Round headlights or square... But which is best...?

[markbikerider]

Hiya folks,

I'm a little confused about when VW stopped putting round headlights on T25s... I have seen a couple of posts on the forum stating that later vans in the UK had square lights with only the early ones being fitted with round - My van is a 1987 2.1 petrol with round lamps (making it 'late') which doesn't seem to sit with this theory? Does anyone know when and why the difference is...? Cheers, Mark

[putney]

Late models about 89 onwards had sq lights

[Titus A Duxass]

My late 23 Aug 1989 has round.
Squares were only fitted to the top models - LLE, etc.

[bigherb]

They never stopped fitting round lamps. Just certain models had square lamps.

[Mocki]

round ones are far better at doing the job, putting light on the road.
Square ones may look good, but are crap at seeing with. I went back to round ones

[bigherb]

As mocki says round lights are better. A parabolic reflector is the most efficient in reflecting light output. You don't see many square torches.

[Hacksawbob]

I have found squares on main beam to be better. Flatlanders (Norfolk types like m0cki) may need to rely more on dipped as mile after mile of flat road with a ditch either side. Squares are more expensive and therefore nickable/harder to replace and there is a premium due to there rarity and 'coolness' factor. But volts at the lights make possibly make more difference than design there is the relay mod which helps improve this.

[paulo999]

Aesthetically I think round are faaaar nicer.

The square ones look a bit 80s-trying-too-hard to me - vaguely reminiscent of the old Scirocco, not VWs finest hour.

[Hacksawbob]

old Scirocco, not VWs finest hour

a fine auto mobile, and the inner smaller square lights ARE interchangable with the scirocco. These vans aren't trying to be 80's they WERE the 80's!

[kevtherev]

Sciroccos are ace...
have you ever driven one?
I gaurantee you'll not wipe he grin off for an hour or two...

[CovKid]

To be honest I think quality of light beam also has a lot to do with bulb type and having sufficient voltage at the connectors. I like both types though Ideally would love to find a better replacement for stock round ones. When those were designed, they lacked computer-assisted reflector design which these days is pretty advanced.

[jake1953]

What about the twin round lights? Are they easy to convert? Do they improve things?

[California Dreamin]

Late single round lights: H4 dip and full 55/60watts
Late 'double' square lights : H4 dip and full 55/60watts plus inners H1's 60watt (so 240 watts on full beam compared to 120 watts from single round lights)

So later square lamps may or may not be worse on dip but definately better on full beam.

And as for the statement parabolic reflector is the most efficient in reflecting light output I'm sure you are correct but on dip beam the lens shapes the light flat with a kick (depending on version) and of course full beam square inners have round reflectors.

All this aside....what is actually being asked here? best light output, best look, best value, best for spares.....?

Martin

[Hacksawbob]

they lacked computer-assisted reflector design

i am pretty sure parabolas were known by the ancient Greeks.

[Tony Tone]

what about if you have one square lamp and one round one, what then eh ??