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

924guy · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:52 am Post subject:

ive got the same ones from jc whitney, 5years and counting now, i think theyre 55/?? (not 100's) , i didnt get the more poweful ones because i was afraid theyd be too much power draw (no additonal relays needed) ..they still work great...original bulbs, no problems...
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Eric
78 924
82 931 SE "smokey"
99' VehiCross
Y2K Honda Insight
http://www.cardomain.com/id/924Guy
Performance by Pasha

Smoothie · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:11 am Post subject:

Hey! I took a look and have 60/55 bulbs, so maybe I was more sensible back then than I remember. Some pics - http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smoothies931pics/detail?.dir=7a86&.dnm=c402.jpg&.src=ph
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"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

In the past 30+ years, I have used Cibie, Hella, and Bosch.

I probably like the Hella the best (probably the light pattern).

Unsealed H4 conversions have never been legal in the US. The major lighting manufacturers have produced DOT H4 systems, andf they include a glass bubble that seals the reflector from the open air where the H4 bulb is installed. That's what makes them legal. The legal H4 headlights do not have near as nice a beam pattern as the illegal ones. Illegal H4 headlights do not have sealed reflectors. And, that is why that are imported into the US with the "For Offroad Use Only". DOT 7" round headlights all have the three glass "bumps" formed on the front of the lens to fit US legal headlight aiming tools.

When it come to H4 headlights, you get what you pay for. If you want good lighting, buy name brand headlight fixtures (which are not made in the third world). The cheaper "no-name" H4 headlights with sold by/to the "coffee can exhaust" crowds are for looks.

Try motorcycles shops for more reasonably priced H4 7" headlights. Over the years, the cost of the headlights has not risen that much, the good ones are simply sold at a higher price by the street racer shops, because most people aren't smart engough to know where the lights come from, and can be bought for less.

Lizard · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:31 am Post subject:

I have used the Bosch lens and regular halogons, I now am trying the diamond cut E style lights, imo they are not very good quality, and the guy RIPS you on shipping, however they do throw the light the best out of the ones I have tried, I have gone through vehicle inspection with them in and passed no prob
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3 928s,

Rob O · Joined: 26 Nov 2002 Posts: 86 Location: Oak Ridge, NJ

Performance Products has a set that I have been thinking about. These are Hella and DOT legal.

http://www.performanceproducts.com/ProductPage.aspx?ProductName=Hella+Vision+Plus+Halogen+Headlight&productid=103267&producttype=20

$45 but I believe that you need two.

Rob
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'81 Weissach Ed. (gettin' better)

Smoothie · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:28 pm Post subject:

I uploaded 6 pictures (3 pairs, low-beam then high beam) trying to show the light pattern of the 'el-cheapo JCW H-4's. Camera position for all photos was the center of the car just below the rearview mirror. Color balance was set manually to incandescent lighting. While looking, be aware that the camera doesn't show everything that the eye sees. For example in the third pic, the woods were in plain view by eye with low-beams, but they don't show very well in the photo. -
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smoothies931pics/detail?.dir=/7a86&.dnm=df0c.jpg&.src=ph
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"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

Joes924Racer · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 4:32 pm Post subject:

Looks like theres a little frost there too.. Smoothie
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1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

Smoothie · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:10 pm Post subject:

Naa - that was just gravel.

Hey Joe - I thought I was done checkin'out my beam patterns, pulled into a parkin' spot and there was this Sesame Street kinda character leanin' up against a tree like a little cartoon bum. Kinda freaked me out. What's up wit dat? http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smoothies931pics/detail?.dir=7a86&.dnm=b900.jpg&.src=ph
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"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

CMXXXI · Joined: 05 Nov 2002 Posts: 1939 Location: Vicksburg, MS

E-Bay strikes again!! Gotta love it (or hate it based on the recent thread). I was high bidder on a pair of absolutely pristine Hella halogen H4 headlight conversions last week. $40 each retail, I got a pair for $60 delivered - in two days no less!! You have to look hard to even see a couple of pits from road 'sandblasting'. DOT legal and they work like a charm.

Only problem is that when I installed them I discovered that my brake/clutch fluid was low. Guess what? That is what the puddle under the car is. I suppose it's a blessing in disguise, discovering a cracked clutch hydraulic line in the garage instead of on the interstate... Looks like I won't be driving the Porsche to visit my folks on the Gulf Coast at Thanksgiving after all.
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'79 Eurospec 931

Joes924Racer · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:23 am Post subject:

Tweeks has h-4s conversion kit from TWEEKS for 60.00
thats for a 12 or 6 volt sys.. its a 7" lamp with standard or
high output wattage bulbs the bulbs are only about 6.00 each
and Im also thinken the lamps are 60.00 each. Ceck auto parts stores
I wont go there Smoothie ..not now. Is it elmo
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1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW