slomove Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) Well, that means headlights to be..... While traveling in Germany I browsed the Hella catalog and found they have some very compact 90mm Bi-Halogen DE (double elliptical) headlight modules that do low beam and high beam in one very compact package. Available in SAE/DOT (US) and ECE (everywhere else) beam pattern. Interestingly they use only a single filament H9 bulb and have a solenoid operated shutter to switch between hi and low. There is also a Xenon (HID) version with same dimensions but that is extremely expensive. I emailed Hella and they wrote back it is available in the US only to OEM customers, not to individuals like us. Nevertheless it was not a problem to order the DOT version at local Hella dealer in Germany (119 Euros a pop). Strange world of marketing....It came in overnight and so I have the next project lined up when I get home Got to fabricate some brackets and carbon fiber cowling (or is it nacelle?). Gert Edited September 22, 2009 by slomove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 a small bubble level on that and ur set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Other than being able to read road signs and being legal, is there a reason you didn't opt for the ECE? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) Yes, they could not give me a lead time for the ECE version. Out of stock. You are right, otherwise I would have bought the ECE one, although I am not sure about the practical difference. For this projector lamp it might be "just" the shape of the low beam shutter. Edited September 22, 2009 by slomove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon W. Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 My local Hella shop advertises them: http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=131 $592.95 x 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralfaz Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Beat me to it. I think these are the ones he bought. http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=4924 T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon W. Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 What, exactly, could justify that price difference? For that price difference I'd reinstall my DOT $60 7" dia lights for inspection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 My local Hella shop advertises them: http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=131 $592.95 x 2 Seriously, what would possess anyone to spend 12 hundred bucks on a pair of headlights ? sure, add lightness (pun intended), but OMG ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Seriously, what would possess anyone to spend 12 hundred bucks on a pair of headlights ? I could easily make a joke here about women in Los Angeles or something, but it's just too easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Seriously, what would possess anyone to spend 12 hundred bucks on a pair of headlights ? sure, add lightness (pun intended), but OMG ! Probably some unfortunate fellow or his insurance company who has these as OEM headlights and has a broken one (or two). There are a couple of years of Miatas where the fog lights cost nearly $300 each to replace and being down low, they break often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted September 23, 2009 Author Share Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) Seriously, what would possess anyone to spend 12 hundred bucks on a pair of headlights ? sure, add lightness (pun intended), but OMG ! That went through my mind when I opted for the halogen version. Not to mention the wiring change for the ballast electronics. So in spite of what Hella wrote me there are obviously some folks selling this part retail in the US. Anyway, at $175 (plus tax?) it is about the same or a little more than what I paid in Euros. Still not cheap but that kind of toy project stuff does not need logical justification Actually while much smaller I estimate it is not lighter than the 7" pods due to the cast metal reflector and massive glass lens. Edited September 23, 2009 by slomove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 (edited) Did some low-beam comparison with my existing headlights tonight: - the top picture is a Sylvania Silverstar sealed beam 4x6" H4666 with SAE beam pattern - the middle picture is with my existing 7" (somewhat dusty) reflectors with H4 bulb and ECE beam pattern (as it came with the car) - the bottom one is the new Hella module with H9 bulb and SAE beam pattern Both H4666 and the Hella module were propped up on the nosecone. Due to the automatic exposure the absolute brightness in the image is not exactly comparable but the H4666 is really poor with an extremely bright spot in the middle and dimly lit narrow sidebands. The old H4 is not bad but the new module is quite a bit better at the fringes. Edited November 3, 2009 by slomove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HD-josch Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Hello I´m a Seven driver from Germany. Sorry for my bad English. I think this lamps are good for a seven. http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/03/1951203/1280_6363303938336433.jpg With included low and high beam. http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/03/1951203/400_3835663637656536.jpgThis lamps add on to my car. This is my project. Ithink I´m ready in two month. http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/03/1951203/1280_3961653539336332.jpg Best wishes from Germany Josch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Josch - More pictures please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Josch, Good looking car, how about some details and more pictures of it in the Members Rides section? Can you give us a brand name and part number for those headlights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Nice car, even unfinished and interesting lights. Don't look exactly cheap, though? For my own headlight project I will stay with a little more conservative design ;-) I did more experiments and found that the Hella module heats up quickly in a tight enclosure. It reached 220 degrees F (105 deg. C) on the module surface in less than 5 minutes and at that rate it would probably have reached some 300+ degrees which is not good, especially since it does have a few plastic parts. I suppose I will need ventilation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNlotus Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 just dont roll that thing, that would be painful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenHeaven Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Is there not a standard 7" LED replacement bulb? What does an old fashioned tungsten bulb draw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share Posted November 14, 2009 Is there not a standard 7" LED replacement bulb? What does an old fashioned tungsten bulb draw? Not that I know of. Some luxury brands are working on LED headlights but the total power output of a halogen or HID Xenon is still many times higher than any current technology LED. You would need an array of dozens hi-power LED (or hundreds of small ones) to get there and then the beam pattern would be hard to achieve. Actuallt the LED need to run cool for best efficiency and heat dissipation becomes a problem. Typical halogen bulbs have 55 or 65 watts and HID I believe have 35 watts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenHeaven Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Not that I know of.... the total power output of a halogen or HID Xenon is still many times higher than any current technology LED. Typical halogen bulbs have 55 or 65 watts and HID I believe have 35 watts. Hmm, I just bought for mountain biking a LED that is much brigher, less power, and more durable, than any HID (by Dinotte) so I was thinking... This just might be available in headlamp... Just now did a google: found: http://www.levineautoparts.com/ledheadlight4.html Which seems to be in same range of current as you mentioned above. But of course no info on light output. So I wonder: anyone know more about these or others LEDs. Would love to just drop in a bulb without ballast or other mods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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