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

[AlabamaDan]

Been doing some looking around...

What's the difference between these two ebay items, other than the price:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=013&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=230133232234&rd=1&rd=1


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330007065639&rd=1&rd=1

I can't find anything, but one is $8 cheaper than the other. Tried to make bid of $17.00 for the more expensive ones and it was declined automatically. I'm not sure what his threshold is. Probably $20.00.

 

[andyr354]

I almost going to recommend getting different bulbs. I have had mine for not too long, and I really seem to think they have lost a lot of luminosity.

Kind of interesting deal there. The Bulbs that come with the lights are made in India and have Autopal stamped on them as a brand.

I ordered a set of 80/100 Hellas and guess what? They look exactly the same, have India as the country of MFG, just have HELLA stamped on for the brand name.

Definitely buy or build a harness. The stock wiring will not handle the load and will fail. Sometimes in a fiery way.

 

[OverlandZJ]

Definitely buy or build a harness. The stock wiring will not handle the load and will fail. Sometimes in a fiery way.

I and a few friends went camping this past holiday, on the way out we ran our headlights in a group as we always do. When we got close i happened to notice i lost my headlights when we stopped for fuel.

I bought the standard 55/60 bulbs with my kit. pulled the assemblies and checked the bulbs which appear fine. No indications of harness meltdown, and the lights actually work when using the turn signal lever flash.

I'm thinking my headlight switch went? I should have been fine with stock wiring harness and the 55/60's right?

 

[andyr354]

Stuff happens.
Sounds very similar to the symptoms I had on an older GM car though with a very similar switch. It would work again after cooling for a while.

 

[jhs2]

Airbone just delivered mine at lunch today. Gonna build my harness and install tonight, anxious to see how well they work!

 

[AlabamaDan]

Ordered mine last night. With the std 55/60 bulb the std harness would be fine right. I can upgrade the harness later when I upgrade bulbs right?

Along that same line of thinking, if I get the 100/55 bulbs I might not need the wiring harness since the large load would only be on bright lights? Thoughts?

i know ultimately, I want the 100/90 bulbs with the upgraded wiring harness. Until then the question is 55/60 or 100/55?

BTW, that guy on eBay is going up on his prices I think.

 

[spudly]

I would upgrade the harness before anything else. Upgrading the harness even with stock lighting will yield some improvements. Then once you've got the funds the H4's will just be plug-and-play.

 

[DrMoab]

All those E-bay lights suck hind tit.

I have looked at all of them, ebay crap sellers, hella and finally decided on Cibie.

You definitely get what you pay for. The Cibie pattern is so far superior to them it isn't even funny.

Do yourself a favor. Save the money and put REAL headlights in your junk. The money you spend will be worth it.

 

[lawsoncl]

All those E-bay lights suck hind tit.

I have looked at all of them, ebay crap sellers, hella and finally decided on Cibie.

You definitely get what you pay for. The Cibie pattern is so far superior to them it isn't even funny.

Do yourself a favor. Save the money and put REAL headlights in your junk. The money you spend will be worth it.

So how do you explain all the people happy with the AutoPal branded ones? Seriously, some people can't afford Cibies and the AutoPal e-code lites work pretty well. I'm running mine with 80/100 bulbs and never get flashed.

I also agree that upgrading the wiring harness to use relays is the first step. Especially if you're loosing voltage at the headlight.

 

[lawsoncl]

Along that same line of thinking, if I get the 100/55 bulbs I might not need the wiring harness since the large load would only be on bright lights? Thoughts?

I was going to build a deck with 2x3s, because I only have more than one person on it every once in a while..... Upgrade the harness before you fry the headlight switch.

 

[jeepboy381]

You must be thinking of the chaep crystal cut lights that are also sold on ebay and are complete piles of crap. These Autopal ones are absolutely awesome, I am doing this upgrade to my two other Jeeps also. I like them better than my 150 watt KC's. I can't see spending 100 dollars for a light either unless they are HID or made from diamonds!!!!

 

[lawsoncl]

Yeah, key things to look for are glass housings and not plastic.

 

[PapaPump]

I have tried several sets of aftermarket headlights. I believe every one of them was made in India. I am very satisfied with what I have now, which are the Deltas that Quadratec sells. I think they only have them in their YJ catalog though, because they aren't in my new XJ catalog.

