LED headlights - now cost effective option.

[jury]

Perfect Mark ! Thanks for the pics, helps explain alot.....Now then, all you need to do is take your headlights apart, send the bracket to Jonathan and we are good to go

I remember them being bright though.....still got spots in my eyes trying to adjust the aim in Spa

All good here Jonathan, still waiting to start work Say hi to Ben !

[Brewster]

FWIW, I have a set of the RPM ones in my car. They're well made and feel solid. Getting the alignment right was a bit of a pain with some Hella lenses as they didn't protrude far enough to allow movement within the headlight unit, but I bought some cheapies from a VW heritage website which work. The light output is fantastic. Even better than the HIDs on my nearly new Fiesta ST. Crisp cut off too. I haven't had anyone flashing in annoyance for being dazzled etc.

[jtparr]

Hi Brewster
Could you post a link to that VW web site ?
Thanks
Jonathan

[sladey]

Hmmm

Right well those spacers are for those specific lights - no telling that the ones from Amazon are the same or even similar fitting

Re the cheaply clear lenses - I bought some VW ones and they were so awful not only wouldn't I got them but I didn't feel comfortable selling them on

I bought some hells ones from German Ebay which are nice

[jury]

Hmmm

Right well those spacers are for those specific lights - no telling that the ones from Amazon are the same or even similar fitting

Good point Mark.....got a new plan, Bare with

[kitten1]

I have just had LED bulbs installed in Kit, I absolutely love them. They give a very crisp white light making night time driving a pleasure. Here are some photos earlier on this evening...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/139422280 ... res/R20D05

I tried to take some in the dark when I got home. I think I was too close to car with IPhone. Will try again this week if it helps anyone.

Looking at Kit in the dark with her new bulbs I thought that they gave the headlamps a more defined look with the LED light. I know it may not be everyones cup of tea but I drive Kit as much as I can and really did not enjoy any night time journey.

Margaret & Kit

[kitten1]

Forgot to say which ones.

They are from Woodypeck.com

https://www.flickr.com/photos/139422280 ... res/6dZ74k

Margaret

[mdmax72]

Still on my wish list to get the RPM units.

[jtparr]

Hmmm

Right well those spacers are for those specific lights - no telling that the ones from Amazon are the same or even similar fitting

Good point Mark.....got a new plan, Bare with

Waiting in anticipation......also emailed the Woodypeck guys and asked them for their recommendation....want to upgrade the lights but not at the RPM price as I can't justify it at the moment...any spare money has to go to the EType..

[Bruce M]

Plenty of E-marked 7" sealed beam units on eBay for £300 or less per pair.
The repo beetle units can take wipac headlights and the wipac housings are used by the Defender crowd to fit the LED lights so it should be possible to put together a 911 kit without too much fabrication. In theory!

[Ian 2.2S]

So, what do we think to new LED bulb with existing reflector/optics V. new LED sealed beam unit.
Fairly substantial price difference. I am assuming that with the reduced power consumption that it isn't necessary to fit relays as you would if upgrading halogen/HID
And shoud I be ordering under cill strip lights at the same time and what colour?

[jtparr]

Just spoken with the guy who runs Woodypeck, and ordered a set of lamps...so will report back once fitted
I already have a relay kit fitted which supposedly improves lighting from OE design...but it's still candlepower....

Given we get something like 1200 lumens from standard and these kits offer at least double to triple that it should be enough for me...lets see...at £65 delivered its worth an experiment

Jonathan

[Ian 2.2S]

Just spoken with the guy who runs Woodypeck, and ordered a set of lamps...so will report back once fitted
I already have a relay kit fitted which supposedly improves lighting from OE design...but it's still candlepower....

Given we get something like 1200 lumens from standard and these kits offer at least double to triple that it should be enough for me...lets see...at £65 delivered its worth an experiment

Jonathan

Eagerly awaiting your report sir

[jury]

My plan to fit LED lights to the Modrod goes something like this...

I have two early cars sitting in the Garage, but they have different headlights.

'67 912 has original units but with upgraded H4 sealed beam units and Hella smooth glass...



'68 Modrod has later H4 units and later Bosch glass...(never liked the look of the later glass on this car)



This afternoon I decided to remove one of each and compare. There are pretty much the same, with all adjustment screws and adjustment grooves in the buckets in the same locations. The main difference is that the EARLY sealed beam light unit sits in a retaining ring.

I have tried to show below. The lights look alot different in the first picture, but this is only because original side light holder on the LATER light sticks out the back and effects the 'resting' angle.

EARLY - LATER


EARLY - LATER


EARLY


EARLY (that white self tapping screw wasn't me)


EARLY


LATER


LATER




So with this comparison, I am happy that the EARLY parts are inter-changeable with LATER and visa verse.

PLAN:

- Use the LATER Modrod chrome rings and buckets

- Order these Beetle repro units and use only the EARLY retaining ring from it (might be able to use the glass also if quality is ok):

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp ... %2D037%2DC



- If glass quality on the above is bad I'll order these repro HELLA SB19 glass (I used these on my 912 when I rebuilt the lights afew years ago):

http://www.ebay.de/itm/2-Stuck-Scheinwe ... 25a389ec1c


- Then order the Trucklite units, and put it all together:

http://www.drivetrainamerica.com/truck- ... -cj-tj-jk/




I have already painted the LATER buckets on the Modrod black during the initial build process. I think the black Trucklite units mounted to a painted black retaining ring should look pretty good in there. I found an example, albeit on a Landrover, of the Trucklite light pattern:








Helped me write it all down if nothing else

[sladey]

Looks like a good plan Chris. The RPM adapter ring has two things sticking out of it for the headlamp adjusters to slot into.

Once you get it all apart it will become clear what you need to do.

I was going to take a similar approach with the RPM units (I'd sourced the actual light direct from a 4x4 supplier) but then someone on here got RPM to drop their price for a unit without a sidelight (so it was the same price I could buy it for - still expensive) and the adapter rings worked out at #30 a side - for that price I didn't think it worth making them.

Good luck!