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Topic: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights (Read 1101 times) previous topic - next topic

Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

I know many people have had their head lights converted by the posts I've read, but what I haven't seen is the types of lights that were installed. Anybody care to share their thoughts on the pros and cons of either the Hellas or the Xenons? I know anything will be better than what I have now. I don't plan on doing any nite driving but you never know.
Thanks!
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #1 –
I have converted a lot of cars to H-4s. Not sure about your Hellas but most euro lights have a sharp cutoff so if you increase wattage a bit, you don't blind a lot of oncoming drivers. Stock should be about 60/55 watts. Amazon has Hella bulbs for $3.99. I always stick 100/55s in my cars. 55 watts is stock for the low beam so you won't blind anyone. A lot of 130/55 bulbs are advertised but the stock wiring won't handle 130 watts on each side for the high beam.

Xenons are new and everyone seems to be going to them. They use less juice so wiring won't be a problem. To get up to speed, go to this Hella site, Bulbs 101-Bulb FAQ at: Bulbs 101-A Primer on Auto Bulbs  A lot of other good sites online and ebay sells a lot of conversions.

Think I would try to keep the color temp around 3000-4300K, 6000K at the highest as the further you go into the blue spectrum, the less efficient they are.

I am sure other members have already made the change to Xenon so they will have a A/B comparison for you.
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #2 –
I'm thinking that he is talking about the Extreme round conversions, and am thinking that they might be HIDs. 
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #3 –
Those are projectors. HID is avail at a significantly higher cost.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #5 –
With a Unicoach, the Ford headlights are so low that the glare produced is not high enough to bother oncoming traffic. I have had HID on my '95 for over 2 years and never got flashed once.

The issue is that regular headlight do not have the aiming design for the HID bulb. Older headlight designs had the aiming and cutoff designed into the face of the glass with 'some' aiming designed into the bucket. Newer designs move it to the bucket with a clear plastic cover - but are still not designed for the Xenon capsule. You really need a properly designed projector for HID.

I have been on a quest for 'good' headlights ever since my first drive with properly aimed European headlights. Hella XLs were an awesome add-on design. All my vehicles have HID - the Tahoe has a pair of custom retrofit bi-Xenon projector headlights.

Europeans have phenomenal headlights - we labor under headlight laws that literally date back to the 30s...
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #6 –
Standard bulbs - James can tell you.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #7 –
So what headlights can I just plug in to my 1993 U225 that will improve night visibility? I assume that this will cover a lot of the older coaches.
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Dave Head –
Europeans have phenomenal headlights - we labor under headlight laws that literally date back to the 30s...
I agree 100% with that statement.  I have Hella e-codes on my Jetta.  Just recently added H13 (9008) Phillips Extreme Power bulbs to my 2009 Focus.  They are both DOT-certified and ECE-approved and the cut off is just like the e-codes.  A excellent low beam bulb, but nothing real special on high beam. 

For my '94 U225 (and your 240) I think we need 9004 HB1, but not 100% sure.  It is what ever the 1990 Ford bronco takes.  As to improving the night vision, don't think that will happen with the 9004 bulb.  I'm thinking a set of good driving lights down by the Hella fogs.  Something like Cibie clear drive auxiliary lamps from Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply.  He has always treated me right!
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #9 –
I spent the big bucks (1400.00) for euro HIDs on my 04 Jetta TDI wagon, with the manual leveling motors. They rocked! When I traded the Jetta they were jerking me around on the price so I yanked them and put the original headlights back in.

I offered them to my brother for $700.00 (and told him he had better go for it). When he asked why so high I pointed him to a US site that sold the kits - when he saw the price had risen to $2300.00 he jumped...

If you are low enough in a 225/240 that you could get by with HIDs... Not so in a U280/300 - you would be etching retinas...
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #10 –
Dave,  Would these headlites be a drop in replacement for the ones in my 95 GV ?

