Driving lights?

[TouringBubble]

Just wanted some opinions ...

I have been looking at driving lights for the Beetle. The OE lights are horrible and I've been kind of on the fence about a cheap HID conversion. But, the lenses and reflectors still won't be great, so I'm looking at the option of driving lights for aux lights for rual driving and night events.

The lights I'm looking at are ...

Hella 500FF - $85
Hella 500 Black Magic - $125
Hella 700FF - $105
PIAA 520 SMR - $185

These all have a similar light pattern and color. They all use an H3 55w bulb.

The Hella 500 is by far the best value, but I was really looking for a black housing as I'm stripping all of the chrome on the car and painting it black due to oxidation and rust. That's why I like the 500 Black Magic ... it would look great on the car, but costs a bit more. EDIT :: It looks like the newer 500 and 700 series have a black ABS housing rather than the metal housing.

The Hella 700 is just a larger 500. I don't know if that would increase or decrease the effectiveness of the light though. I feel like it would actually lower the output.

The PIAAs are the most expensive of the options, but look to be made a little better than the budget Hellas. They dont' come with a full stone shield though, only a grille. I'm not sure on the quality of PIAA v Hella either ... I feel like PIAA makes better products, but that may just be brand preference. EDIT :: The PIAAs do have a steel housing and come in black.

I appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

[bimmertech]

roof mounted light bar with for KCs. done.

[TouringBubble]

I'm mounting 2 on the front bumper.

[Cholewa]

Nothing wrong with HELLAS, that was the stock option for fog/driving lights for volvos forever. I had a set of the "newer" ones on my old volvo and they were fantastic (the square ones that go in the grill).

In your case, I would go for the largest housings with the most stable mounts, as some of the swively mounts don't like to stay exactly upright.

I can't see a reason to spend big bucks on some lights that will rarely be used, and with all the bulbs being the same, you're not really getting much more light output by spending more money.

[Chuck Baader]

First, screw the 55w and search ebay for 100w bulbs....same for the stock high beams, and 85w for low. Try to upgrade the stock first...think you will be very surprised. BTw, clean/sand your lights first. CB

[TouringBubble]

I plan to rewire the entire car (which isn't much), and after that I could likely increase the wattage to the stock headlamps. But, stock are the full replacement type, so no reason to try to clean them up. It looks like I could get different assemblies to take H4 bulbs, but that doesn't help much with direction. I guess I may start there.

That still doesn't solve the issue of direction. Even if I run decent H4s in the stock assemblies, they are aimed where they are aimed. The highs and lows are aimed the same as well. I could kick up the driving lights for much better visibility and let the stock lights fill for a very wide range of visibility.

[JohnW8]

Hella good deal!

Hey Matt. I got the setup for your bug

http://alscca.net/community/showthread.php?t=1985

Happy to make a deal. I don't race in the dark.
(or the rain without rain tires Chuck)

[TouringBubble]

You know which lights they are John?

[Chuck Baader]

John, my first race after driver's school was RA, in the rain, on a new set of Goodyear GSCS (which were comparable to the Hoosier R4). Even stayed on the track although I was 15 seconds off the pace. CB

[bmwe21]

I have a set of Hella 500's on my Honda Pilot, they are great for extra lights, but i don't think they would be very good for your only lights, their beams are not as wide as regular head lights. I guess you could use a set of fogs and a set of drivings?
Wal-Mart in Leeds had them at one time for like $69 ? The cheapest I had found them.
I won mine from Bavarian Autosport.

[nicktcr]

Hey Matt. I got the setup for your bug

http://alscca.net/community/showthread.php?t=1985

Happy to make a deal. I don't race in the dark.
(or the rain without rain tires Chuck)

Still have that CG lock?

[edtype1]

Matt,..Hella 500 driving lights are cheap and perfect for what your wanting. Waight's light setup are sweet also. If not interested Matt, I'll make a deal with you John...

[TouringBubble]

Ed, feel free to work with John on those lights. Since I don't need the bracket, it's likely a better fit for you.

And yes, I'll likely just get the standard 500 or 500FF lights. The PIAA 520s have no advantage it seems over the steel housing, and that's not worth the extra $100. If they had a wider beam, maybe ... but it looks like the 500s win hands down.

Thanks for all of the feedback!

And these won't be the primary lights. For now, I'll replace the OE bulbs/lenses and run those as the primary, with the 500s as the aux, or a replacement high beam. I may add another set of 500s later if needed or a set of fogs to fill. I think switching to the higher amperage internal regulator alternator will help the OE lights a bit, and fresh bulbs and some direction tweaking will be enough for the few times I drive at night.

[JohnW8]

I looked over the lights and saw no marking to identify them. They are Hella lights and have the harness with relays and inlines fuses on a homebuilt bracket ready to bolt on.

How do you identify what model these are?

[spray004]

Check out Lightforce, they are pricier at times but very good lights.
http://www.lightforce.com/index