Best Bang for Your Buck: Headlights?

R

Rocketeer14

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Walbridge, OH
I'm looking into getting fog lights for my stock 98 that is not equipped from factory. I searched and found few useful results, plus opinions change. So, what are the best fog lights you can get without going broke? (Talking in the 80 and under dollar range). Also, since winter is here any advice for use of them in the snow is helpful. Thanks.
 
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'99Orvis said:
Don't feel bad about not having stock foglights. They barely throw out any useful light in any direction. Can't help with suggestions of alternatives though.
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I'll second this. The stock fogs look nice sitting back behind the cutouts in the bumper, but they're not terribly useful. They're also really expensive for what you get if buying new. Frankly, I wouldn't have bothered to replace the one that cracked on my XJ, but found one in a junkyard for $5 so figured it was worth it for the sake of looks. Don't be tempted to upgrade the bulbs in them in hopes of getting better light; the reflectors aren't the greatest and the wiring to them doesn't help either.

You should be able to fairly easily find a set of Hella 500s with either a fog or driving beam pattern within your budget. They're not the last word in lighting by any means, but they are good at what they do. The downside is that you'll have to mount them on top of the bumper, but if you're comfortable with drilling two holes it's an easy installation.
 
I'm also on the search for some extra lighting. I originally wanted something to put in the stock location but I've only found 2 lights that are smaller than the factory opening which is around 137mmx67mm. One was the fake blue HID style which seem worthless and the other was some off brand that looked pretty cheaply made. PIAA and Hella make some rectangular lamps that could be used if your willing to cut the plastic opening larger. If you do wheel at all though they are a great target for almost everything to smash one. Try looking on quadratec in the lighting section as it will give you a good variety to look at.

On my TJ I have a set of the Hella 500's and they work great. I added a set of 100w bulbs to them and they work just fine. I wired them to work like the factory lights as they are a bit bright for on coming traffic. They were honestly one of the best $80 I spent on it.
 
if you just want fogs get hella 500s... fog beam obviously. if you cant find ambers get some yellow lamin-x or yellow rock blocker and put it over the lens.

you want fogs to be yella.
 
The ambers were discontinued. I've been looking for a pair for a while, but haven't had any luck. I did put some yellow vinyl over my last pair, before getting smashed to bits. I'll take some in depth pics of the new fogs when I get them installed.
 
CherBear said:
Hella 700s... Ask any girl, 2 inches make a big difference.
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I dont think they make the hella 700s in a fog pattern beam. IMO the best fog pattern beams in your budget would be some fog lights off of a JK wrangler. I paid ~26 each for the lights off amazon. The lights have an excellent beam pattern and cut off.

Theydo require a little fab work, but it is well worth it, and i think they look very good too.

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If you can get your hands on an HID kit in the 2500-3k color temperature range and slap it in a pair of hella 500's you'll have super bright deep yellow fogs, since they're just fog lights you don't have to worry about blinding anyone with your HIDs ;)
 
GrimmJeeper said:
If you can get your hands on an HID kit in the 2500-3k color temperature range and slap it in a pair of hella 500's you'll have super bright deep yellow fogs, since they're just fog lights you don't have to worry about blinding anyone with your HIDs ;)
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you need H3c bulbs to fit in the small hella lamps, just fyi. theyre hard to find.

if you dont want to buy rockblocker, just buy some yellow H3 bulbs, daniel stern lighting can get em. dont bother with PIAA ion yellows, they suck.
 
H3 and H3c use the same mounting base, the only difference is the H3 is grounded through the base and the H3c is not. it can be modified with a piece of wire easily, here is a writeup (on a lexus but same idea)

H3c HID conversions are also readily available but more expensive than other bulbs.
 
you need H3c bulbs to fit in the small hella lamps, just fyi. theyre hard to find.
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I just finished putting some Chiwanese crap hid kit in my 500's (fog beam pattern) literally last night. You have to remove the sheild on the inside of the housing, but that takes literally 5 minutes. H3 bulb here, not H3c.

Now the bulb did look VERY close to the glass when I installed them. Seemed to not be touching, but too close for my liking. I simply got a washer the bulb fit through, and ground down the sides so it fit in the bulb retainer.
 
GrimmJeeper said:
H3 and H3c use the same mounting base, the only difference is the H3 is grounded through the base and the H3c is not. it can be modified with a piece of wire easily, here is a writeup (on a lexus but same idea)

H3c HID conversions are also readily available but more expensive than other bulbs.
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interesting.

DanMan2k06 said:
I just finished putting some Chiwanese crap hid kit in my 500's (fog beam pattern) literally last night. You have to remove the sheild on the inside of the housing, but that takes literally 5 minutes. H3 bulb here, not H3c.

Now the bulb did look VERY close to the glass when I installed them. Seemed to not be touching, but too close for my liking. I simply got a washer the bulb fit through, and ground down the sides so it fit in the bulb retainer.
Click to expand...

yea, if the bulb is too close to the glass, youll kill the beam pattern, since the bulb is too far from the reflector.
 
I currently have the Hella 450s on my Jeep, which I believe were discontinued and have been replaced by the 550s????? Dont quote me on that, but they are rectangular fogs, love the light output. They make driving with the low beams bearable with the stock headlights, I can see probably 6 feet to each side may have them pointed out to the sides too far but I still get plenty of light on the road, and it is just a very definitive rectangular beam, from left to right. I've also had the 500s, awesome lights as well. IMO you cant go wrong with either, both 550s and 500s in the same price range, just do you want round or rectangular. I was actually going to get the 500s for my Jeep, but found the 450s on craigslist for $20 bucks.

59476_826241797729_7809301_46581948_8056918_n.jpg
 
Did a similar conversion several months ago by installing a set of 35W HIDs into a set of Hella 550s that I purchased on Ebay for about $25 plus the HID kit was about $30 with shipping.
They put out A LOT of light, but when they were directed within the 90W headlights beam the color difference was uncomfortable for my eyes so I redirected the 550s beam further in the distance.
On a recent trip back from Moab on the I-70 where the roads can be VERY dark; these lights were outstanding projecting a beam of light more 1/4 mile so I could see the upcoming turns.
This project started as an experiment and became a quite useful.
 
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