TheSamba.com :: View topic - Hella Vision Plus: what's in the box? lots of pics

Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:41 am

I pulled the trigger and bought some Hella Vision Plus DOT-certified replacement headlights and thought I'd share what came "in the box" for other curious folks. I installed them in a 85 with stock round 7 inch headlights, but they would also work in the SA grille, and many other VW's of this era.

The headlight, in the box, as delivered by Summit Racing (2x $39.95 + $10 shipping), awesome service BTW. The dollar, kitten, and vintage Thermoses, not for sale. :wink:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLA-002395301/ $39.95 ea

For reference, this is product 70477 which is also sold by GW and BD:
http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3272 $59.95 ea
http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=70477 $79.95 ea

You can also find it elsewhere on the web referenced by the new Hella item number "002395301"
http://www.google.com/products?q=002395301

This is not to be confused with the E-Code (European non-DOT approved) replacement lights which have the item number "70472" and "002395801" respectively. The ECE-approved kits include H4 bulbs and will also fit just fine, but they may not pass your state's vehicle inspection. YMMV.

Out of the box we see a nice, clean heavy glass lens imprinted with the Hella logo. When you hold this in your hand, it really feels quality. In comparison to the Sylvania sealed beam I was removing, the facets on the lens are much larger, which should translate to better optical transmission. It's also difficult to see in this picture, but there is a metal cap in the center of the lens, which is different than the sealed-beam I was replacing.

The glass is bonded to a polished metal (chromed?) reflector which also feels very high quality. It seems a lot more like an "optical instrument" than any other sealed-beam I've installed. Note the silicone mud/dust boot, this is not cheap rubber or plastic and I expect it to last a long time. One more thing, in the metal reflector, there is actually a small finished hole at the bottom of the lens (not pictured) to act as both a drain and vent. They are certainly not sealed beam.

A closeup of the backside of the HB2 bulb showing the P43t base. I don't know why I was so confused about this, probably because the GW hi-power headlight kit included bulbs, but these are a straight drop-in replacement for your round sealed beams. No wiring harness modifications or pigtails. (You don't even need relays.)

The Hella website says the following: (I don't know why I didn't believe them)
- replaces 6012, 6014, 6015, 6016, 6017, H6024, H6014, H6017, H6026
- direct replacement – no modifications

Included are the OSRAM/Sylvania HB2/9003 bulbs with 60/55W elements for high/low beams respectively. These are not H4 bulbs... or are they? This is a confusing point and this PDF by Candlepower INC really explains it all: http://candlepowerinc.com/pdfs/H4_9003.pdf

You could at some point upgrade to higher-wattage H4 bulbs (I think that HB2 bulbs may be limited to 60/55W, whereas H4 bulbs can be monstrously large wattages), but then you'll have to reconsider your wiring/relays, etc. There's lots of info on that if you use the search.

The last picture here shows what surprised me the most, how uncurved the lens face is. On the right there is the aforementioned H6024 that I was replacing, and it's got a nice curve on it. The Hella is in comparison almost freakishly flat. This will probably translate again into a tighter/better beam, with a slightly "altered" look in the front of the van.

Once out of the box, the installation process was identical to any other sealed-beam, just pull out the old ones, pop the new ones in, tighten them down, and re-aim them. I haven't taken before/after pictures of my beam pattern, but they to seem much "clearer" than my old halogens.

I personally chose these as replacements because they aren't fantastically more expensive than a good, sealed Sylvania SilverStar at your FLAPS, they should put more light on the road, and it gives me the option of upgrading/experimenting with the wide variety of H4 bulbs available in the market. Also, if you want to get all "greenie", theoretically there will be less materials consumed in only replacing the HB2 bulbs when they die, rather than shipping and manufacturing the entire lens assembly.

What have been other driver's experiences with the Hella Vision Plus upgrade? Satisfied?

Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:01 am

I put a set of E-Code Hella's into my MG-B. Very happy with them. Leaps and bounds better than what was in there. The quality of them is obvious in a side-by-side comparison with just about any other light.

Hella bulbs are the OEM for my daily driver, which has DTRL. So after 2 or 3 years of driving they burned out. Went to FLAPS and bought some other brand of replacements. They burned out in < 6 months. Bought another random brand from FLAPS. They burned out in < 6 months, again. (repeat this 1 or 2 more times) Finally bought some Hella brand bulbs to replace the replacements. Over a year later, the Hella's are still in there, still running strong (knock on wood).

I only need to make the same mistake a few times before I learn...

http://www.rallylights.com/ is where I find my Hella products these days.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:36 pm

Spinal Tap wrote: Hella bulbs are the OEM for my daily driver, which has DTRL. ... I only need to make the same mistake a few times before I learn...

http://www.rallylights.com/ is where I find my Hella products these days.

Maybe I should put some Hella HB5/9007 bulbs in my Impreza. That thing eats bulbs for breakfast with the daytime running lights in it. I usually get less than 1 year of service in entirely in-town driving...

BTW, replacement Hella HB2 bulbs seem to start around $7 each + shipping:
http://www.google.com/products?q=hella%20hb2

Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:38 pm

rolfsky,
Now that you've got $90 invested in headlights, you might want to spend another $30 ($22 + shipping) or so on insurance for them and get a pair of plastic headlamp covers.
They were widely available in the 60s & 70s but are really hard to find now.
The only place I could find them online were on a Mini Cooper web store.
Plus - they they give you a kind of a subtle cool custom look.
DC

http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/P1015/InvDetail.cfm

Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:18 pm

DWC wrote: rolfsky,
Now that you've got $90 invested in headlights, you might want to spend another $30 ($22 + shipping) or so on insurance for them and get a pair of plastic headlamp covers.

Ah, so you want me to make my investment $120 in headlights then, eh? :wink:

Actually, those look pretty awesome, definitely would be an eye-catcher.

I already picked up some "Stongard" adhesive-backed covers off eBay which I expected to be like the urethane-based "Invisible Shield" products I've used before on my digital camera, but it was completely different. Instead of being a few mils, these covers are maybe 3mm thick and almost but-not-quite rigid. It's a good thing the Vision Plus's are so flat, because they wouldn't work at all on a more curved lens.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140336705006

I guess Stongard also makes some "invisible bra" products for paint protection, but I couldn't find one for a Westy :(

Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:42 pm

So then you didn't put in a relay?
The stock 1985 system is so constrictive that those bulbs can't show you their potential lumens.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:48 pm

>> Ah, so you want me to make my investment $120 in headlights then, eh? Wink.........

Ha, why not?
You've already spent a bundle on them. :-) Plus it would be a real drag to have one little rock take one out.

>>Actually, those look pretty awesome, definitely would be an eye-catcher.

They are really cool, but they really are not eye-catchers at least right off the bat. You really don't notice them unless your looking at them from the side. They are very subtle yet cool. My hotrod buddies call them "contacts."

I've never used the "Stongard" covers, but I hope they work out for you, but if they attach directly to the lens I don't see how they could help in protecting the lens from a impact from a stone, or rock or something. The plastic covers actually stick out a little way from the lenses and offer at least the promise of deflecting (bouncing them away) them befire they do any damage.
I'll try to post a photo of mine for you tomorrow.
DC

Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:26 pm

H4's rock. I have used the Bosch H4 lights in mine. Go with relays and 100 watt bulbs. They won't disappoint. Go large or go home!
The Stoneguard film is pretty nice. I have it on my Bimmer to protect my mega pricey setup.
I get a kick out of comparing these to the junk US- only crap pushed on us in the past. WAAAY better performance. :lol:

Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:55 pm

levi wrote: So then you didn't put in a relay?
The stock 1985 system is so constrictive that those bulbs can't show you their potential lumens.

Actually, I did do the headlight relay upgrade. Bought a very nice pre-crimped set: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=793102

I know that you can crimp your own for cheap, but the terminals on this setup is OEM-quality, and I'm willing to pay for the neat-and-tidy look (at least the first time).

DWC wrote: I've never used the "Stongard" covers, but I hope they work out for you, but if they attach directly to the lens I don't see how they could help in protecting the lens from a impact from a stone, or rock or something.

Urethane is a funny thing, imagine "optically clear rubber". Unless blunt-force is going to smash the lens, the thickness of these lens guards means they could deflect quite the high-velocity stone.

They are similar to the ones that GW sells here, except that GW refers to them as vinyl, which is either wrong, or an inferior product: http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3962

Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:10 pm

question;

How do the discount brand X relays mount under the dash?

I can see there are no factory VW issue fuse box mounts under them, nor any tabs on them to screw them down to something.

They are free swinging under the dashboard?

That ain't right.

Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:31 am

I see what looks like a screw tab on each of them.

Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:03 am

Yea--

Nice touch.

Wada ya do-- run a sheet metal screw into the top of the fuse box to keep the from being a trapeeze act under the dash?

Nice Touch--

I know, ya use bailing wire through the fob onto the dash vents.

Perfect.

Another cob job.

Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:49 am

Terry Kay wrote: Yea--

Nice touch.

Wada ya do-- run a sheet metal screw into the top of the fuse box to keep the from being a trapeeze act under the dash?

Nice Touch--

I know, ya use bailing wire through the fob onto the dash vents.

Perfect.

Another cob job.

As you mention TK, I'd prefer to use VW fuse-panel extenders, but I wasn't able to locate any. Anybody know of a source?

Upon first inspection, other VW blocks from blade-fuse vehicles at the wrecker seemed different, but I could be wrong.

For the time being, I installed them as so. It's tidy, there's little chance of me kicking them and I can keep an eye on them as I break them in for heat, etc.

I'm open to better options if anybody has reasonable suggestions. :)

Sat Oct 17, 2009 9:14 am

I bought these at the FLAPS. If I remeber right they were $40 for the lens kit,and a set of halogens at $10 each. made of some sort of heavy duty plastic. ran them for two years with no problems. just added relays last month or so. more light than I know what to do with. I can't see a thing when I drive Mrs. Wayne's Volvo at night.

Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:39 am

Terry Kay wrote: Yea--

Nice touch.

Wada ya do-- run a sheet metal screw into the top of the fuse box to keep the from being a trapeeze act under the dash?

