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Headlight replacements

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Mowog Learner Dubber

16 posts · joined Feb 2008 ·

#642899
Hi all.
I have 2 beetles, a 68 & a 72, both have duff headlights. The silvering on the reflectors has gone 'rusty.' I was wondering if you can fit aftermarket semi sealed beams that take halogen globes? Its not immediately obvious how they would fit. Does someone make a kit perhaps, or am I stuck with trying to find new reflectors & plastic retaining rings? Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks, Scotty.
A pessimist is never disappointed!

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#642900
give richard at vforce a ring mate i got my h4 semi sealed with h3 driving lights in them off him. they just screw in to the mounts in the guard already
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

Mowog Learner Dubber

16 posts · joined Feb 2008 ·

#643342
Thanks Barls.
I checked out the kit, there's one listed on fleabay just now. Man! I paid less than that for my Bug! I was hoping for something a little more.......well...budget❗
A pessimist is never disappointed!

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#643345
they are the german ones try giving him a ring mate he has another version
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#643372
Mowog wrote:Thanks Barls.
I checked out the kit, there's one listed on fleabay just now. Man! I paid less than that for my Bug! I was hoping for something a little more.......well...budget❗
Hi,
I have always fitted Hella H4 semi sealed or sealed beams
to all My cars with 7 inch headlamps.
to beetles and type 3s

I fit the Hella H4 sealed beams into the chromed VW rim using a headlamp 2 piece bucket from an old ford or holden etc..
but You can mount the headlamps with the buckets fitted
to the VWs using the brackets fitted to all VWs..
these brackets are used to fit sealed beams into USA beetles...

alternately,
You can use the BOSCH semi sealed beams as used in late model beetles.. 1975-76
these use the H4 bulbs used in many european cars
Not the standard bulbs..
these headlamps look good and have a flat surface...
and the rim is chromed plastic...

many Beetles worth thousands, look terrible because of the dull VW standard headlamps..

Lee


http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

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- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Mowog Learner Dubber

16 posts · joined Feb 2008 ·

#643506
Hi Lee.
Thanks for the info. That's more like what I was after. I'll keep my eyes out for the bits I need, now I know they are available.
Thanks again. Scotty.
A pessimist is never disappointed!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#643546
I collect Hella semi sealed beam headlamps at swap meets

You can find them very cheap at times...

sealed beams [H4] also....

there are aftermarket new sealed beams headlamps at most VW aftermarket shops..

cheers

Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#643593
ive currently got semi sealed lights with 100/90w bulbs running thro relays and everyone bitches my lights are to bright 😂

i bought a set of crystal headlights with artic blue 100/80 bulbs 6 months ago but just havent been arsed putting them in yet

76bug Officially Full-On Dubber

215 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#643595
where did you get those crystal headlights dub74l??? how would you go about fitting them?

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#643601
they should fit in the same as any brand of sealed or semi sealed beams

just take the buckets or whatever they are called off
place the headlamps inside and screw them back up and install them...

100/80 etc are illegal

You can buy 60/55w Plus 50 bulbs whioch are 50% brighter on Low beam and 30% brighter on highbeam
but still use the sam amount of current..

Lee

1 attachment · Log in to view

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#643655
Lee, their claims of 50% light without changing wattage are all pretty bogus
u cant improve a bulbs luminous qualities by not changing wattage and allegedly filling with different gasses

ive tried out the plus 50 bulbs b4 and side by sides theres no difference and in most cases the blue glass of "xenon" bulbs filters less light thro

the arctic blue bulbs i have just came with the headlight buckets
ive got one of each in the bug atm as a test and u cant even tell which one it is

i got the crystal headlight inserts of ebay theres heaps of ppl that sell them
most dont have parker bulbs in them tho but there only made of plastic so its not hard to drill them in

for ur 71 is it? easist way seeing as it would still have the old style lights is just got to a wreckers and get the headlight mounting hardware out of any old holden/ford/toyota that uses 7" sealed beams
theres mounting lugs in the gaurds u can utilise and just fit the standard vw headlight over when done

DubbyDo Officially Full-On Dubber

276 posts · joined Jan 2012 ·

#881578
68AutoBug wrote:
Mowog wrote:Thanks Barls.
I checked out the kit, there's one listed on fleabay just now. Man! I paid less than that for my Bug! I was hoping for something a little more.......well...budget❗
Hi,
I have always fitted Hella H4 semi sealed or sealed beams
to all My cars with 7 inch headlamps.
to beetles and type 3s

I fit the Hella H4 sealed beams into the chromed VW rim using a headlamp 2 piece bucket from an old ford or holden etc..
but You can mount the headlamps with the buckets fitted
to the VWs using the brackets fitted to all VWs..
these brackets are used to fit sealed beams into USA beetles...

alternately,
You can use the BOSCH semi sealed beams as used in late model beetles.. 1975-76
these use the H4 bulbs used in many european cars
Not the standard bulbs..
these headlamps look good and have a flat surface...
and the rim is chromed plastic...

many Beetles worth thousands, look terrible because of the dull VW standard headlamps..

