E-code H4 headlight conversion with comparison pics Cheaper than Silverstars

From my experience the two best solutions are a either Hella or Cibie H4 headlights, a good set of low mounted fogs, a good set of higer mounted driving lights and good wiring. As for the Hella and Cibie housings you are paying for the lense and it's cut, where it focuses, etc. Any idiot can make a flood light, put a high powered bulb in it and sell it. I have both the Hella E codes and 550's in the XJ, Cibie 7" round E codes and Hella 500's on the TJ's. I don't bother with driving lights as I very rarely ever get to use even my high beams around north east Pa and NJ. If I need off road flood lights I have two mag mount killer 'deer spotting' handhelds I plug into the cig and aux sockets on the dash, they throw a figure 8 pattern out to a bout 2 miles :D :D :D I think they came from an aircraft supply catalog....
 
I just need a cheap set of housings that I can put some powerful cheap bulbs in that will better light up the night. I'm trying to go cheap and better lighting. My wife woulnd't approve of paying lots of money for headlights... Is it just me or does the word 'light' look funny after awhile? I almost thought I was spelling it wrong for a second.
 
Bdiddy11 said:
I just need a cheap set of housings that I can put some powerful cheap bulbs in that will better light up the night. I'm trying to go cheap and better lighting. My wife woulnd't approve of paying lots of money for headlights... Is it just me or does the word 'light' look funny after awhile? I almost thought I was spelling it wrong for a second.
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Cheap, fast, good, pick one. You get what you pay for.
 
RichP said:
Cheap, fast, good, pick one. You get what you pay for.
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Sometimes :)

The Autopal H4 housings meet European E-code standards so they're at least good enough to pass a very good standard. Hella and Cibies meet the same standard, maybe they exceed it by enough to merit costing 5 times more who knows...I would guess not, but I can't prove it.

Considering the outstanding nighttime visibility I have from my Autopal's (just look at the pics) with the generic bulbs that came with them, it's hard to imagine how I could get 4 to 5 times more improvement out of E-codes that cost a couple hundred dollars a set like Cibies do. If they were projectors; well okay.

There's a difference between paying a little more for something that's better; And paying an unecessary premium because of a popular brand name. I would argue that most of the cost of a Cibie (and Hella's) is the ledgendary name from ralley racing. Autopals cost more than brand name sealed beams like Wagner and Silvania, about the same as a set of Silverstars... but a better value in the long run.
 
1bolt said:
Sometimes :)

The Autopal H4 housings meet European E-code standards so they're at least good enough to pass a very good standard. Hella and Cibies meet the same standard, maybe they exceed it by enough to merit costing 5 times more who knows...I would guess not, but I can't prove it.

Considering the outstanding nighttime visibility I have from my Autopal's (just look at the pics) with the generic bulbs that came with them, it's hard to imagine how I could get 4 to 5 times more improvement out of E-codes that cost a couple hundred dollars a set like Cibies do. If they were projectors; well okay.

There's a difference between paying a little more for something that's better; And paying an unecessary premium because of a popular brand name. I would argue that most of the cost of a Cibie (and Hella's) is the ledgendary name from ralley racing. Autopals cost more than brand name sealed beams like Wagner and Silvania, about the same as a set of Silverstars... but a better value in the long run.
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A couple hundred dollars a set for E-codes? Where'd you get those numbers from? Yes, the Cibie's run more, but you can get 200mm Hella E-code housings for $38 each at Susquehanna Motorsports.
 
Wow, I came here to find out if there were any known issues with the X-J's headlight wiring, and I stumble across this thread. I'm very inexperienced with this model of Jeep, But have a long past with the use of E-code lights! I have been running E-code lights in all of my vehicles since 1973. I've owned many Hellas, Bosch, and Cibies. Now I'd like to shed some light on this topic.... Like you, I believe the lighting produced to be superior to that of a DOT lamp. However, the reflector design of the "E"uorpean Code light is Not "DOT approved". The design of the lens is Not "DOT approved". And the use of a bulb over 60 watts produces too many lumens, to be "DOT approved". I've been running them for years, and have never had a problem yet, but it only takes a few bad apples to ruin it for the bunch. Furthermore, If you buy the H-4 wiring plugs at a local auto supply house? Unless they're made of Bakelite, they will melt in time! I deffinatly would reccomend the wiring harness, prior to the installation of any H-4 lights! I here some of you Bad mouth the Hellas, I Believe you were comparing them to their DOT approved housing, and not the E-codes. However, the Cibies seemed to be a little more refined, even though they seem to have a larger plating failure rate on their reflectors, than the Bosch, or the Hellas. My all time favorite were the Bosch, with the Quartz lens, although they were more prone to breakage. I hope this helps some of you in your decissions. Good Luck, & Happy New Year!:peace:
 
GhostDakota said:
A couple hundred dollars a set for E-codes? Where'd you get those numbers from? Yes, the Cibie's run more, but you can get 200mm Hella E-code housings for $38 each at Susquehanna Motorsports.
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<shrug> when I priced things last year conversion housings were running 80-100 dollars a pair for Delta and Hella's and a set of Cibie E-code H4's were around $175 bucks. They're both cheaper now.

The Autopal guy on Ebay still takes an offer of $22.99 per set before shipping. Hella's are 36.99 per one (at Quadratec) before shipping, and danielsternlighting.com H4 200mm Cibies (H6054 size) are 63 dollars per one. Also before shipping So...