Anyhow, the Deltas are E-Code and look exactly like these AutoPals as far as pattern is concerned. They also came with bulbs and I believe they were $40 a pair plus shipping. It sounds like the AutoPals are the best deal out there unless you have to get a replacement for a broken one.

The logo is a total knockoff of the Hella logo too! I wouldn't be suprised if they were the same thing.

Oh and I have a cheapo Chinese wiring harness upgrade. The quality of the kit looks great and it's held up for a couple of years. The Engrish instructions were worthless though. This upgrade appears to add 30-50% more light by my uneducated estimate (in a well abused 1992).

 

[DrMoab]

You must be thinking of the chaep crystal cut lights that are also sold on ebay and are complete piles of crap. These Autopal ones are absolutely awesome, I am doing this upgrade to my two other Jeeps also. I like them better than my 150 watt KC's. I can't see spending 100 dollars for a light either unless they are HID or made from diamonds!!!!

I have run with guys running the Autopal lights, hella lights and one guy with HIDs

In all cases...yes even the HID lights the Cibies were far superiour.

Also if you get them from there right source they are about 120 a set..not 100 a light.

 

[OverlandZJ]

Stuff happens.
Sounds very similar to the symptoms I had on an older GM car though with a very similar switch. It would work again after cooling for a while.

Finally got around to pulling my switch, it's definately got a post that heated up.(H..for headlights?) Now this may have been going before i swapped in these AutoPal's, i noticed my wagners getting dim on me as well.

I was going to swap in the "newish" switch from my old 88 XJ, but there is an additional connector. I'll pick up a new switch tomorrow.

:repair:

 

[Beast XJ01]

ordered mine.... with the 100/55 bulbs, got the shipping notice today, looking forward to installing them next week.

 

[Beast XJ01]

GOT THEM !! they came yesterday afternoon, a day ahead of ETA from DHL.

I ordered the 100/55W bulbs. Total came to $41 after shipping and upgraded bulbs.

Installed without any problems, other than rust and squeeky screws. Did have to bend the bracket a bit to hold them tight, but that is minor.

Here are some pics, I parked the car 20 ft from the garage door, took a before and after pic, as well as a new high beam pic.
I am very happy. Took a little drive, and the low beams have a very even light distribution, a very wide area of coverage, and gives a better view that the old high beams...all without blinding on coming traffic.

Before:

Note the (not so) bright spots and the undefined lighting just going out in all directions from the "spots".

After:

Note how much brighter it is overall, so that you can even see the hood in the lower left corner. Pic was taken standing next to the passenger side mirror in both pics. The light is not two bright spots, but an even layer of light, with a very clear defined line where the light stops. The two "ticks" on the right do work well for lighting signs on the side of the road.

High Beams:

The high beams are definately well focused, and project well down the middle and go the distance on the road.

I highly recommend these lights over the factory lights.
Beast.

 

[1bolt]

I'm glad to see that my little discovery has helped a bunch of us, I'm still impressed with mine, they have held up thus far and have been so good that I didn't even bother swapping in the top of the line GE NightHawk bulbs I was going to use.

Beast got a much better picture of the sharp cutoff than I did. Compare my "before" pic of the dim wagners 40 or 50 feet out hitting my mail box to his before pics... Those are pretty similar dim little spots that I'm sure just like mine were nearly scary driving down highways at night. The earthen bank behind my mail box is slanted and doesn't do the sharp cutoff justice, mine look just like his though against any vertical surface, crisp sharp cutoff. I'm also still amazed that NO ONE flashes me, considering how much light is being put down the road. The cutoff does exactly what it's supposed to even with a 3.5 inch lift and 33's

Re: Cibies, Maybe the Cibies will last longer because of better construction. Who knows. I do know that they both have to meet E-code standards so the Autopals are at least comparable in many respects. And I can replace 7 or 8 sets of Autopal's for every set of Cibies.

 

[OverlandZJ]

Came out of work the other night to heavy fog, i was surprised how well the AutoPal's cut through the fog vs illuminating it. This may be indicative of all H4's but i was pleasantly surprised.

Mine are holding up well.

I believe the Delta lights being sold by Q-Tech are the Autopal's? Someone posted earlier in this thread Q-Tech has starting carrying them.

 

[selarep]

I have the AutoPals, I like them, nice lighting. BUT, every one high beams me at night because the new direction of light is right at their faces while they are on-coming traffic. I gotta fix that some how... other than that, they look great.