LED Headlights, A Black Friday trip down the rabbit hole Options

[fiacra]

I rarely drive any of my classic vehicles at night, and then usually only because I'm staying out later than I anticipated. However during the shorter winter days I've found myself out after dark more often and given the anemic output of stock headlights an upgrade to better lighting became more important. I started doing research last year and found this thread to be the most helpful:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...%20led&st=0

And yes, @rjames , I did read the article (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

I also consulted with a friend who owns an independent Porsche repair and restoration shop, and he recommended I get a set from vintagecarleds.com. A few other people recommended them, and I started down that route but the $$$ was a bit much to justify at that time. What I ended up doing was finding the upgraded lenses they sell (Hella H4) from a different supplier at a better price and I was going to buy their lights to put in them, essentially recreating the VCm3 set they were selling but for less $$. Instead I ended up getting these bulbs for just over $20 a set from only944.com:

https://only944.com/partscatalog/only/ledbulb/

They work, but I wasn't happy with the fit of the bulbs. They fit in the space available, but I can't use the rubber boots and it doesn't appear to me that they make a tight seal. However since I don't drive in the rain, I had a working solution and I wasn't in a rush I thought I'd wait for a sale to upgrade the bulbs to the vintagecarleds bulbs. So here we are, a year later, and since it is Black Friday weekend and these sets are on sale I went back down the rabbit hole. Not sure if anyone will find this helpful, but here is what I came up with:

I don't need the Hella H4 lenses, but here they are on Amazon for $43.76 each (plus tax). Be aware that these have the flat profile and the profile on the headlights on our cars is round, if that matters to you. The profile on the Hella lenses from vintagecarlights is also flat. If you want Hella round profile lenses you can get them from Cars245, and probably other suppliers:

https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-002395031-Visi...B001G76Q2W?th=1

Here are the Hella lenses on Cars245.com for $32.36 each. You can get 10% off that price over the next few days with code BF2024, so a set of two for a total of $80.50 shipped to the USA. This is the cheapest option I've found for these Hella lenses. Cars245 is also a good suppler for Bosch dual relays for those of us with L-Jet systems as well as Bosch voltage regulators if you need one, or just want one on the shelf for when you will need it. If you don't need the grey rubber boots for the lenses you can get them for a few bucks cheaper. I'm including links for both options. If you have the black rubber boots don't reuse them, especially if you decide to go with halogen lights instead of LEDs. Apparently they can't handle the heat from the new bulbs.

https://cars245.com/en/item/hella-1A6002395...sert-headlight/
https://cars245.com/en/item/hella-1A6002395...sert-headlight/

I bought the VCm3 bulbs from vintagecarleds.com for $135.20 for a set, with free shipping, no tax. This is after the black Friday 20% discount (BLK2024). That means if you get their bulbs and buy the Hella lenses (with boots) from Cars245 you would pay a total of $215.20 for the same set that will cost you $247.20 (that's with the black Friday discount) from vintagecarleds, a savings of $32. That might not be a big deal for some people, but I have multiple cars and only one income, so it adds up. You'll save even more after the black Friday discounts expire, although you will overall pay more. If you don't want the Hella lenses there are cheaper options. There are also options for different bulbs.

Here's the link to the VMc3 set on vintagecarleds.com, and a link to the bulbs only:

https://vintagecarleds.com/shop/7-inch/vcm3...-headlight-kit/
https://vintagecarleds.com/shop/bulbs-only/vcm3-bulbs-only/

Again, lots of options out there. Just sharing the path I took to upgrade my headlights.

[BillC]

Thank you very much for the information. I've been planning to get LED headlights for my project, but hadn't done a lot of digging since they all seemed very expensive. Now, I have two orders on the way. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[emerygt350]

The 914rubber set work great and plug and play. And from 914rubber. And cheap.

[JeffBowlsby]

You'll like those VMc3s Broheen.

You've probably seen this thread on how to swap the wire at the fusepanel, see page 6.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...4737&st=100

[Jamie]

I installed the Vintage Car VC3500 LED lamps several years ago and have been very pleased with the upgrade. They were completely plug and play, no problems with high/low beam conflicts that some have encountered with other upgrades.

[FlacaProductions]

The 914rubber set work great and plug and play. And from 914rubber. And cheap.

This.
One of the first things I did when I got my 914 and I'm VERY happy.

[fiacra]

The 914rubber set work great and plug and play. And from 914rubber. And cheap.

This.
One of the first things I did when I got my 914 and I'm VERY happy.

A great option, as I pointed out in the referenced thread. I went this route for one specific reason -- I wanted Hella lenses in my BB. (I fully recognize that is kind of silly, but if any of this were based on logic none of us would own a 914.) Otherwise I probably would have gotten the 914Rubber set.

I forgot to point one other thing out - the Hella lenses from vintagecarleds have a flat profile. The correct profile is rounded. The Hella's from Cars245 have the rounded profile. I'll go back and edit that in.

[fiacra]

You'll like those VMc3s Broheen.

You've probably seen this thread on how to swap the wire at the fusepanel, see page 6.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...4737&st=100

I did, and I've been picking through old hardware to see if I can find a trispade lug. Thanks for posting that!

[technicalninja]

Arne turned me onto a Toyota factory head light "kit" in this thread.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=320359

2 nice Koito glass/ceramic housings with Japanese H4 halogens (never die) and a "conversion" harness adding inline fuses and relays for both high and low beam circuits.

The harness is high quality.

Toyota # 81110-60P70

MSRP 23.05!

I paid 18.20 at my local Toyota dealer.

As they fit ANYTHING that came with single round bulbs, I bought 10...

Now, these aren't LEDs, but they are the least expensive glass housings I've ever come across and are very high quality.

[FlacaProductions]

the Hella's are available from 914 rubber - they're what I used along with their LED kit.
https://914rubber.com/hella-7-inch-round-h4-headlamp $66/each

[fiacra]

the Hella's are available from 914 rubber - they're what I used along with their LED kit.
https://914rubber.com/hella-7-inch-round-h4-headlamp $66/each

Or get the same Hella lenses from Cars245 at half the price (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[JeffBowlsby]

Need a single 6mm male tab bent at 45 to 90 degrees, with M6 (1/4” dia.) mounting hole.

[Chris914n6]

FYI- There are 2 H4 versions from Hella, USA spec and Euro spec. The Euro (E4) spec has the better beam pattern, also the USA spec will glare alot with the brighter LED bulbs. Cibie also makes good Euro H4 housings.

$169 for a pair of LED bulbs is nuts. I got a great set of 9005 + 9006 for the Chevy for $80 on Amazon (Sealight x2). We do have a space issue but doesn't need to cost THAT much.