To H4 or not to H4, that is the question

OK, so I've had a set of Euro H4's for several months and haven't installed. I dug them out recently to clean up and prep to paint the rings. Now, after looking at pics of cars with the H4's on and comparing to mine, I've almost decided I like the look on my car with the standard sealed beam look.

Am I the only one that likes the non H4 look?

[DanTheCat]

I know, why don't you give me the H4's and I'll put them on my car and we can have a side-by-side comparison.

Personally, I really like the euro H4 look. I have plans to get a set in the near future for my baby.

Dan

[surflvr911sc]

I have H4s w/ the stock look. Pelican sells the kit.

[Toothzilla]

I gotta vote H4's all the way.

chris

[carreradpt]

I prefer the stock look with H4's too. I have the Hella H4's and they do shine the way very well.

[Adam]

H4s, dude!

[Harlan Chinn]

When I had my car repainted, I had the option at the time to do the European H4's. But instead opted to retain the North American character of the car and re-install Hella H-4's with higher intensity bulbs. Trying to attach a photograph but the server isn't loading...another off topic rant

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Mark,
I had some euro H4's too and put one on, but couldn't go through with it.

My 86 Carrera had H1's, but I want my SC to look like an SC.

I have been heading in an older is better direction in the last 5 years though?

[AirCooledExcellence]

It's gotta be H4's



Cheers,

Tim.

[Bothari]

Speaking as an european: when i saw one of those american-style headlights for the first time about 4 months ago, i actually thought they were some sort of weird "rice" tuning, a bit like those stickers to make gas tank lids look like aircraft setups.

For an european, they look *really* weird and sort of "kitch", but that's just us...

[Paul Franssen]

I'll join Bothari in his remark, but not to be interpreted as "choosing sides" (but of course, it's always "hurrah for our side")!

Over here, the U.S. "vertical" look of the headlight-glass, with the "wide" headlight rings, look outright weird!
That look also clearly identifies the car as an import from the U.S., of which there are a lot, especially for the old cars, and most of all the 912's.

Other such givaways (talking Carrera talk now): "big" rubber bumpers at the back, lacking 1 sq.in. amber blinkers on the front wings, blinking lights on the front bumper sides (ROW have a rubber insert there instead of a blinker), red rear blinker plastic (iso amber), mph speedo, and (possibly) a pca sticker and, badmouths have it, a mushy engine.

Between you and me and the gigantic doorpost of this site: H4 for me!

[Elombard]

Do the H4s I think you will like. You can always go back. I put USA H5s from an 87 on my car (cheap imitation of the euro h4s)- way better.

[Glasgow 911SC]

H4s. It's the way it's meant to look.

[Victor]

Originally posted by Mark Wilson


Am I the only one that likes the non H4 look?

Yes.

How did all those poor USA 911's end up with those [non H4's]anyway? You seem to have gotten the bum steer on bumpers and ride hight also.

Three of the things that make a 911 a 911.

[Reg]

Mark

Your car is super nice as it is! Definately one of my favorites.

[dotorg]

I was having the same debate -- sealed beam H4 replacement housings, euro H4 housings. I decided I liked the sealed beam look better, and was going to order the hella housings when I discovered they (in a rather old condition) were actually what was in my car.

Then someone mentioned the Xenarc HID replacements, and $300 later they're sitting in my living room waiting to go in the car this weekend. My other car is HID, and its hard to go from a HID car to a non-HID car... you get spoiled actually being able to see things.

I'll be posting pics of the install process this weekend.

[chuckr]

For me, it is more of a see better thing, the H4's are a better lamp !
The farther I can see, the more time I have to avoid road hazards or anything else that I might not want to hit.

[Superman]

I agree with you, Mark. I would not say I dislike the look of the euro-H4s, but I would say I very much prefer the "American" look. As you know, I painted the plastic trim thing black, which looks much nicer and makes the light look smaller. The small look is a big part of what I like. The euro H4s look bug-eyed to me.

So, I am using the Hella direct-replacement (look like sealed-beam, but they are not....they take a standard H4 bulb), and I know that Bosch makes one too. Some like the Bosch better.

Also, I am using relays on my headlight circuits, and everyone else should too. You've been warned...all of you. So, with the relays, I'm comfortable running 100w high beams, which is much nicer than 60 watts. Stay away from the DOT-legal direct-replacement H4 units. They are available, but the most popular is the non DOT-approved units, which have a much better lens.

Oh, and Mark, you're going to eventually discover "Rain-X." Better sooner than later.

[Jens]

The American version headlights were an unfortunate compromise to meet the stupid demands of the US Department of Transportation. Less light and aesthetically dubious. Now, you can put H4 lamps into the American shrouded housings, but then you're stuck with the same look. The original headlight design was the ROW (Rest of World or "Euro" to some) narrow trim H4. The pure uncompromised shape as intended by Porsche in the first place.

Jens

[Superman]

I guess I don't get it. The American headlights, I guess, are the simple, round, 7" units. The ones we have been looking at for, ummmmm......a hundred years or so. Right?

Okay, so recognizing this, then the American units are not some kind of funky, unusual thing. Right? They're standard headlights, some of which are H4s, or at least take H4 bulbs. And then the "Euro" units become the oddball. One step closer to the widely-rejected kidney-shaped eyesores that come on the new 996.

Function over form. I'm not sure how much improvement can be made on my ability to see at night. I've got unassuming (but bright....100w) H4s. Humble, lovable, shoeshine boy.