anyone done an upgrade on their candle? i mean headlights
something that lights the road ahead to see in the dark not just illuminate 1ft in front of the front b bar my light being 12v
unlike the 64 standard 6v beetle i had on my p's in the 90's

merry christmas to all and a safe happy new year

Quote:

Originally posted by L469 anyone done an upgrade on their candle? i mean headlights something that lights the road ahead to see in the dark not just illuminate 1ft in front of the front b bar my light being 12v unlike the 64 standard 6v beetle i had on my p's in the 90's merry christmas to all and a safe happy new year

Lee, no one makes "xenon" bulbs in VW p45t bases.

Those bulbs are a crock anyway.
Unless you spend $60+ on a pair of narva platniums or Phillips extreme the rest just have blue tinted glass and actually produce less light than a regular bulb.

People just have the illusion that the light is better cos its closer to natural daylight.

Anyway better bulbs is not going to improve anything when its your headlights that suck.

After 40 odd years the original glass lense is usually chipped and sandblasted badly, reflectors rusted and pitted and voltage drops make for crap headlights

Best thing to do is run the low and high beam through relays and replace the headlights.
For a quick easy job you can get bolt in replacements from vw parts shops that usually take modern P43t bulbs or you can get sealed beam mounts from an old holden, ford etc and choose from the plethora of replacements availble now.
I did this with some new projector style lights.

Thanks for your replies was hoping to replace the headlight units just save the original rims so maybe a trip to rare spares is on the cards they sell old ford holden gear thanks again for shedding some light on the matter

Yes
I have Narva and Philips bulbs...
but in the usual P45t bulbs with the 3 locators...

I don't use the VW lenses...
but new Hella items...
and adapt them to fit into the VW rim...

but many VW parts shops sell no name kits...
which You could use to transform Your headlamps...

I bought a new BOSCH headlamp as used in 1976 Beetles
as I have a complete pair of used ones...
but as Joel mentioned they used the European VW type of bulbs... instead of the common ones..

I did see a conversion kit to change the bulbs over somewhere a few weeks ago... maybe in the USA????

the type 3 used the same headlamps as the beetle from 1968 to around 1974?? beetles...

LEE

If you want an easy bolt in affair you can get replacement H4 kits like this from places like classic vw



Just be aware though some of these like the one in the pic above come from brazil and mexico and have a LHD pattern lense.

It would pay though to check your voltage at the headlights with the engine running, I've seen them get down to 9 volts in some cars before through worn switches and and dirty connections

thats what i did for my 69 notch, the origional headlamps were DISMAL to say the least, i bought a pair of second hand "flat glass" headlights, its like driving with 10 of the origionals, my notch is better at lighting the road than my plastic lensed musso even after a light polish!. a very easy, simple effective way to improve lighting without breaking the bank! i fully recommend it!

if you fit high powered globes/bulbs as joel said, you need perfect reflectors and perfect lenses otherwise your cash is wasted!

where can you get just lenses and reflectors separately?

I want to rebuild my type 3 head lights my self as I am not happy with the replacements available today, even the hella ones aren't as good as the originals.

I have been told that new replacement reflectors are not availiable.

If the rest of the light assembly is in reasonable condition then replating the original reflector is an option.

It costs about $50 each reflector.

With a new bulb and good voltage the result should be good as new

Good german reflectors can be rechromed but its the lense thats the problem, cause non sealed lights like we had here in aus were only a small market theres not much in the way of repros

Everything can be in top nick but if the lense is sandblasted and chipped which most are the lights will still suck.

The brazillian semi sealeds I used to run with 110/90w platinums were excellent lights they just had the LHD pattern which dazzled on coming drivers on low beam.

they can't be chromed.

either vacuum aluminum depositing or supposedly iridium depositing? I haven't seen iridium used before but a few people have mentioned it but aluminum is the one they use the most these days and even back in the vw days too.

They can be nickle plated but that is illegal and give a yellowy light. chroming is not an option as the chrome has an incompatible
expansion coefficient to nickle, copper and iron causing it to peel in the matter of hours when heated by the lamp.

I know coz I tried to go this path and did my research and talked to a electroplater with 30 years experience and knowledge.

The other option is buy these and use with the original chrome rings? PN: 312941039D type 3 part number anyway

http://www.classicveedub.com.au/SpareParts/parts_results.asp?Item_Code=4&...

As long as its a quality job and you don;t run 2000watt bulbs rechroming can work ok.

I had the reflectors rechromed in my first Sbug back in the 90s and they held up fine for the couple of years I used them, I only got rid of them cos I couldnt get good lenses and swapped to semi sealeds.
New Lights are a better option though

Nearly all new cars now have chrome plated polycarbonate reflectors but they also use UV cut bulbs.

its not chrome, its aluminum.
lol

ORiginal german ones were but alot of replacements were just chromed, thats why they dont last

yes because of cheap backyard style manufacturing. but all proper reflectors are aluminum deposit even the modern plastic lights.

Guess I missed the memo that aluminium is magnetic and rusts

Seriously though, you're right, the token mainstream method is aluminium coated reflectors, it's just those damn Koreans doing dodgy shit to make cheap cars

Haven't you ever wondered why you see gen1 Excels getting around with headlights that are half brown inside?

lol yeah rusty. the coating is only several nm thick protected in a hard heat proof clear coating otherwise the aluminum would oxidizes instantly. That coating is on top of regular iron which rusts

I suspect the problem with the cheaper reflectors is the protective coating is crap. As soon as the oxygen gets to the reflective aluminum coating, its stuffed!, hence deposition and protective coating under
a vacuum.


some info I found here if you want to read. Oh and i found in there that chromium is only 60% reflective in visible light therefore unsuitable for head light and further aggravates the heating process as 40% is absorbed.

http://www.svc.org/AboutSVC/AS_AppsofVac.html 

It is easy to get the reflectors done with a new silver coating, $30 each just like the originals.

i remember years ago i had mine done by plater in town dont think his there anymore and he told me he use a process that involved mercury and that he was one of the few left that did it because of the dangers and had a lot of vintage car customers anyway 20years on still good should have got a few sets done

I was told by a dedicated VW workshop that a certain Golf headlight fit with minimal fabrication for mounting and you place your original chrome rim over it. I never tried.

I rewired mine with new relays and added some spot lights. It improved the stock lights a little, I drive around on high beam (low are my parking lights) and the spotlights are rigged with the dipper switch. The spotlights are great even though they are mounted down on the bumper (and from Supercheap Auto) but when I turn them off I'm in a world of darkness.

I'm keen to get a xenon bulb kit from Jaycar they aren't to expensive.

But it is obvious the glass is to blame, replacing that would change the world.

Another option is to add infrared and an lcd monitor in the dash, many new cars have it and the reviews I've read are all positive.