Suggestions on best headlights?

[Uber Affe]

I was wondering if anyone could recommend the best head lights?
By "best" I mean NOT the most rare or wildly expensive...
Just the most efficient with a good highbeam lowbeam brightness and nice looks.
For a 1303...
I've been looking at these and thinking about converting the amber foglight area
to a turn signal because I want to run w/ out bumpers and possibly shave the fender signals or maybe go w/ a smaller earlier year light for them?

http://www.800luvbugg.com/shop?frame=3.55.3305

or

http://www.800luvbugg.com/shop?frame=3.55.6039

and the fenders lights? shaved or ...

'64-'66 Bug, Clear/Amber
http://www.socalautoparts.com/HotVWs_Ad/HotVWs_Ad_p01.html


Also...

Where can I get these sweet taillights?

http://www.volksport.net/site/tiki-browse_image.php?galleryId=1&sort_mode=created_desc&desp=1&offset=0&imageId=48&scaled&xsize=640&ysize=480

[Bill K.]

Careful when using the fog or running light as a turn signal. It'll look cool and work good during the day, but at night, the headlight may overwhelm the turn signal and oncoming traffic might not see your signal. Without bumpers, night driving may be safer with dedicated turn signals on the fender. I've always liked the pre67 signals the best. Another option for shaved fenders is to put a signal below the headlight for forward visibility with sidemarkers in the quarter panels for side visibility.

Headlights -- H4 from Hella, high output if your wirings up to it. Glass clarity makes a difference so watch out for cheap units if you want maximum beam quality.

Zen got his tail lights from Memo Imports (http://www.memoimports.com/new_page_4.htm), but they don't carry that same style anymore -- see others on web site though.CIP (http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D7670) carries ones very similar to zens. I like those too, but returned mine when I realized they aren't street legal (no red reflector). The construction is pretty cheap, but they're modern looking and suit the no-bumper, modern look well. My car is styled with a classic look, so I went with smoked elephant feet and europa bumpers.

[hybrid_john]

I like the smoked taillights and I am using some, smoked turn signals in the bumpers and some smoked head lights fromthis site (http://www.tuningzubehor.com) . I like the look, but I dont know how well the beam is they also have some clear ones that you might like.

[Uber Affe]

Those tail lights are pretty steep! $189.00?
What's the difference between those:

http://www.tuningzubehor.com/cfb.asp?pg=products&specific=jrcplopmomp0&lg=en&vehg=27&veh=25&cso=0

and these:

http://www.memoimports.com/1600_smoke_red_amber_lense.JPG
(not manufactured by hella so:$28.50 a pair)

and these:

http://www.socalautoparts.com/HotVWs_Ad/HotVWs_Ad_p01.html

?????

Also, Do you need to have the metal backing from the original lights?

I'm wondering if it isn't a good idea to use them on the elephant style since my bubble/ flats came w/ a plastic backing.

Need to know before I spend the dough...heheh

I made a rhyme!

[Superman]

Hella H4 is the best.

[brianwheelies]

hella hid is better than best but will cost.

[Uber Affe]

So what exactly is the dif between a hella and an h4?

h1, h2, h3. h4 ...are they all dif lumens ratings or colors?
Does it have to do w/ output or wattage?
Or is it just a brand name or style?
Are the materials better?

[brianwheelies]

it's just the bulb style. your typical automotive and motorcycle light bulb is a h4.

[Bill K.]

Hella brand is OEM. The glass tends to be more clear with crisper flutes for better beam distribution. The Hella tail lights are way better than others, but you'll pay for it. I got mine at OEVeeDub. Call and they'll swap a set of smoked lenses (http://www.oeveedub.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=oe&Product_Code=133-945-223SM&Product_Count=&Category_Code=) with the housings (http://www.oeveedub.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=oe&Product_Code=135-945-097A&Product_Count=&Category_Code=).

My Hella 911 lenses with modified H4's behind:
http://www.vwbughead.com/electrical/911_drl.jpg

My Hella smoked elephant feet:
http://www.vwbughead.com/web/wheels/wheel06.JPG

H4 is a halogen replacable bulb. You can get different wattages of H4. Make sure your wiring is beefy and in good shape if you go with the 100W bulbs or else risk fire. Blimp (http://www.vochos.com/lights.html) has the Hella H4 assembly. Call for bulbs.

[Kafer_Mike]

Bill, you say "modified" H4s. I assume you are talking about removing the original lens from the H4 housing and simply using the reflector and bulb holder to eliminate diffusing the light twice. Can you provide a little more detail? Which brand (Hella, GE, etc.) and type (plastic or glass) H4 housings you started with? Any pictures or instructions would be helpful as I want to do the same mod to my '69 Beetle.

[Bill K.]

Ya Mike, remove the H4 glass and it's sweet. The beam is great. DON'T buy the hella H4 for this, they're too good. The epoxy used to hold the glass to the housing is hardcore and a bitch to remove. Use the Empi one's from ACN (http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewproductdetail.php?keyword2=LBU0019), they have soft compound holding the glass which is much easier to remove.

I have a Tech Article almost done (needs a few more picts) on how to do this plus the daylight running lights in the bumper, but for now, to make the H4 modification for pre67 headlights:
1. Remove the bulb from the rear of the housing
2. Pack the housing with packing peanuts to keep the broken glass from scratching the chrome plating
3. Smash the glass with a hammer
4. Pull the broken glass out, trying for big chunks free along the rim for easier clean up
5. Use a plastic scraper to remove the residual bonding compound from the rim of the housing -- don't use a screw driver or you'll slip and scratch the chrome...
6. Paint the pre67 headlight housing and lamp retainer your choice of color -- I used Eastwoods Almost Chrome Paint (p/n 10352 Z) -- nice bright results.
7. Finish with Bosch/Hella glass (911 or euro fluted)

http://www.vwbughead.com/electrical/911_lens.jpg

[mbartell]

I got a pair of those multi chamber lights, and are pretty happy with them. They are F L A T!
no curve out to them at all.
The mounting ring is kind of cheap, and flexable, and depending on the bulb you use the upper part does not light up very well.
It's nice having the driving lights, and it's really bright when you use the high beams.
I got mine pretty cheap thu CIP...

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D7580

The plugs and bulbs will run you annother $30

[BWE]

I have a set of the three chamber as well. The "fog" lamps are more like front floods, ie: light up everything but the road!, but I'm quite happy with the overall package. I wired the little top bulb up to the running lights but am planning to change it over to amber LEDs in the spring so that it doesn't get "lost" with the headlights on. It's already been said but you'll want to beef up your front wiring (you may want to include relays, I have one for low beam and one for high beam... H4 55/80w). I think that I got mine from Memo Imports, but the CIP models are the same (though my friends didn't come with bulbs).
Cheers,
Dave

[GRMNLK]

I have Porsche fluted lenses, and HID's. I like the fluted lenses but also like the look of them behind stock glass. I'm not sure what to do :confused:
I do like the fog/parking/headlight combo from midamerica.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/PaulRoach/HID009.jpg~original