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KG headlight reflectors
norbert - August 7th, 2011 at 12:39 PM

Have reflectors that have rust spots on the silver plating. What do people normally do (eg. chrome) or rather than silver electrolysis has any one tried the silver spray on plating?

Thanks
Norbert


68AutoBug - August 7th, 2011 at 02:10 PM

My Son had his early beetle headlight reflectors chromed...
excellent looking...

tough too...

cheaper to replace with new sealed beam H4 or semi sealed H4
headlamps...
semi sealed Hellas have flat glass lens...
sealed beam hella h4 are curved lenses...

Lee


grumble - August 7th, 2011 at 03:26 PM

I have had quite a few reflectors and bumpers re chromed over the years and it has been very successful. Coffs Chrome or Hamilton Chrome in Islington both do excellent work.


norbert - August 7th, 2011 at 05:38 PM

Thanks Guy's,

Looks like chroming is the way to go.

Norbert


vlad01 - August 7th, 2011 at 08:18 PM

:crazy: ok then.

you know hella still manufacture reflectors with the proper Aluminum deposition.


cruiser - August 7th, 2011 at 09:17 PM

I am about to buy some of these. Only catch is you need to have a contact within Europe to fwd them to you as they say they will not ship to Australia.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160472065489&ssPag...


REDKG - August 8th, 2011 at 07:50 PM

chrome is wrong, gives off a 'black' light. should be silver plated or the modern aluminium coating.


vlad01 - August 8th, 2011 at 08:02 PM

vw heritage in the UK sell genuine hella reflectors and Lenses.

Lenses are German made and the reflectors are make in the UK hella factory.

I did my snooping before I contacted James as vw heratage. I crosschecked all the PNs on hella's site and located which factories they are made in.

Was like 40 or 24 GBP to send 2 lenses and 2 reflectors. I forgot which prices it was :D

I also have 2 NOS reflectors leftover in my cupboard :smirk: 95-98% good


norbert - August 8th, 2011 at 11:23 PM

Vlad,

The reflectors that you have will they fit or are they the same as a 1961 KG? if so, are you willing to sell them?

Norbert


VW-VARIANT-L - August 9th, 2011 at 01:16 PM

The KG lenses and reflectors are smaller diameter than the beetle/ type 3 units, so DO NOT fit.

VW Heritage lists all the other parts for Type 1 KG European/ Australian headlight assemblies EXCEPT the reflectors. I don't believe these are being made new.

The RHD lenses are listed at 85 pounds each.

They have sealed beam units listed, but these mount differently. They also have complete LHD assemblies for 179 pounds each, not sure if these are European type and can have the lenses changed for RHD.

If you think it is hard/ expensive getting type 1 ghia parts, try finding parts for the Type 3 KG


norbert - August 10th, 2011 at 10:38 AM

Hi VW-Variant,

Sometimes they come up on the german ebay. If you type Scheinwerfer and keep looking they will eventually come up.

Norbert


Joel - August 10th, 2011 at 12:29 PM

As redkg said you will have shitty lights if you just get the reflectors ordinary chrome dipped.

It looks as though Euro and Aus spec Ghias ran the Hella clip together style headlights like bug, baywindow and type 3 just with different rims and the adjusters in different location.

http://www.aircooled-museum.com/images/g/ghi/ghia-headlights-1-.JPG

http://www.aircooled-museum.com/images/g/ghi/ghia-headlights-2-.JPG

Suppliers all seem to market the newer semi-sealed lights that fit bug/type3 and baywindow as fitting KGs though.
Depends how original you want to be.

You can get the original Hella clip together style lights in RHD lenses here in Aus but they aint cheap at $170 each and are only in bug/type3/kombi style by the looks

https://www.classicveedub.com.au/images/spareparts/headlight_taillight/cvd-10532.jpg

Unless you aiming for totally stock OEM i wouldn't bother with the old clip together style, they are a shitty design and VW swapped to semi-sealed on all the euro/aus spec cars in 74 for a reason.


norbert - August 10th, 2011 at 03:06 PM

Hi Joel,

You're right, and I know its a bit anal, but would to stay as stock as possible understanding that they are a b!@#h to adjust and not particularly bright. Have bought driving lights for that reason.
If I change my mind, there is another option which is reasonably standard and will fit and are not to expensive in the US and accommodate the H4 lights that I was looking at.


Joel - August 10th, 2011 at 05:23 PM

That's the setup I run in mine now, you can get all that here in Aus.


norbert - August 10th, 2011 at 09:42 PM

Joel,
Great, would prefer to buy them here. Who stocks them?


norbert - August 10th, 2011 at 10:33 PM

Joel,
Great, would prefer to buy them here. Who stocks them?


Joel - August 11th, 2011 at 10:23 PM

You can get them through Autobahn etc but I got mine on Ebay through Ringwood Auto parts.

If you want curved glass ones which look like original curved glass VW lights you want these ones

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/7-HALOGEN-CURVED-GLASS-HEADLIGHT-INSERT-KIT-NEW-/3...


Or the flat glass like the ones you posted above are

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HEADLIGHT-7-HALOGEN-HEADLIGHT-INSERT-KIT-BRAND-NEW...



To fit any of them though you are going to need a pair of mounting buckets

https://www.classicveedub.com.au/cvd_new/part_detail.aspx?parts_id=11447 

https://www.classicveedub.com.au/images/spareparts/headlight_taillight/141941041.jpg


norbert - August 12th, 2011 at 08:46 AM

Thanks Joel.


cruiser - August 14th, 2011 at 12:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cruiser
I am about to buy some of these. Only catch is you need to have a contact within Europe to fwd them to you as they say they will not ship to Australia.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160472065489&ssPag...


When you read the description on these reflectors they are also genuine Hella.


grogy - August 14th, 2011 at 08:41 PM

hi, i am also looking to fix my ghia lights. the set up last spoken of, from autobahn/ebay, is wot joel put on his car? if so is it a kg or a beetle. one earlier post said kg and bug are diff. please let us know if u use this setup, how it goes on u kg. thanks greg


Joel - August 14th, 2011 at 10:09 PM

Greg, it's in a bug

If you're starting from scratch and want to use ones like that you need those mounting buckets which fix them in the guards and adjust the aim then just pick the type you like.

A Ghia would look best with the curved glass headlights as they match the originals quite well.


grogy - August 14th, 2011 at 11:54 PM

thanks joel, do u know if the original headlight surrounds fit the same. the chrome trim that is


Joel - August 15th, 2011 at 09:27 AM

I haven't had anything to do with KG headlights but if they are anything like bug ones which they certainly look same design once something is mounted in there the rims can be bolted back on to cover it up yes.