Hella H4 or E codes?

[SupraChrisMk3]

I know I have read posts on here about the hella e code headlights but for the life of me I cannot find any info using search so I figured I would just ask. I'm looking to replace my headlights and finally get some good light at night and am trying to decide which is my better option. I'm not geting $10 ebay headlights and am not looking to go HID. I found some hella H4's on suprasport but I want to get more info first. I know I read posts about the hella e codes and plenty of people recomended them but which is better, H4's or e codes. Both are supposed to be OEM replacements, as in direct fit correct? Are there benefits in one over the other? And lastly where can I find direct fit e codes?

 

[supraguy@aol]

The E-codes use H-4 bulbs, so they can actually be one in the same.
The E-code housing provides the proper(and legal) light pattern for the US.

http://www.classicgarage.com/hel20rech4he.html

But I went cheap, and bought these:

http://store.classicgarage.com/withbulbshield.html
They're still E-code, though.

 

[bluepearl]

Unless the headlight is stamped with DOT, it is not legal for use in the United States. My hella E-codes, that I have had for about 8 years now are not stamped. Even though they are superior to the DOT headlights we have here they are not legal. I can see at night without blinding others. You will love them, well worth the price.http://www.rallylights.com/

 

[supraguy@aol]

Unless the headlight is stamped with DOT, it is not legal for use in the United States. My hella E-codes, that I have had for about 8 years now are not stamped. Even though they are superior to the DOT headlights we have here they are not legal. I can see at night without blinding others. You will love them, well worth the price.http://www.rallylights.com/

True- E code means ECE approved, which is for the other side of the pond.

 

[ForcedTorque]

Do you need ballasts with these type lights, or can you buy them that you just swap into your car and plug in the headlight plug? If you do need ballasts, what is involved to get everything wired in? Not knowing this type stuff has kept me away for a long time.

 

[jetjock]

What bluepearl said. They're lenses. Along good lamps and a rewire one of the best things you can do to the car. They use regular H4 lamps. No ballasts required unless you put HID capsules in them, something people should be slapped for...

 

[Moy]

What bluepearl said. They're lenses. Along good lamps and a rewire one of the best things you can do to the car. They use regular H4 lamps. No ballasts required unless you put HID capsules in them, something people should be slapped for...

they are insanely bright and do blind people in front of you, but they do illuminate the road quite well...

 

[HIDPLANET]

As stated above, E-Code means EUROPEAN standards. With that said, European lighting regulations are far more strict than the ones here in the USA. Since they use signs with their own lighting, and do not require the auto lamps to light them up, they are very strict on not having car lamps bleed above the cutoff which means more light on the road and not in the trees or other drivers eyes.

Dont fall for just any lamp that claims to be E-Code stamped, some are rated at e13 which is very low on the scale.
Stick with Hella E-code H4;s and you will be good. Ive always ordered from rallylights.com. They focus the light on the road providing better spread and a petty good pattern overall for a reflector based lamp.

Also, make sure to use proper bulbs as well. Dont get blue coated halogens as they will rob you of vital lumens and color. They may appear to be more "white" but the loss of some light in the spectrum what the blue filter blocks, will fatigue your eyes faster and its actually taking away usable light.

 

[SupraChrisMk3]

So those hella H4's that suprasport sells are the good quality direct replacement ones correct? Just the fact that they are not advertised as e codes means that they are us spec right. But from what I'm reading both use the same style h4 bulbs right, just that the e code lenses are slightly different?

 

[suprarx7nut]

So those hella H4's that suprasport sells are the good quality direct replacement ones correct? Just the fact that they are not advertised as e codes means that they are us spec right. But from what I'm reading both use the same style h4 bulbs right, just that the e code lenses are slightly different?

Right, those would be DOT approved H4 housings. They are going to be legal, but not as focused as the E-codes. The e-codes will light the road better, but light road signs less. I'm thinking you'll still be able to see them just fine though.

Another good option are the Cibie H4 replacements. They apparently have a better high-low beam pattern. Some have said the Hella E-codes have a weird high beam that illuminates the sky more than the road. :dunno:

 

[SupraChrisMk3]

Just another quick question but when looking for the housings that fit the mk3, those are listed as the 200mm rectangular lenses correct?

 

[HIDPLANET]

That is correct

 

[Poodles]

So those hella H4's that suprasport sells are the good quality direct replacement ones correct? Just the fact that they are not advertised as e codes means that they are us spec right. But from what I'm reading both use the same style h4 bulbs right, just that the e code lenses are slightly different?

Buy from rallylights.

Right, those would be DOT approved H4 housings. They are going to be legal, but not as focused as the E-codes. The e-codes will light the road better, but light road signs less. I'm thinking you'll still be able to see them just fine though.

Another good option are the Cibie H4 replacements. They apparently have a better high-low beam pattern. Some have said the Hella E-codes have a weird high beam that illuminates the sky more than the road. :dunno:

Cibie are no longer made.

 

[RazoE]

yup, they're plug and play if you have replacement h4 bulbs, which I do..

the housings themselves are great, its selecting the bulb that also makes a vital difference..

 

[Poodles]

Even a cheap OEM bulb is fine. The blue tinted ones are dumb.

 

[SupraChrisMk3]

Sweet. Looks like I'll be the e codes from rallylights then. Thanks for all the great info guys!:thumbup:

 

[supradjza80]

Some have said the Hella E-codes have a weird high beam that illuminates the sky more than the road. :dunno:

I love my Ecode Hellas but I definitely agree with this post. It took me a long time to get used to the high beams the hellas have, but the low beams are absolutely kick ass. To combat the high beam issue I did set my low beams just a little low to help the high beams be more useful for me.

 

[Poodles]

Most people set the low beams too high because they're used to DOT lenses that scatter all over the damn place.

 

[supradjza80]

^^ True, but I did set them correctly and then moved them lower. If anybody has the e-codes and does not know how to aim them properly go to the tech section using the following link

http://danielsternlighting.com/

 

[bluepearl]

Oh, and by the way. Even thou, technically these are illegal, if aimed properly no one will ever give you grief about these lamps. I also use the osram +30 bulbs. Be careful about the bulb wattage. If the wiring is not upgraded, you're gonna start melting stuff. My car may be a fluke, but I only had .3 of a volt differance between alt. and bulb socket. Chevy truck and Ford Explorer was close to 1.5 voltage loss.