Dan,

How do those compare to Hella upgrade halogens (replacable bulb). I have these on my 68 Dart and think they're great. The optics are tuned so that there is a well defined line above which light does not shine when the low beams are on.

Also, wattage on low/high?

Thanks,

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Hella's conversion lamps, relatively speaking, are poor. See here for Cibie vs. Hella isocandela diagrams. Note the difference in luminous flux (amount of light within the beam) and beam width. Not shown is the irritating problem large round and large rectangular Hellas have with excessive vertical beam separation—the low beam hot spot is too low and the high beam hot spot is too high, relative to each other. Means you can set the low beams or the high beams where they do the most good, but not both.
Yep, that's a characteristic of the European "E-code" beam pattern, regardless of the lamp manufacturer. It's one of the traits of a well-formed low beam, but even more important is how much light is under the cutoff, and how it's distributed. Note that DOT headlight laws permit a low-beam cutoff, but don't require it.

To finish out the beam comparisons, Here's a yucky DOT sealed beam. In all these diagrams, the cutoff line you talk about is represented by the band of close-together contour lines right near the "0 up/down" horizontal line, to the left of the "0 left/right" vertical line. The DOT sealed beam has no cutoff, as you can see by the complete lack of any such a band of close-together contour lines.

Oh, and because you've got me started now, the last two diagrams on This page are my favourite headlamps of all. They fit in any car that takes quad 5-3/4" round lamps, and I have a set in my '62 Lancer.
Whatever you put in them. Standard is 60/55. Also available is 100/55, 100/90, 130/100...

(MUCH more data where this came from, ask questions if you have 'em, or need help interpreting the diagrams, etc.)

The E- code lamps...Is that why there is a big E cast in the middle of the lamp?
Or is that just something else???
That big E would be replaced by a C on american lamps?

All my cars have had E in the middle, and most have been hella´s.
But my eyes are not working like they used to.
Should I go to more watts, or an other lamp?

No, these lamps have a "C" for the brand, which is Cibie. Outside the US, most countries require "E-code" headlamps — which are built to comply with the "ECE" technical standard regulating headlamps. Canada permits both US and ECE headlamps, but most cars in Canada have US lamps.

The (E) marks you've seen on your lamps are indeed the "E-code" mark. You can read more about the meanings of the markings Here.

If you go to a higher-wattage bulb, you need to upgrade the headlamp circuit as described Here. Even if you don't put in higher-wattage bulbs, upgrading the headlamp circuit will substantially improve headlamp performance.

And yes, you should use something other than the weak Hella lamps. Next time, use Valeo 082438 or 082440 (with/without parking lamp) or Bosch 0 301 600 110 or 0 301 600 107 (with/without parking lamp).

Thanks!
When I ask someone about lamps, they usually say: Yes, they make light...
This one cost a bit more, and also make light...

I have some hours reading to do now

Good site you got there!
A lot of little things I don´t usually think about

Glad you like it!