Price of H4s - question

[grahamkissack]

I'm not clear why there seems to be such demand for used H4s on the 911 classified forum when the host sells them here new. Right now I see a pair for $400 used and for $500 I get a brand new set...am I missing something? Thanks.

[Joe Bob]

Hard to Fuch up a set of headlights....20% off is good for an excellent set. 30% is better, make an offer. eBay sells them for $450.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by grahamkissack

I'm not clear why there seems to be such demand for used H4s on the 911 classified forum when the host sells them here new. Right now I see a pair for $400 used and for $500 I get a brand new set...am I missing something? Thanks.

I agree with you, especially with wear items. I figure very good condition used parts should fetch perhaps ~60% of new retail when new is still available. NLA parts (like H1's) are a different story or very rare pieces or very costly items might command closer to retail new prices. At 50-60% of new price, good used items will usually sell quickly. Anything more than that to me simply isn't worth the risk and lack of warranty, returns, service, etc. Un-used (new-in-box) items will command more but that's not the case here.

Also, classified asking prices are not 'sales' prices either and figure shipping into the mix for both items.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Hard to Fuch up a set of headlights....

Perhaps, but bulbs have a finite life and the lenses take a beating with age/mileage, etc. Also, being fragile - packaging, shipping, etc. are much higher risk in private party sales.

[Techne]

Originally Posted by grahamkissack

I'm not clear why there seems to be such demand for used H4s on the 911 classified forum when the host sells them here new. Right now I see a pair for $400 used and for $500 I get a brand new set...am I missing something? Thanks.

Cause everybody wants 'em!



I know I do.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

To duplicate the $400 shipped pair on Classifieds, you would need to spend:

$253.50 lights
$253.50
$56.75 trim rings
$56.75
$7.25 main screws
$7.25
$1.00 trim ring screws
$1.00
$5.75 bulbs
$5.75

that totals $648.50 shipped.

Plus the ones purchased new are most likely the Czech Republic ones. Lower quality than the original German-made ones, which are being sold on Classifieds.

[tcar]

You can often get a good used pair of Euro BOSCH H4's with all the hardware and bulbs for mid $300's... I have a couple times.

Both here and Ebay.

[Joe Bob]

Yep, if you look around and can get the jump on others....kinda like buying Fuchs wheels. I'm looking for an orphan 16x6. I'm not gonna pay 200+ when they occasionally sell for 100.

It's all dependent on needs. How fast the seller wants to sell and how fast the buyer wants to buy.....when you're not in a hurry, the hunt is half the fun.

[schumicat]

I put Cibie H4s that I had on my Miata on my 911. They use the same "sugar scoops" you use with the US-spec 911 headlights. I paid $80 for them new on a group buy on a Miata site. The 7" round lights are used by a number of other cars in addition to Miata and 911. the Bosch-style 911 H4s are different (they use different trim rings and stick out more) and seem to cost 5x what you can get generic 7" H4s for.

[mpetry]

Schumi, I am with you. I have the 7" hella H4s on my car, and they are great, especially with the Sylvania Silverstar 55/60 bulbs.

The Bosch H4 sure look cool, but remember you have to paint the trim rings too and the mounting can be tricky, especially on earlier cars.

H1s are even crazier, price - wise!

[bavaria911]

People want -- way too much for used H-4s. Ebay and (V ertex) sells the new chrome set for $375. Go figure!

[AZAirCooled]

I bought the complete set-up from our host, painted the rings with a spray can loaded by a local paint shop, and mounted myself. I think I spent around $500. . Installation was... tricky.

I wish there were a great used set available for half price when I did it. But I had the fever and I wanted them for an upcoming show...

[Canuck_Targa]

I got a decent used set off ebay for under $200 shipped, but it took 6 months of shopping. Spent a Saturday cleaning them up, painting, replacing bulbs/parts/screws and they truned out like new for under $250.
I figure if I can get them for 50% of 60% of new it is worth it, but watching them sell at 80% of new for 6 months I was scratching my head and just about to buy new when these came up.

While we are on the subject of H4's, the pair I purchased were originally off a 78 SC from europe (shipped to US later) and they have a little 6watt bulb that iluminates them when the park lights are on. I read in a PP thread this was for parking on narrow european roads at night, you could leave these 6 watt bulbs on for your car to be visible and not totaly drain your battery.
I hooked mine up and they work great.

Do the new ones you purchase have this same option? Just curious.

[daniel911T]

Wow guys! These prices are so far out of line that I can't quite fathom it. I have a '69, which originally used the old sealed beam headlights. They were a nice standard size, being the same as I had on all my old air cooled VWs. I got these parts from bus depot. Total price was about $80, and it was no more work than simpy changing a sealed beam bulb.

BusDepot.com - VW Bus / Camper / Vanagon / EuroVan Specialists

I don't know what you guys are buying, or why it's so expensive, but I have nice bright white H4 bulbs in my '69 and they work great.

-Dan

edit: Our host sells the same kit! Why spend $4-500 when you can have the same amount of light for around $100, and preserve the stock beauty of the car?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by daniel911T

BusDepot.com - VW Bus / Camper / Vanagon / EuroVan Specialists

I don't know what you guys are buying

-Dan

..

[AZAirCooled]

Dan,

Your comparing apples to oranges and wondering why they don't taste the same.

You replaced a light bulb and I replaced the entire headlight assembly including the fender trim ring.

Whether you like the look or think it is worth the money is a personal choice. Why don't you post some photos of your 911 in your Pelican garage so we can see how yours turned out?

Canuk,

I installed them myself and I think there was an "extra" connector involved but I can't remember exactly. Anyone interested could call the Pelican technical line and ask. They have been very helpful to me in the past.

Bob

[UrQuattro]

Are the original H4s the ones with brass rings that are either tinted or painted black?

Or does that not factor into the origin much?

Thanks.

Michael

[mpetry]

That extra little bulb is the "town" beam that was required for some countries in Europe. On entering the city limits, drivers were to turn off the headlight main beams - that little bulb would illuminate with the parking light circuit.

Euro cars will have an extra pigtail in the headlight bucket for it.

This rule was from the same timeframe as the parking lights which would be illuminated on one side of the car using the turn signal.

[daniel911T]

Originally Posted by AZAirCooled

You replaced a light bulb and I replaced the entire headlight assembly including the fender trim ring.

True.

Originally Posted by AZAirCooled

Whether you like the look or think it is worth the money is a personal choice. Why don't you post some photos of your 911 in your Pelican garage so we can see how yours turned out?

I think it depends on your objective. Mine was to get nice bright light for the least amount of money possible. I feel I succeeded. If you're objective is aesthetic, then your path to get there will probably be somewhat different than mine. I'm not shocked by the impulse to change the look of the car or the performance of the lighting system, as the stock system on early cars is totally inadequate, I'm just shocked by the price tag.

I am posting car pics now, and here's one for good measure:



I have better pictures, but this is all I have available at the moment.

I hope your H4 conversion went well! I would love to see a picture of what one of the more expensive kits looks like installed (especially before and after)

Cheers!
Dan

[attamz]

I paid $573 from our host all said and done to do the conversion.