Higher watt H4 headlight recommendation needed??

R

Redsnake

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Tulsa, OK
OK, since I upgraded my wiring harness this weekend w/the one heavily discussed here a few times... and I also am currently running Hella DOT H4 headlights w/ the standard Hella 60/55w bulbs...

I need a recommendation on a good, high quality H4 bulb that puts out more watt and light. Any recommendations?

Here's a link to eAutoworks and some of what they have for sale... any other sites or recommendations (or what to look out for) are appreciated

http://www.eautoworks.com/search-h4-headlight.htm

Thanks.
 
I've always run Hella H4's. Since you can handle the power, a good upgrade would be 100/55's. I like 100/55's because you get the extra power in the high-beam only. You could run 100/80's also. Depending on the height of your jeep, with 100/80's you may get some people flashing you even when your lights are aimed correctly. I'm sure there are plenty of people getting away with 100/80's on the street. I used to run 100/80's in my vw, but it's much lower to the ground.


Here are some bulbs:
http://www.rallylights.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=6
 
Recall that higher-output bulbs are going to be complemented by quality H4 bowls. The Hella DoT-approved Vision Plus units are what I'd consider a minimum, so you're off to a good start.

However, if you're going to push past 80W or so, consider changing over to the E-code bowls - while they're not DoT-approved, they can be run without complications (I've done it for years out here) and the better focus and sharper cut-off you get with dip and full beam make it easier to aim them to not irritate oncoming drivers. I run them with a relay harness and 90/130W Super White Hella H4s (got most of the stuff from SMS - www.rallylights.com.)

The foregoing is more for later readers than for you - I see an awful lot of people running something like "diamond cut eBay" bowls that are barely suitable for riceboys, and then they complain about it afterwards. You end up spending less if you just do it right in the first place - Hella is good, Cibie and PIAA are better (and price reflects that little fact...)
 
I have pilots (Junk, but they are plastic and when wheeling with buddies that like to kick up rocks they dont crack) and I am running what was supposed to be hella 100/80 BUT when I took them out of the package they say 100/90 on the base so I dunno - anyway, they are plenty bright and I havent had any issues with them for the almost 2 years i've had them
 
OK... I just ordered a pair of the Hella High Performance Xenon 100/80W bulbs. Should be here in a week or so. Ordered f/ Susquehanna Motor Sports ( www.rallylights.com ) and we'll see how it turns out.

Thanks for the suggestions and tips.
 
5-90 said:
Recall that higher-output bulbs are going to be complemented by quality H4 bowls. The Hella DoT-approved Vision Plus units are what I'd consider a minimum, so you're off to a good start.

However, if you're going to push past 80W or so, consider changing over to the E-code bowls - while they're not DoT-approved, they can be run without complications (I've done it for years out here) and the better focus and sharper cut-off you get with dip and full beam make it easier to aim them to not irritate oncoming drivers. I run them with a relay harness and 90/130W Super White Hella H4s (got most of the stuff from SMS - www.rallylights.com.)

The foregoing is more for later readers than for you - I see an awful lot of people running something like "diamond cut eBay" bowls that are barely suitable for riceboys, and then they complain about it afterwards. You end up spending less if you just do it right in the first place - Hella is good, Cibie and PIAA are better (and price reflects that little fact...)
Click to expand...


I want to upgrade, for the bowl, what dimensions am I looking for? Would these work, or are there better?
http://www.eautoworks.com/product-Hella-223362.htm

I'm practically Night blind so upgrading my lights would be a very useful thing....
 
I run Hella E codes with 65/55 in the XJ and Cibie with 65/55's in the TJ, the difference between the two is very noticeable in the beam pattern, but that also might be from the TJ lights being round.
As far as night driving, I swear by a good set of fogs.
 
5-90 said:
However, if you're going to push past 80W or so, consider changing over to the E-code bowls...

<snip>

...You end up spending less if you just do it right in the first place - Hella is good, Cibie and PIAA are better (and price reflects that little fact...)
Click to expand...

Don't forget about the Autopal E-code housings (the $25 eBay E-Codes discussed at great length on the Mod tech board). I've not seen any direct comparos between the beam patterns of the various E-code housing flavors, though.
 
Around 9 years ago I fabricated a upgrade to the factory headlight wiring harness and installed the Hella H4 OffRoad headlight replacements...
Installed the 55/100W PIAA H4 bulbs which have worked well..., but recently one of the low beams burned out and I purchased a set of Hella 80/100W Xenon bulbs.
Quite a difference when driving on the road and back roads at night....
 
