Hella H4 upgrade worthwhile????
 

I'm considering upgrading my headlights to the Hella H4's with high wattage bulbes (100W). Has anybody else done this? Is it a worthwhile upgrade? (do I need a cool collar to cool them)

In terms of light output (not looks) is there an advantage to going to the Bosch H4 headlight assemblies?

TIA for any insight.

Yes, very worthwhile, the only thing better is the new discharge lights, which make all others pale and off color in comparison. Relays are highly reccommended though.

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<font color="#730000">Bill Verburg</font>
My Home Page http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/icons/icon15.gif My Pelican Gallery page http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/icons/icon15.gif My Porsche Owners Gallery Page

Yes, I'm planning on using relays. I think I've figured out how to do that cleanly. I'm just not sure if I should spring for the Bosch H4 assemblies or just swap the bulbs with Hella H4s.

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Bill Krause
'79 911SC Euro
MY PELICAN GALLERY

Over the years I have had both, the Bosch are far superior in ouput and pattern.

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<font color="#730000">Bill Verburg</font>
My Home Page http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/icons/icon15.gif My Pelican Gallery page http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/icons/icon15.gif My Porsche Owners Gallery Page

I've got the 100w highs (55/100) and I agree it's a major improvement. But only if you like to see what's ahead at night.

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'83 SC

"But only if you like to see what's ahead at night."

Is that satire? I couldn't tell with out the correct smiley face.

Do you have the Hella's or the Bosch's?

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Bill Krause
'79 911SC Euro
MY PELICAN GALLERY

I have the Bosch H4s with a low-beam relay running 80/100 watt bulbs. I do not have a high-beam relay, as I do not use it hardly at all (except to flash other Porsches).

I got the round relay base and relay. I then inserted it in one of the holes in the fuse panel assembly. Hooked it up approrpriately, soldered the wire ends. This looks BEYOND clean and looks just like the factory.

I then placed another relay in for my electric fan for the oil cooler (fan not installed yet).
Now I am out of round holes on the fuse panel.

Now, I can see EXCELLENT at night. My dad commented how much better he can see at night in my car than his 80' 911 (he has H4s as well). Of course he has 55/55w bulbs. http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/smile.gif

BTW: I have not been pulled over for excessive headlights. I was nervous every time I passed a cop the other way or drove up behind them. I think my p-car is too low for them to notice the 80w bulbs.

I have the Hella H4s in my '73 blazer with 55w bulbs. VERY noticeable over my halogen sealed beam bulbs. When I get some time, I'll setup a relay and 80/100w for these as well. Then, I bet, I will be pulled over for bright headlights.

I like the way the Bosch H4s spread the beam ACROSS the road. The Hellas, tend to still be more of a spot-light in my Blazer. Could be the height, not sure.

Have FUN!

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Nick Hromyak
'85 Carrera 7 & 9 Fuchs
Havin' Fun in Sacramento

[This message has been edited by nhromyak (edited 08-17-2001).]

I put H4's w/ 50/55w on my '85 last summer. Made a huge difference from the stock headlights. I'm not sure I would want anything more than the 50/55w.

Nick,

I'm thinking about doing the relays the way you described. I've got lots of spare space in my relay box because I don't have AC or power windows or foglights. I'll have to price out the project using 911 relays and sockets. I may just end up using cheaper relays without sockets.

Thanks for the feedback on the H4's.

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Bill Krause
'79 911SC Euro
MY PELICAN GALLERY

Bill -

I upgraded to the Hellas for light, before switching to the Bosch setup for appearance (and light too). So I have a used set of the Hellas, now, sitting in the garage. If you're interested in them, let me know.

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Jack Olsen
My Rennlist page • My Pelican Gallery page • My Porsche Owners Gallery page

Jack,

Yes I'm interested. What wattage bulbs do you have?



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Bill Krause
'79 911SC Euro
MY PELICAN GALLERY

Yes, I was attempting satire. And I don't know how to use those smily faces. Okay, here's the story:

My car's PO installed Hella H4s. They have three bumps on the glass and they say DOT right on the glass. They have been injured by rocks and repaired with silicone. I ordered replacements. The replacements were Bosch and did not say DOT so I was worried about getting a ticket. So I sent them back and asked for the Hella. The Hellas came and they also did not say DOT.

So I started calling and asking questions. I thknk it might have been Tom or someone at Pelican (maybe not) who said not to worry about the non-DOT things. This person said their car, with four-headlight system, has FOUR 100w high beams. That's a lot of illumination. The point is there are many many car running around with non-approved systems. Some of these cars have been retrofited with various color lights, like the green ones for example. If the cops wanted to insist on approved lighting equipment, then they would need a lot more squad cars and badges! So, I quit worrying about the DOT thing.

I have not installed the (off road) Hellas yet, for track use only of course (another futile attempt at humor) because I want to get a sheet of that clear stuff to protect them. I'm tired of buying headlight and fog light lenses. Now that I've heard that the Boschs are better, I may switch again.

But I am assured that the new, non-DOT lights are most excellent in terms of brightness and pattern. One obvious expert I spoke with said the three-bump (DOT approved) type is quite inferior.

I also feel strongly that the relays need to go in, especially if you are going away from the stock bulbs (55/60), but even if you're not. It saves your wiring and your dimmer switch. The stock round relays would be a more 'factory' look than mine and perhaps someday I will switch to them. I did not have them or the round base to use, so I used another (square) type of Bosch relay. One for the lows and one for the highs. They are mounted on an aluminum panel that is secured under the lower right corner of the fuse panel using the panel's existing screw, so no holes were drilled.

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'83 SC

The Hella Dot approved lights were known as BOBI's. The 3 little tits were for machine alignment of the headlights(a DOT requirement), and the reflector was sealed(another DOT requirement) the H* bulbs were placed in a bubble at the focal center of the sealed reflector. The bulbs were accessed in the same manner as non DOT halogens and used the same H2 or H4 bulbs and were available in the mandated 7" or 5 3/4" round size. This system was somewhat obsoleted by the DOT relaxation of the headlight rules in the early 90s allowing the current crop of lights using 9000 series bulbs aka H5.

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<font color="#730000">Bill Verburg</font>
My Home Page http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/icons/icon15.gif My Pelican Gallery page http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/icons/icon15.gif My Porsche Owners Gallery Page