Bronco Halo 1 Piece Headlights Corner Bumper Lamp Combo | eBay

If so It would be an easy way to increase lighting.  Mine are not that bad as they are mounted higher than the Bus types but I can drive all nite with brights on and no one flashes me.
Gary B

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #11 –
Nope - too new...
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #13 –
This topic is of great interest to me, as I've been searching for something better than the orginal headlights. After numerous attempts, nothing for the Ford headlamps fitted to the older coaches. A drive at night mandates the Hella driving lights are on, or I can't see much of anything. New replacements would probably work better, but was hoping for a bolt-in upgrade kit of some sort that would work.

Was thinking a pair of KC Hi-Lites on the bumper might be good -->  KC HiLites 740 KC HiLites 57 Series Light Systems  :)

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #14 –

I would advocate Hella micro DEs for add on
Amazon.com: HELLA 008390801 Micro DE Series 12V/35W Xenon Driving Lamp Kit: or FF200s
My Hella Lights :: FF200 Xenon

Now if you want to build yer own stuff: small footprint
My Hella Lights :: 50mm Xenon Module big footprint low beam
My Hella Lights :: 90mm Xenon DE Low Beam Module high beam
My Hella Lights :: 90mm Xenon DE High Beam Module bi-xenon
http://www.myhellalights.com/index.php/default/auxiliary-lamps/xenon-lamps/90mm-xenon-headlamp-modules/90mm-bi-xenon/

add on wow
http://www.myhellalights.com/index.php/default/auxiliary-lamps/xenon-lamps/optilux-4-hid/ retina burn
http://www.myhellalights.com/index.php/default/auxiliary-lamps/xenon-lamps/optilux-7-hid/

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #15 –
Since the head lights appear to be in a non sealed plastic housing would it be practical to mount a round halogen or xenon light (with lens covers) in the outside shield(in a hole with proper sealing ) using a hole saw and install the new light, also one could make the necessary alignments by adjusting the origanal housing and modifying the wiring and connections as needed. thanks jc
JC
1999 U320

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #16 –
That is correct - the best install would be a clear lexan (etc) cover replacing the OEM.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Hella halogen vs xenon head lights

Reply #17 –
Quote from: hotonthetrail –
Since the head lights appear to be in a non sealed plastic housing would it be practical to mount a round halogen or xenon light (with lens covers) in the outside shield(in a hole with proper sealing ) using a hole saw and install the new light, also one could make the necessary alignments by adjusting the origanal housing and modifying the wiring and connections as needed. thanks jc

I've got four bi/xenon HID projector lights mounted in a blank panel where the old headlights used to reside.  They work fabulously well though they highlight imperfections in the highway surface so much it's somewhat unnerving. The downside to this is the fact that the projectors, even they have a glass "eyeball" lens, are not weather sealed. I have the outside passenger side light angled slightly out to light up the right shoulder, do that and you will have a new appreciation for just how many deer there are hiding in the shadows!  I will be redoing this install, mounting them higher. These lights have an extremely sharp cutoff, bright below, dark above, so if they are properly aimed I don't see a problem with blinding other drivers.  As it is now, even running quads (4 lights on dim, 4 lights on bright), I have yet to be flashed even once.  Aim em wrong and hit a state trooper in the eyes, though, and I expect you'll have some 'splainin to do.

I'm really disappointed that the Hellas aren't weather sealed, are you sure about that?  I followed Dave Head's leads and was ready to pull the trigger on four of them, to use the lenses, front housing and mount brackets for conversion to HID.  If you want to retain your original light fixtures, and there are lots of advantages to doing so including adjustability, the fact that they have a DOT stamp on em, (very few HID fixtures have that, the ones that do are extraordinarily expensive) so you can avoid inspection hassles, I'd suggest mounting the HID bi/xenon fixtures inside the existing headlights.  Here's a prior discussion and parts links:

Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Chuck
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS