tlee

Well I finally got around to installing the 8" H-4 headlight's that I bought from 928 International and Oh My God they are fabulous! I had previously had these type of "e code" headlights on a euro M-6 BMW, and remembered them so fondly that I decided to upgrade from 8" H-5's. I was slow to do the install after reading concerns about proper wattage, relay's, fuses, connector changes etc, but the whole install/conversion including changing the connectors only took about 1.5 hours including the usual **** cleaning, polishing, detailing etc. Probably the easiest upgrade I've ever done on the car.

Amazingly better (once properly adjusted) I have driven a Mercedes S600 with the latest lighting technology and I like the H-4's better. If you get the opportunity to buy a set, I'd recommend it.

Anyone else?

Bill Ball

I love'em too.
http://www.billsworkshop.com/P928S4/h5toh4/h5toh4.htm

SharkSkin

Absolutely the best IMHO... I went from 7" H4 to 8" H4 and even so there was a significant improvement(besides looking better)... mostly due to the bigger reflector, I guess...

tlee

Bill, I owe thanks to you as I just realized your careful guidance gave me the step by step and courage to proceed!

Great Pictures too Dave!

sweanders

I was realy surprised to see the poor ligthting in the US models, the H4's are really really good!

Bill Ball

Looking good, Dave. I don't recall you having them last time we got together.

John Veninger

Once you drive with H4 lights, you then realize how crappy the US lights perform.

Mattman928

Can someone enlightne me as to what the differences are? I don't know what H4 H5 means. Thanks

Evil Patrick

Excellent write-up. I have a set of H4s that have been laying in my spare parts
pile for something like 4 years now. I was putting off the installation mostly
because I'm lazy, but partly because I wasn't ready to figure out what I needed
to do to make it work.

Dammit, Bill! You fragged my excuses list!

Now I need to get my lazy *** out there and install them in the Bastard.

Bill Ball

Actually, I think we use these terms somewhat incorrectly, as H4 and H5 refer to the type of bulbs rather than the headlamp as a whole.

For practical purposes, H5 is a US legal halogen lamp that as a beam pattern that meets SAE requirements. H4 is a ECE (European) standard still not legal for use in the US. The H4 pattern has a "knife-edge" top cut-off to the beam and a flare on either the right of left side. The H5 patterm is more diffuse, argued by US to provide better illumination of overhead signs among other things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlight

John Veninger

Difference between H4 and H5:
http://www.nichols.nu/tip202.htm

SharkSkin

Note the phone dials and pinstripes... I installed them in late Feb. '04, my very first upgrade.

Ed Scherer

Of course, once you've got the H4s and are looking for even a little bit more, then it's time for the H4 HID upgrade.

SwayBar

Now that's a funny story!

http://www.billsworkshop.com/P928S4/...full_story.htm

Alan

John,
The Nichols site is a little incorrect... 8" H4's vs H5's - H4's are actualy slightly cheaper or at least were when I bought mine from 928 Specialists (checked several other sources inc 928 Intl - all the same story). New H5 were about $15 more expensive per lamp - which makes the H4's a really good deal. Certainly if you have 7" lamps its obvious to go with H4's unless you suffer from serious DOT legality ethics issues.

Since the typical upgrade is from H5's to H4's - there is at least the peripheral benefit that resale prices on ebay are likely ~half of your new H4 costs if your H5's are in good shape.

Alan