Nice Touch--

I know, ya use bailing wire through the fob onto the dash vents.

Perfect.

Another cob job.

I'm guessing that TK sells headlight relays...i'm sure a search of his site will show them for 10x what you paid for some $5 relays... plus shipping.

Another friendly post from the TK sales & marketing team. :roll:

Rolfsky that looks like a nice clean install. You made a nice informative thread & don't deserve any bashing at all. I'm looking forward to hearing more, from you that is.

Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:09 am

Yea I do.
Genuine VW issue relay & mounts with the right color coding on the wires.

They clip onto the top of the fuse box, as any accessory item should in a Vangon without free swinging in the breeze, or nylon ties to affix them to the bottom of the fuse box.

Been purveyng them to Vanagonland for 10 years, and they work, and work right.

10 times more?
Wrong.

Not even double.

Whatever the cost they are built right, and fit corectly where they are supposed to mount.

I do't see anything that even gets close to resembling a stock VW issue reay or mount here.

Yep--and it's all brought to you live from TK's product develoment A team.

The Spin Stops here.

Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:38 am

Just a follow up with a photo of the headlight covers.
DC

Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:48 pm

The part number for the relay plate is 135-937-501A. They are still available from VW and also from busdepot.com among other online vendors. Unfortunately these relay plates seldom work well for the 80-85 Vanagon because of the already busy single mounting point on the right side of the fuse block as can easily be seen in Rolfsky's photo.

I made a conscious decision not to include these mounting plates in my headlight relay kits in order to reduce the cost to the customer and because they are quite simply not necessary. There are several viable mounting options including using the stock fuse panel mounting bolts used by Rolfsky (also the way I have mine installed in my '85 Westy) zip-ties, velcro (ala' GoWesty) or the heavy duty 3M mounting tape I include with my 86-91 kit. The point is only to keep the relays from wandering around under the dash where they could work their way loose or tangle with other wires.

It is my belief that the cost savings obtained from not using the VW relay plates could be better used on high quality OEM style double crimp connectors and proper insulators, rather than the single crimp connectors available at the local hardware store that all of the other relay setups currently available seem to use. On the 86-91 relay kit where cutting wires is necessary, I include the highest quality Perma-Seal heat shrink butt terminals currently available to make the safest and most secure connection possible.

The TXL wire used in my kits is colour coded to the stock headlight wiring colours, is of the proper gauge to carry the currents involved and is more flexible than the standard PVC coated primary hookup wire that can be purchased in smaller quantities.

The 40A SPST relays I use in my kits have incurred a zero failure rate in the 100+ kits I have sold to date as well as many other projects I have used them in. Further, the relays referred to as "Genuine VW issue" were almost certainly made by Robert Bosch GmbH, who sold off their electromechanical automotive plug-in relay segment to Tyco Electronics in December of 2005.

The headlight relay kits I sell here on thesamba are the exact kits I use in my personal vans. The photos included in the installation instructions are from the installs in my personal vans. I know they work perfectly and have had absolutely zero problems with the kits I have sold to date. My email address is included on every set of installation instructions, but has never been used for anything other than a thank you note from happy customers.

Customers looking for a relay setup using the VW relay plates can certainly order from TK. If high quality connectors and well thought out proven components available at a lower price point is what you are looking for feel free to drop me a line at [email protected].

Sorry for the waste of bandwidth,
Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
'87 Zetec Wolfsburg

Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:38 pm

Thanks for jumping in Jay (creator of the kit that I bought).
I have to say that the quality of the wires and termination was TOP notch, far better than anything I could have crimped myself. Except for having to pull the 12v constant from a different fuse, the instructions were also detailed and complete. (not that it's that complicated if you wrap your head around what you're trying to achieve...) If I needed to do it again, I'd buy this kit just because how nice the wires are.

Thanks for the relay plate part number, googling that part number also turns up this page at Syncro.org http://www.syncro.org/Wiring.htm
WorldImpex puts that price at a cool $18 each, maybe the dealer would be cheaper?

For other conversion lenses, other options I looked at:
- generic H4 kits, usually labeled "for off-road use only" at a FLAPS or eBay
-"Autopal" H4 kits, made in India, sold on eBay
- Bosch H4 conversion lens, available from Bus Depot and others
-"Cibie" H4 conversions lenses, available from Daniel Stern Lighting

There is a good thread about relays and replacement lenses here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=328398

From my research, the Vision Plus was the only DOT-approved lens conversion kit that I found.

Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:10 pm

And there is the reason for any price difference.

The VW mounts are the hot set up for making sure the realys are affixed properly.
The 8 flat brass terminals that fit into the bottoms of the mounts are $1.80.

So the reason mine are $49.00 ves 38 are obvious.

In 13 years and hundreds of relay kits late I've never had a problem failure with a genuine VW relay or mounting plate situation.

Yes I did--one guy had so many accessory plates on top of the fuse box he had to stack them on top of each other.

Lego style.

If your looking for Hella headlamp upgrades , take a look at Susquehanna Motorsports.

The best prices anywhere, and real nice folks to do business with--
Ballistic delivery too--