Lee


http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#881591
What was wrong with them?

You can get new ones designed for VWs from most suppliers now like ClassicVW
Mine are Lucas ones from an old Morris but most of those old 7" sealed beam mounts work from early Falcons and Holdens.

DubbyDo Officially Full-On Dubber

276 posts · joined Jan 2012 ·

#881598
The buckets looked nothing like Lee's pics- only 3 tabs for the 2 adjustment screws and 1 for the retaining spring. No two tabs will line up with the bugs adjusting screws. I will go take a pic so you can see what I mean

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#881604
The pics Lee has put up are a completely different setup.
Those are VW semi sealed with the non-replaceable lenses.
You can't fit new headlight inserts to them.

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#881609
Put a pair of crystal headlights in the limo, and took them straight back out and threw them in the bin. Total waste of money. The same globes used as the Narva 7" semi sealed that were in it, and when the crystal were in, the light beam was scattered terribly. I would say they were actually useless as an adjustable light, as there was no hi-lo beam definition.

When considering lights, the globe gives the lighting power, the reflector makes it go forward, and the lens does the pattern work for hi-lo, dip and scatter. A crap reflector will lower your lighting capacity, but the improper lens will make the light useless in regard to what it is designed to do safely. The clear lens of the crystal lights makes them terrible if the reflector is not perfect. Poor quality cheap imports are not likely to have perfect reflectors.

Anyway there are two sides to the headlight opinions. One is how happy you are with the look and output usage.
The second side is how annoying your car is to oncoming drivers. Have you ever had a car coming towards you with annoying lights?
EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

DubbyDo Officially Full-On Dubber

276 posts · joined Jan 2012 ·

#881611
I might just try and find some genuine reflectors. Old vehicles are rare as hens teeth here now. A car crusher came to town for our cyclone clean up and flattened pretty much everything that wasnt owned by anyone. Thanks Joel

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#881644
helbus wrote:Put a pair of crystal headlights in the limo, and took them straight back out and threw them in the bin. Total waste of money. The same globes used as the Narva 7" semi sealed that were in it, and when the crystal were in, the light beam was scattered terribly. I would say they were actually useless as an adjustable light, as there was no hi-lo beam definition.

When considering lights, the globe gives the lighting power, the reflector makes it go forward, and the lens does the pattern work for hi-lo, dip and scatter. A crap reflector will lower your lighting capacity, but the improper lens will make the light useless in regard to what it is designed to do safely. The clear lens of the crystal lights makes them terrible if the reflector is not perfect. Poor quality cheap imports are not likely to have perfect reflectors.

Anyway there are two sides to the headlight opinions. One is how happy you are with the look and output usage.
The second side is how annoying your car is to oncoming drivers. Have you ever had a car coming towards you with annoying lights?
Yes there is definately alot of crap for sale out there.
Crystal cut headlights work extremely well which is why modern cars have used them for over a decade now but only when they are not cheap shitty plastic rubbish out of Chinese sweat shops which unfortunatly is something that floods the market these days.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#881686
My Son put a set of the crystal headlamps in His falcon Ute and said they were crap... cannot see anything at night...

LEE

Hi Joel
I have Narva 55/60 halogen bulbs in My Beetle headlamps and they are Perfect...
excellent on Low beam and also great on High Beam...

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#882169
I just bought new hella reflectors from the UK. comes from heir hella factory.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

shaihulud Custom Title Time!

1,448 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·

#882371
Get a pair of complete headlight buckets from a Mini Minor.

They usually cost me about $40 each with working sealed beams.

They fit into the VW headlight hole with the vertical headlight glass. I have never tried to fit them to an older sloping glass headlight hole.

You will need to make up a small angle bracket at the bottom to fit them.

The VW trim fits back into its original place.

They look like they belong there and work well enough for a Beetle.