I have the autopal E-codes and Hella 100/55w H4's. Don't waste your money, I'm no further ahead than I was with sealed beam. It's not the housings, as I've had HID's in these and they were great.

If you're looking for something brighter than factory, skip RIGHT over 55w bulbs. Even H4 converted 55w bulbs.

FWIW, my high beams are VERY comparable to my Hella 500's.
 
CharlesS said:
Around 9 years ago I fabricated a upgrade to the factory headlight wiring harness and installed the Hella H4 OffRoad headlight replacements...
Installed the 55/100W PIAA H4 bulbs which have worked well..., but recently one of the low beams burned out and I purchased a set of Hella 80/100W Xenon bulbs.
Quite a difference when driving on the road and back roads at night....
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info... that's the exact pair of bulbs I ordered... the 100/80W Xenon Hella's... hopefully I'll get'm this week and can do a comparison.

My only real concern is how well they contrast and work in rainy or foggy weather. Not that it rains daily in OK... but the last few days we've been getting hammered and my halogens do an ok job of penetrating the rain so I can see. Hopefully the higher wattage Xenon Hella's will do an even better job of illuminating the road. :)
 
i was looking at those bajahid lights the 200mm ones... anyone think its worth the 150? i figure i can buy the 50 dollar housings now and buy the hid kit later when i get more money for it...
 
MaxxXJ said:
i was looking at those bajahid lights the 200mm ones... anyone think its worth the 150? i figure i can buy the 50 dollar housings now and buy the hid kit later when i get more money for it...
Click to expand...

If you're currently running the Stock type sealed headlights you will be amazed at the difference you'll get f/upgrading to one of the various types of H4 housings that have been listed here (Hella, Cibie, PIAA, etc...). Then in addition if you plan on upgrading the watt of the bulbs then also plan on upgrading the wiring harness to utilize the potential and also avoid possibly melting the factory wiring harness.

How much it's worth to you to upgrade depends on how much $$ you have available and what your plans are for driving.
 
Redsnake said:
Thanks for the info... that's the exact pair of bulbs I ordered... the 100/80W Xenon Hella's... hopefully I'll get'm this week and can do a comparison.

My only real concern is how well they contrast and work in rainy or foggy weather. Not that it rains daily in OK... but the last few days we've been getting hammered and my halogens do an ok job of penetrating the rain so I can see. Hopefully the higher wattage Xenon Hella's will do an even better job of illuminating the road. :)
Click to expand...

When I upgraded my headlight harness the voltage to the headlights went from 11.3V to 13.5+ which increased the lumens of the stock bulbs...
The original 55/100w PIAA bulbs worked nicely, but the new Hella Xenon 80/100 bulbs burn brighter due to the Xenon gas with a slight blueish tint....

My first experience driving with them in snow and rain was on the way home from Moab this past October during NAXJA's 25th Anniversary event.....
The upgrade was well worth the investment....
 
E-code bowls - while they're not DoT-approved, they can be run without complications (I've done it for years out here) and the better focus and sharper cut-off you get with dip and full beam make it easier to aim them to not irritate oncoming drivers.

I can't say too much about E-code bowls. I'm running one E-code and a stock DOT Sylvania right now - it's a constant reminder that 1) I need a job 2) DOT bowls are junk.

E-codes have a seriously controlled cutoff that, when properly aimed, will not rise above the grille of oncoming traffic. I'm using 85/100s and there is no problem with oncoming traffic, and no problem seeing traffic signs on high a mile down the road. What that means is I'm using an low beam 30 watts more powerful that "legal" max for high - and my neighbors aren't bothered at all. In rural areas late at night, I can see deer crossing the road hundreds of yards away, and the rotten buggers aren't getting the other E-code, try as they might.

Side by side, the DOT beam looks like a cheap 'Mart flashlight on low, and on high, sprays lumens up into the trees, looks almost amber, and gives no control over the beam. DOT lights are junk.

Run a harness, E-codes, and 85/100s, and you're on the max benefit for you and oncoming traffic.
 
I'm quite happy with the house brand Napa 80/100 bulbs in my AutoPals at $7.49 each. Color is plain white and pretty bright. I just replaced one after 2-years so the life is decent.
 
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