Club 80-90 Forums

Just purchased a set of RHD Square lights to fit into my Vanagon - was interested in what the actual differences were. So I have took a picture, just in case anyone is interested (The RHD lights are on the right)



Bit hard to see but the pattern on the American lights is different - I've been told the Americans lights are pitted as well. Anyway, not the most exciting post, just thought some people might be interested in the differences.

James

Commonly the bulb holder is at a slight angle from the vertical - this is how the beam is deflected to one side when dipped.

Is this the case with such lamps?

SeasideVanagon wrote:not the most exciting post

I've read a hell of lot worse

Not sure the american ones will pass an mot.As they dont throw the light the same as uk spec ones do..

R0B wrote:Not sure the american ones will pass an mot.As they dont throw the light the same as uk spec ones do..

Which is why I had them changed - I think even with beam benders they would fail. The bulbs in them are massive and put out really bright light, too bright and of course straight into oncoming traffic.

It's hard to tell the difference looking at them though

James

The yank ones are different to the european lhd as well.Iirc.The yank ones aren't handed at all.

R0B wrote:The yank ones are different to the european lhd as well.Iirc.The yank ones aren't handed at all.

The yank ones have a pitting effect on the glass and no curved lines - it's a much brighter intense light - the rear lights are different, I've had to have mine rewired and fogs added.

The American vans also have additional lights at the rear on the side, which I've had disconnected which is a shame as they look kind of cool

James

Footprint wrote:Commonly the bulb holder is at a slight angle from the vertical - this is how the beam is deflected to one side when dipped.

Is this the case with such lamps?

Sorry.^^^^^.wrong.

The H4 bulb is square in the holder....but the bulb has two filaments....it is the position of each filament within the lamp that effects how the beam is reflected forwards and through the 'light shaping lens'



Martin

California Dreamin wrote:

Footprint wrote:Commonly the bulb holder is at a slight angle from the vertical - this is how the beam is deflected to one side when dipped.

Is this the case with such lamps?

Sorry.^^^^^.wrong.

The H4 bulb is square in the holder....but the bulb has two filaments....it is the position of each filament within the lamp that effects how the beam is reflected forwards and through the 'light shaping lens'



Martin

Martin

that's interesting - although when you look at the lamps side by side - they are quite different close up.

It's something to think about - I think American Vans offer great value for money - but the having to convert the lights can be expensive and if new MOT laws make beam benders a no no then RHD lights will be the only option.

Like most people who've gone down the RHD Square lamp route, I paid a small fortune for mine.

It's not just the lights but the wiring - American lights have no side light position - your indicators are your sidelights - so you turn on those first, then the outer lamp, then outer and inner lamp. It's a three way switch, you really drive round with your indicators on lol.

James

SeasideVanagon wrote:

California Dreamin wrote:

Footprint wrote:Commonly the bulb holder is at a slight angle from the vertical - this is how the beam is deflected to one side when dipped.

Is this the case with such lamps?

Sorry.^^^^^.wrong.

The H4 bulb is square in the holder....but the bulb has two filaments....it is the position of each filament within the lamp that effects how the beam is reflected forwards and through the 'light shaping lens'



Martin

Martin

that's interesting - although when you look at the lamps side by side - they are quite different close up.

It's something to think about - I think American Vans offer great value for money - but the having to convert the lights can be expensive and if new MOT laws make beam benders a no no then RHD lights will be the only option

I can't see the above happening as it would effectively bar hundreds if not thousands of L/H/D vintage vehicles off the road due to the inability to source obsolete R/H/D lights....
If you think about it....if ministry of transport didn't make some allowances for older vehicles they would effectively ban all 'older' vehicles off the road.
They would fail on so many things including emmisions/lights/brakes etc

Martin

I think he's talking about the odd ;ooking american lhd square lights which are totally different from the more common european ones...........or I'm just talking crap

Cruz wrote:I think he's talking about the odd ;ooking american lhd square lights which are totally different from the more common european ones...........or I'm just talking crap

American lights look different because of the glass - they are not fundamentally different - it's a pretty straightforward swap for Euro lights - it's just the time to do the rewiring.

I have always loved the American slant on the later Vanagons

James

I seem to remember reading an old thread on the samba where the yanks were buying euro LHD lights because the american ones were pants. They said the light output and beam was poor

Cruz wrote:I seem to remember reading an old thread on the samba where the yanks were buying euro LHD lights because the american ones were pants. They said the light output and beam was poor

I heard the American lights were brighter.

That said, if you trawl American sights and American EBay - the LHD Euro lights for all vans seem popular so probably some truth in it