So lets get all anal about the cost: Hella's are over 3 times (3.2) the cost of Autopal's and Cibies are 5 AND A HALF times the cost.

Man I was really pulling numbers out my ass I apologize :o So yeah not 4 to 5 times the value but 3.2 to 5.5 times the value... With that in mind I'll rephrase the question:

Do Hella's and Cibies provide 3.2 to 5.5 times more value? I'd guess not.
 
1bolt said:
<shrug> when I priced things last year conversion housings were running 80-100 dollars a pair for Delta and Hella's and a set of Cibie E-code H4's were around $175 bucks. They're both cheaper now.

The Autopal guy on Ebay still takes an offer of $22.99 per set before shipping. Hella's are 36.99 per one (at Quadratec) before shipping, and danielsternlighting.com H4 200mm Cibies (H6054 size) are 63 dollars per one. Also before shipping So...

So lets get all anal about the cost: Hella's are over 3 times (3.2) the cost of Autopal's and Cibies are 5 AND A HALF times the cost.

Man I was really pulling numbers out my ass I apologize :o So yeah not 4 to 5 times the value but 3.2 to 5.5 times the value... With that in mind I'll rephrase the question:

Do Hella's and Cibies provide 3.2 to 5.5 times more value? I'd guess not.
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The hellas at quadratec are not E codes, they are just one step above stock sealed beams. www.rallylights.com. He carries the E codes.
As far as the CIBIE's, my 7" rounds have been in use since 73 when I put them in my Vega built by Motion mini-car.
They have been in 5 vehicles over the years.
 
Whoa- My intention was not to put down the lights you guys are buying. I've not owned a pair, and it would seem from the pics, that you have found an economical winner! I searched eBay, and was unable to find the ones you mention. However I saw a set listed for corvettes, and they look to be well worth trying! So, if those are the ones, I would have to say, Kudos. As far as those cheap plastic ones go, I would rather have Sylvanias.]]

J.R.
 
ZAX DAD said:
However, the reflector design of the "E"uorpean Code light is Not "DOT approved". The design of the lens is Not "DOT approved". And the use of a bulb over 60 watts produces too many lumens, to be "DOT approved".
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Technically, DOT only sets guidelines. Vehicles are state specific and most states adopt the DOT guidelines without change (same as building codes for those in the construction industry). The states are free to write their own rules and many have altered their laws to accept the e-code lighting pattern. When I last looked it was about 12 states that accepted e-code lighting.
 
RichP said:
The hellas at quadratec are not E codes, they are just one step above stock sealed beams. www.rallylights.com. He carries the E codes.
As far as the CIBIE's, my 7" rounds have been in use since 73 when I put them in my Vega built by Motion mini-car.
They have been in 5 vehicles over the years.
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That's cool, you've gotten some good value out of them over the years. On the other hand from my perspective, I've got 3 pairs with a set in My Wifes XJ, my XJ and my MJ, all for about the cost on one (left or right) Cibie housing. Or one set of Hella DOT less than E-codes.

That's safety and piece of mind for my fun XJ, my working MJ and the whole family's XJ. Next set goes in my Mothers Toyota Tacoma (more piece of mind). And my YJ will get a set of the round ones (converted to TJ grille) ... that'll be 5 vehicles for less than the cost of one set of Cibies.

How long will they last? I'll be the first to post if any of them prove to be defective, or last less than the next 3 or 4 years... After that I figure their value is well established. Hell at going on a year now, they've already lasted longer than some Silverstars I've read about ;)
 
1bolt said:
That's cool, you've gotten some good value out of them over the years. On the other hand from my perspective, I've got 3 pairs with a set in My Wifes XJ, my XJ and my MJ, all for about the cost on one (left or right) Cibie housing. Or one set of Hella DOT less than E-codes.

That's safety and piece of mind for my fun XJ, my working MJ and the whole family's XJ. Next set goes in my Mothers Toyota Tacoma (more piece of mind). And my YJ will get a set of the round ones (converted to TJ grille) ... that'll be 5 vehicles for less than the cost of one set of Cibies.

How long will they last? I'll be the first to post if any of them prove to be defective, or last less than the next 3 or 4 years... After that I figure their value is well established. Hell at going on a year now, they've already lasted longer than some Silverstars I've read about ;)
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I guess what bothers me the most is the cibie's were about $20 for the set and that included a bulb already installed. I think the cibies are the price they are because of lack of importers. I don't know where Stern gets his from.
Maybe we could get one of our european members to price a set for us. Maybe even put together a group buy from that member if they would be willing. My understanding is the cibies are no more expensive over there than hellas are. Just a thought.
 
lawsoncl said:
Technically, DOT only sets guidelines. Vehicles are state specific and most states adopt the DOT guidelines without change (same as building codes for those in the construction industry). The states are free to write their own rules and many have altered their laws to accept the e-code lighting pattern. When I last looked it was about 12 states that accepted e-code lighting.
Click to expand...

Now that's interesting I wonder what states?
 
RichP said:
I don't know where Stern gets his from.
Maybe we could get one of our european members to price a set for us. Maybe even put together a group buy from that member if they would be willing. My understanding is the cibies are no more expensive over there than hellas are. Just a thought.
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I'd be all over Cibies for $20-30 a set. I'm sure you can get them off Ebay occasionally for less than Stern's web site.
 
1bolt said:
I'd be all over Cibies for $20-30 a set.
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x2. The AutoPals are working great for the time being but a computer optimized, non-parabolic reflector really sounds nice.
 
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