Installed Hella hi-low conversion lamps in an E250. I can see !


The lens puzzles. I expected a left and a right lens.


But like Ford, Hella's is one lens for left and right.


The one lens has a flare out for berm lighting. Flares to the left to oncoming traffic not to the berm which would be a flare right. So there are 2 flare outs, one into oncoming traffic, one into road center leaving the right berm dark.


Why not flare at least flare light from 2 of one design to the right ?


There are 2 of these


Picasa Web Albums - x - HELLA CONVERSION

 

From my past experiences, you get two identical bulbs which must be correct for the country you are in, based upon the side of the road you drive on. In left hand drive cars you would have a flare out and up to the right side of both bulbs. If you have one bulb which flares to the right and one which flares to the left, it sounds like you got a mismatched set.

 

IT, is the photo link viewable ? The lens cut Vee to (your) right of the H4 in mid lens, flares to the left. Into the oncoming lane.


Practical question is: 1) Is flare left twice incorrect and unadjustable ?. 2) are headlamp manufacturers cheating on us with one unit when two is best, 3) am I missing the point completely that is what I'm seeing is correct and adjustable into ideal lighting ?


4) is there a better lighting setup ?


Local party said there is a better way and its called fog lamps.

 

My experience dates back a few years, but the Hella replacement lamp housings I've owned had a upward angled sweep to the right side of the road with a completely flat cut-off on the low beam from mid to left. It helped to better illuminate the shoulder (berm) and didn't glare into oncoming vehicles. It makes no sense to have two different lenses since you really want the same behavior regardless of which side of the vehicle it is mounted in. You definitely don't want a lamp that has an outward and upward sweep to the left as it will blind oncoming cars.

Fog lamps have their place. Their purpose is to be a low and wide fanned beam so that it helps illuminate under the fog. You don't want fog lights which throw a beam pattern upwards as that will cause glare in your face against the fog. Of course our nanny state has said that low beam headlights must also be on with fog lights which largely mutes the purpose of fog lights in the first place.

Is there a better approach? I don't know. I'm just headed down this path with my vehicles. Things have changed over time and the newer vehicles don't have replacement lamp housings, only replacement bulbs. For my newer van ('09 E250) I've purchased a set of Rigid D2 Wide LED lights (Rigid Industries LED Lighting | LED Lights, Offroad, Marine, Truck), but certainly not at the price listed on their site. I'll have them mounted in the next week or so and we'll see how they do. But my needs are a bit different than most. Our highest speed on island is 40. I'm a first responder and frequently am down little one track lanes dodging deer and looking for an address number. So for me, what I want most is a very wide spread of great light up close and really don't care beyond 100' feet or so. For normal road driving around island the standard headlights do just fine.

 

I purchased a pair of ECE ones, I hope they are not a sweep to the left and up, not every country that uses the ECE approved lenses drive on the left side of the road.

But I will post how mine look when they come in. All I know is I was told to get the E series headlights as they throw light way better than the SAE/DOT ones.

 

The lenses have codes on them telling where they are meant to be used.
This should get you started: Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

 

Yep, it will help, only thing is though every company that is selling the Hella ECE lights or the SAE/DOT lights they have the same generic photos of an ECE light with a arrow pointing to the right indicating for use in left hand traffic.

But for the orignal poster though it will help him out though.

 

I already installed mine on Saturday, havent really drove the truck but it seems these ECE approved Hella lights are throwing light wide and far even on low beam. Low beam actually causes the stop sign about 50 feet down the road to glow. Switching to high beam causes it to glow slightly brighter but also causes the trees to light up above it.

Wont know till I actually drive on the road but I dont plan on adjusting the headlights they were adjusted with the old sealed beam units so the alignment shouldnt change.

Both of my housings were identical though. No right facing arrow so they arent listed for left hand traffic so they shouldnt blind passing drivers.