night vision impaired

[foxpaws]

When driving Welpe at night in the mountains it seems like I could do better with a couple of birthday candles behind the lenses than the bulbs that are in there.

So, I purchased a plug-n-play H4 upgrade kit here - relay, sockets, bulbs the whole thing so I can see in the dark. However, I mentioned that I was going to do the H4 conversion to a fellow owner and he said that it would melt the plastic reflectors.

I can't believe they would sell the kit here only to have unhappy customers when the reflectors melted behind the bulbs. Has anyone here had experience with the kits or the melting reflector problem?

This morning's project (after breakfast) was to put in the kit... now????

I am a little concerned because on the caddy - we have to watch even the bulb base material - in the rear taillights - the brass base bulbs are fine - the white metal base bulbs will melt the plastic surrounds.

So, as you can see in the sig Welpe is a '87 Carrera, with glass lenses in the headlights...

[Joe Bob]

I've never had a meltdown.....running 80/100w bulbs with relays.

[bfunke]

The issue with high wattage H-4s is melting the electrical connector on the bulb not the reflector. You can purchase an upgraded ceramic plug connector for this. Also be sure to add 30A relays for the high and low beams. You don't want all the current going through your switch. These two upgrades should have you well illuminating the road.

Bryan

[foxpaws]

Thanks guys - I have the kit and it seems to have everything mentioned above.

So later today the puppy will be able to see at night - woohoo!

[wwest]

HIDs would be a BIG night vision improvement and use LESS power, only 35W, 4300K spectrum best for human eyesight, Hi/Lo projector type available for putting light ONLY where you need it.

[foxpaws]

Relays went in slick -

However, am I missing something or are these bulbs really different?

Is there some secret handshake I don't know about?

[bfunke]

The bulb on the left is a 9004 halogen used on cars starting in the mid-80s. The one on the right is a true H-4. If you headlamps are designed for H-4 you'll have to either replace the lamps with H-4. Two options are using a H-4 headlamp which replaces the standard round headlamp and has a bulb receptacle on the back or replacing the contents of your headlight bucket with Euro style lights. Recommend you get Euro beam pattern although not DOT legal if you go w/ H-4s as the beam is more focused than the non-descript blob on US lights. You could also just replace your 9004 bulb. You can get Silverstar bulbs for 9004 for about $20 which are brighter.

Do not repeat do not get HID concersion bulbs. To convert to HID you'll need to install BiXenon projectors and ballasts which requires some surgery and cutting your light buckets.

Bryan

[foxpaws]

So Bryan - after all the stuff of installing the relays, cutting wires, threading wires, trying to bend my wrists in ways they don't go to get the negative wire attached correctly, etc - the kit I purchased that supposedly would upgrade my '87 headlights to H4s is basically worthless?

Why would they sell it to me - they knew what sort of car I had - everything - I even talked to them on the phone about this -

can I replace the socket with this - or is this project just toast - I don't really want to spend hundreds to upgrade to different headlight assemblies -

Or - does anyone have experience with the silverstar 9004 ultras - if they are decent - I'll just go with them, and strip out everything I just did... gak.

[island911]

I can't help but wonder which H4 upgrade kit you bought. --There are two. The cheap way reuses the US 'sugar-scoop' bezels. Whereas the more common 911 soln is the standard euro H4.


Do your H4's look like this...

(standard Euro H4's)

Also, I should add, that the wrong bulb will put the filament in the wrong place (not at the focal point of the parabolic reflector) and give results you've described.

[DRACO A5OG]

Just make certain they are aimed correctly to get the full benefit of illumination

Find a parking lot with a wall, drive up to the wall so you can get in between the wall and car then measure the height and side by side distance of each head light from the center of the lenses and place blue tape on the wall with a "X" or "+".

Drive Straight back, making certain she is perpendicular to the wall 25 feet.

You should see a __/ __/ pattern on the wall. The point where the light goes up should be where the "X' is.

Sit in the car to insure it does not shift down, if so adjust.

[foxpaws]

island - the kit had just the relays, wiring, new bulbs.

No headlight assembly at all - this is my current assembly





So, it is looking like H4s aren't in my near future (once again - not into spending 100s on this project), however, since I have done all the work of installing the relays, can I just leave them in? Will they work if I just upgrade the bulbs to the Silverstars ultra 9004s? That way, if I have hundreds I want to throw at headlights in the future - at least part of the job would be done.

And draco - once this silliness is done, I'll take your advice on aiming the lights - I am sure they will need it

[DRACO A5OG]

FoxPaws, I did the SilverStars route and it failed me, not as bright due to the blue tint and more importantly too many dead spots.

Contact Daniel Stern and get his Bulbs. They are perfect, in that they completely fill the dead spots with illumination. Worth the wait and money. With the relays I get 12.53 volts at the sockets at idle, can't ask for more.

Jim

Here is my write up Daniel Sterns' Bulbs: Daniel Stern Review

[RSTarga]

The relays will help no matter what headlight you use. Since you have H5 headlights the only real fix for more light is going to H4 assemblies.

[foxpaws]

draco - will Daniel Stern's bulbs work in the stock headlights with the stock sockets?

And do you have a link or something to them?

[island911]

Originally Posted by foxpaws

island - the kit had just the relays, wiring, new bulbs.

...

ohhh... (wincing)

Yeah, that sounds like a waste of time (and money). Your relay kit should be more than adequate for running the smaller bulbs, and allow an easy upgrade to a real (H4) upgrade.

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by foxpaws

draco - will Daniel Stern's bulbs work in the stock headlights with the stock sockets?

And do you have a link or something to them?

Yes, he has the 9004's I believe, contact him and I edited my post to include my review of his products. No affiliation just a happy customer that can see the light now.

[island911]

I didn't see your pict's before. You may want to search on "cloudy H-5's" (you have cloudy H5's)...they can be cleaned, iirc.

[foxpaws]

Oh - cleaning the headlights is easy - rock salt, hot water and a little vinegar - have done it on many headlights - and coffee pots. But I'll do a search and see if anything new pops up....

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by foxpaws

island - the kit had just the relays, wiring, new bulbs.
No headlight assembly at all - this is my current assembly...

[snip]Photos of H5 headlights followed[/snip]

I see the fallacy in your plan. You're trying to put H4 bulbs in H5 light assemblies. Your '87 came with H5 lights. H5s may look similar to the Euro H4 assemblies, but not a single part is shared between the two.

The net: What you bought is everything to do the conversion if you already bought H4 Euro light assemblies. A WTB post on the used parts forum should result in your acquiring the H4 lights you desire.

[foxpaws]

thanks Rob - after all this, I sort of figured that out with everyone's help...

However, pelican didn't understand what I needed when I told them what I wanted to do with a bone stock '87 carrera, but I guess Joe Bob believes that maybe even the H5s aren't stock...

Since in the midst of all this my garage door made this weird pop sound, went partially off its track and bent the track like crazy, plus it looked like it was going to fall on the cars (it at least didn't do that) any car funds will be going to garage door repair. I fear it will be just replace the bulbs with the best thing I can and clean up the H5 lenses...