Which headlight bulb - 1985 Transporter

[StuM]

Hi All,

I've taken the blown bulb out of my headlight and it looks unlike any bulb I've seen. It's marked R2 501 and has a big round glass dome.

Do I need to replace with the same, or with an H4?

Thanks in advance,
Stu

[CovKid]

Thats the old tungsten type. You can replace it with halogen ones - just look for the same base fitting and you should be fine Stu.

[StuM]

Ah, top stuff - thanks CovKid.

[CovKid]

The preferred bulbs are Osram Silverstars or Nightthingy - whatever they're called but to get MAXIMUM brightness stick the headlamps on relays powered by meaty cable direct from battery. I use LEDs for sidelights now which as well as saving your battery if you ever forget to turn your lights off give a cleaner and slightly bluish light.

[StuM]

Cheers. Definately up for the upgrade, have been reading up about that. Will chuck a cheapo H4 in to get me by and then get planning

[billy739]

h4 is the late halogen type somtimes a 472 part number.

you have the older type sometimes the part no is 410 , P45T

conversion bulb is HB12

you can get the early non halogen base type with a halogen bulb attached as a conversion bulb , but you will need to buy a pair!

[StuM]

Thanks Billy.

Sorry if I'm being dense, but does this mean that I'd not be able to use a standard H4 bulb?

I've found this but not sure if I'd get it by the time we head off on Friday

Thanks,
Stu

[CovKid]

No, all places that stock bulbs have halogen bulbs with the same fitting as your dome one. They're just halogens but on the same base - common fitting.

[StuM]

Coo, thanks again.

[elsid]

I was going to fit replacement H4 conversion units, £40 a pair, to my 1985 Autosleeper. The guy at Autospares in Bridgwater had some Ring 12v 60/65w bulbs in stock with same fitting as the standard bulbs.
They are:- Ring R012 12v 60/65w P45T and cost £5.95 each including vat.
I am not sure how good they are as I have not used the van in the dark since fitting them!
Sid

[StuM]

Thanks for that Sid.

[sciroccotune]

Im in the same boat (1982 westy)

I think these are what is needed:-

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/HB12-H ... 0-55W.html

or you can buy adapter rings that fit normal H4 bulbs to the old style holes.

[kevtherev]

cheers sciroccotune set ordered!

[StuM]

cheers sciroccotune set ordered!

+1

[naskeet]

I was going to fit replacement H4 conversion units, £40 a pair, to my 1985 Autosleeper. The guy at Autospares in Bridgwater had some Ring 12v 60/65w bulbs in stock with same fitting as the standard bulbs.
They are:- Ring R012 12v 60/65w P45T and cost £5.95 each including vat.
I am not sure how good they are as I have not used the van in the dark since fitting them!
Sid

In mid-1976, I upgraded my 1973 VW 1600 Type 2's original factory-fitted, non-H4 type headlamps (still had bright, shiny reflectors), from the factory-fitted, P45t flanged, 45/40W glass-envelope bulbs, to Lucas brand, P45t flanged, 60/55W H4 quartz-halogen bulbs, without making any other modifation. The radical improvement in headlamp performance, had to be seen to be believed!

In 1988/89, I further upgraded to Ring brand, P45t flanged, 100/80W H4 quartz-halogen bulbs and modified the electrical circuit, to minimise voltage drop. These days, it would probably be better, to use P43t to P45t installation adapters and substitute P43t flanged, Xenon enhanced, 60/55W H4 quartz-halogen bulbs, for which increases of upto 100% in light intensity are claimed, compared to standard, 60/55W H4 quartz-halogen bulbs.

Im in the same boat (1982 westy)

I think these are what is needed:-

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/HB12-H ... 0-55W.html

or you can buy adapter rings that fit normal H4 bulbs to the old style holes.

There is a bulb-installation adapter (Part No. BP4543AD), which facilitates fitting a P43t flanged, quartz-halogen H4 bulb into a headlamp unit with P45t flange recepticle, available from P. R. Goff, in Buckinghamshire.

http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/goffybulbs.htm

P. R. Goff, 62 Clare Road, Prestwood, Buckinghamshire, HP16 0NU, United Kingdom.
Tel. (UK) 01 494 - 868 218
Tel. (International) +44 1494 - 868 218
Website: http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com
E-mail: norbsa02@aol.com

P43t flange to P45t flange-recepticle adaptor (on its own)



P43t flange to P45t flange-recepticle adaptor (with bulb, in headlamp unit)