Has anyone here purchase the Hella (non sealed beam) replacment headlights for their car? I want retain the stock look but improve night visibility. What kind of improvement can I expect?

I don't have the part number of the ones I got but they were direct replacements for the sealed beams and use H4 bulbs. The improvement is huge and nighttime visibility is excellent - better than any other vehicle i've owned, period. Optics are great with sharp cutoffs. The highbeams are crazy bright. I'm using Osram Nightbreaker bulbs in them, which I also highly recommend.

I bought the DOT approved version, and the difference is amazing. The beam pattern is so much sharper, plus you can upgrade to brighter bulbs with the more common size. Definitely one of the best upgrades to my car, and will do it on any Fiero I get in the future.

See this thread, this thread, and many others on this subject in the PFF archives. I have been running the Hella HL79567/H6054A rectangular conversion headlights (with standard 60/55 watt H4 halogen bulbs) for several years now. Highly recommended.



Note that these particular headlights are ECE (European) standard, and not DOT compliant. Hella does make a very similar headlight (HL72207) that is listed as DOT compliant, but I haven't tested it.

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 09-01-2011).]

Thanks guys! I can't find them locally. Besides Summit, are there any other vendors for these lights where I can choose what bulbs the come with?

I got mine here:
http://www.rallylights.com/

If you get the DOT version you can't choose what bulbs come with them, they are required to supply a specific bulb in order for it to be listed as DOT compliant. Once you get it you can swap in anything else though.
http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=139

If you get the E-code version, you can choose the bulb.
http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=744

I am leaning towards the E code package. I want to have good night vision, but I don't want to burn out the retinas of oncoming traffic. I don't like the blue appearing lights, but the bright white ones seem to really light up the road. My wife's CTS has lights like these and I think they are Xenon. What is the advantage of the Xenon bulb over the halogen version if any? They seem to have a lower wattage than some of the halogen versions. Also, what about the Osram bulbs makes them worth the big difference in price?

I highly recommend this upgrade as well.
Stock sealed beams are so inferior they border on unsafe.
I am biased to projector optics but, they are understandably a cost prohibitive option
The Hella 200mm H4 reflector is more than an affordable option, it is a solid one.
Call Susquehanna MotorSports (Rallylights.com) talk to Dave or Will.
They can answer any questions about DOT vs e-code, bulbs, etc......
Tell them Rick in Oregon says Hello

Rick in Oregon

------------------
"Now you too can see in the dark."
http://projectorretrofit.com/

quote Originally posted by Rick 88: I am leaning towards the E code package. I want to have good night vision, but I don't want to burn out the retinas of oncoming traffic. I don't like the blue appearing lights, but the bright white ones seem to really light up the road. My wife's CTS has lights like these and I think they are Xenon. What is the advantage of the Xenon bulb over the halogen version if any? They seem to have a lower wattage than some of the halogen versions. Also, what about the Osram bulbs makes them worth the big difference in price?

You can't use a Xenon HID bulb in a stock reflector housing without it being dangerous and illegal. IMO, stick to halogens. Their output with a good quality housing such as the Hella is plenty for good nighttime visibility.

The high-dollar Osram bulbs have a overdriven filament, which means higher luminous efficiency and whiter light. www.powerbulbs.com has Nightbreaker Plus bulbs for about $40 a pair, shipped with a set of sidemarkers included. A regular set of bulbs is about $20, so the price difference is really not that large.

Normally an overdriven filament means shorter life, but I've been using mine for almost two years now and they are still burning bright. I have a similar (but not as cutting edge) GE Nighthawk bulbs in my Ford Explorer which are also overdriven, and they've lasted over 4 years.

Whatever you do, avoid the blue-tinted bulbs. They make the light whiter simply by filtering out /removing the yellow part of the light spectrum, which means less total light on the road.

For reference I've been running the 100/80 H4 bulbs in The Hella enclosures for five years with no issues on stock wiring.


87 4cyl.

[This message has been edited by mike-ohio (edited 09-02-2011).]

The Hella E Code 100/55w whites are a great combo.You will like them.

Thanks for all the tips Guys!

I must be getting old, as I cannot see as well at night as i used to.

Yeah, I bougt the set, and they are flipping amazing... I've since put them in the rest of my sealed beam cars, will never drive without them