Since we now have this board, I'm going to share my experience with the headlight conversion I did. The days getting shorter and everybody needs their headlights more often now.
What do you need?
IPF rectangular reflector (Part# 820H)
any H4 bulb. I went with the IPF Magic bulbs M17 (blue afterglow) or M15 (green afterglow). These are normal 55/60 W H4 bulbs with a rated output of 110/130 W. Since they consume only 55/60 (like any normal headlight) they are street legal and no change needs to be done to the headlight wiring. There are however high output bulbs available, which require you to change the headlight wiring (or at least you should do so).
What does it cost?
The reflectors are about $35/each and the M15/M17 bulbs run about $70/pair
What do you get?
Significantly more light where you need it: on the street in front of you. The light is spread in an evenly pattern.
Installation Problems (added Nov 24):
The headlight bucket needs to be trimed slightly to fit the bulb retainer. Nothing major.
Would I do it again?
You bet. I consider this the best $140 dollars I spent (among other things), especially now, that it's getting dark at 5pm.
Note:
there is also a headlight conversion kit available from Hella (check out http://www.summitracing.com) at about the same cost I believe. I went with IPF because I got a better deal from a friend. And remember: you can place any H4 bulb in these refelectors.
Legal note:
The IPF reflectors are E-code (european specifications) rated and may not be legal in your state. It's a matter of state laws, what headlights you can install. So check with your local laws. From what I heard, most states don't care, as long as it puts out white light, has upper and lower beam and is properly aimed. Some states explicitely allow E-code headlights.
Explanation:
E-code headlights focus more light on the street, compared to DOT headlights. Also, since the E-code headlight pattern is more even, wider and has a sharp cutoff across the top of the beam pattern, it's less offensive to oncoming traffic.
For more info on this conversion, you can also read Fourwheeler July 2002, page114. This articel came out after I did mine, but it sums it nicely, and includes the high output 90/145 H4 bulbs with extra wiring. Plus pictures of the beam before, with 55/60 W bulbs and with the HO bulbs.
For dealer information, contact ARB:
http://www.arbusa.com
[email protected]
phone: 206- 264-1669
What do you need?
IPF rectangular reflector (Part# 820H)
any H4 bulb. I went with the IPF Magic bulbs M17 (blue afterglow) or M15 (green afterglow). These are normal 55/60 W H4 bulbs with a rated output of 110/130 W. Since they consume only 55/60 (like any normal headlight) they are street legal and no change needs to be done to the headlight wiring. There are however high output bulbs available, which require you to change the headlight wiring (or at least you should do so).
What does it cost?
The reflectors are about $35/each and the M15/M17 bulbs run about $70/pair
What do you get?
Significantly more light where you need it: on the street in front of you. The light is spread in an evenly pattern.
Installation Problems (added Nov 24):
The headlight bucket needs to be trimed slightly to fit the bulb retainer. Nothing major.
Would I do it again?
You bet. I consider this the best $140 dollars I spent (among other things), especially now, that it's getting dark at 5pm.
Note:
there is also a headlight conversion kit available from Hella (check out http://www.summitracing.com) at about the same cost I believe. I went with IPF because I got a better deal from a friend. And remember: you can place any H4 bulb in these refelectors.
Legal note:
The IPF reflectors are E-code (european specifications) rated and may not be legal in your state. It's a matter of state laws, what headlights you can install. So check with your local laws. From what I heard, most states don't care, as long as it puts out white light, has upper and lower beam and is properly aimed. Some states explicitely allow E-code headlights.
Explanation:
E-code headlights focus more light on the street, compared to DOT headlights. Also, since the E-code headlight pattern is more even, wider and has a sharp cutoff across the top of the beam pattern, it's less offensive to oncoming traffic.
For more info on this conversion, you can also read Fourwheeler July 2002, page114. This articel came out after I did mine, but it sums it nicely, and includes the high output 90/145 H4 bulbs with extra wiring. Plus pictures of the beam before, with 55/60 W bulbs and with the HO bulbs.
For dealer information, contact ARB:
http://www.arbusa.com
[email protected]
phone: 206- 264-1669