Date:         Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:38:35 -0700
Reply-To:     Pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Subject:      Re: headlight alignment parts, headlight replacement
In-Reply-To:  <200609192004.k8JK3x1r032581@ylpvm02.prodigy.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

As fall is in fool swing, thoughts turn to headlights.

In my opinion the stock rectangular DOT headlights are atrocious.  Bad
pattern, expensive to replace.  Adding more lumens to this poor optical
design in the form of brighter bulbs is like giving strong coffee to a drunk
(your choice of brewing tools).  Where previously you had a mumbly drunken
fool, now you have a very wide awake loud drunken fool.

Before the trendy, fashionable, kewl, blinkbling headlights the world seemed
satisfied with more mundane but less flashy lighting solutions.

The vanagon has a unique problem that is only well solved with the
rectangular E-Code LHD headlights.  The problem reveals itself when properly
aiming the lights.  A standard reflector lens assembly in 7" round assumes a
headlight height that is substantially less than the road to
center-of-headlight distance found in our beloved conveyances.

To align a sharp cutoff headlight (E-code) it is prudent to have the hotspot
of the sharply delineated low beam pointing slightly below the horizontal so
as not to dazzle the bobbies.  Doing this also depresses the highbeam
pattern noticeably reducing the long distance effectiveness, hence the
auxiliary high beams included to make up for the high beam placement when
the lows are set properly.

The 7" solution and 5.25" auxiliary as provided by the SA grille allow one
to avoid bobby-dazzling low beams and still have superlative long range
illumination as do the rather more expensive rectangular E-Code and square
auxiliary lights.

I use 100/80 W H4 in Bosch 7" in the headlights and 80W H3 in the 5.25
auxiliaries, aimed both horizontally and vertically to give excellent
coverage.  Low beams don't dazzle and high beams are, well, a brilliant
solution.

Regardless of the chosen reflector assemblies it makes sense to buy a 3M Kit
to prevent breakage.  Especially of the tres cher Euro Vanagon reflectors.

I will be getting a volume quote from a manufacturer for 3M film cut to fit
the 7"/5.25" SA grill solution and I'lll pass it on to the group.

The xpel company www.xpel.com lists H9902A, H9903A, H9904A that provide two
7", four 5.25" and four 6.125" x3.375" protectors that cover the solution
mentioned above and the PZ Fog lights.
http://www.xpel.com/products/universalhl.asp points to the generic section.

Time to keelhaul the mainsl and flatten down the batches whilst breaking
into the rum rations and hardtack, aye?