Big Dave

Here ya go. Please ignore the lack of proper aiming. I just wanted to see the difference in brightness.

Damn....now I need another H4.

First pic...H5

Second pic...H4

SharkSkin

Like I was sayin'...

Nicole

Yep - the asymetric H4 is a ton better. I have often wondered why it was never allowed here, as it should be so much safer. Only thing I can think of is the multiple lanes on the freeways, in which the H4s potentiall could blind people in the right lane from the car with the H4.

But it's not that Europe has no multi-lane highways and people die there by the thousands because of those lights. In fact, they are less of a problem than what I call "Christmas Tree Lighting" - meaning turning any and every litght on in the front, whether it's needed or not.

On the Saab message board peple were claiming you need to have the fog lights on to see potholes better. But with the short range nof the fog lights, you'd have to crawl at 15mph to get around a pothole you see at that short range. Makes as little sense to me as the fac that H4s have not been legalized...

Normy

The different headlights seen on 928's:

1. US model sealed beam, '85 model car.

2. US model H5, from an S4.

3. ROW H4.

If you look carefully at the picture of the H4, you can see the cutout that shifts the light to the right so that you don't blind oncoming traffic. Listen- I have these on my 928 and I've got them aimed down quite a bit...yet still get people flashing at me occasionally. These lights were equipped with in-cockpit adjusters for a reason!

N!

sublimate

Could the brightness be due to a difference in wattage of the bulbs? I thought the H4 and H5 designation just refered to the pattern of the lens and different wattage bulbs could be put inside. You might be comparing apples to oranges.

Also, what does the pattern look like with both the H4 and H5 combined (and aimed)?

Big Dave

Um....you'll have to wait a while for that one. I've already got the other H5 back on and aimed.

I did notice that the bulb is the same wattage as the H5, but the box said "MOTORCYCLE USE ONLY".

bwebb77

H4.....H4......H4......H4

Alan

IIRC the H5 standard bulb is 65W/45W Hi/Lo while the H4 standard bulb is 60W/55W so yes there is an output difference - Watts are ~20% more - not sure how this would relate to light output - probably similar. Note that the standard high beam is slightly lower on H4's though...

There are other bulbs power outputs available - some very generally and others as
specialist items: the commonly available ones are:

H5: 65/45, 100/55*, 100/80*

H4: 60/55, 100/55*, 100/80*

*Not DOT legal for on road use (usually marked "off road use only")
- if you do use these make sure your headlights are adjusted perfectly
(in any case why else use high powered bulbs...)

Alan

Bill Ball

Proper aiming of H4s is easy. At 25 feet away from a wall on level ground, the upper edge of the cutoff should be 3 inches below horizontal with the flare up ramp just starting at vertical center of each light. So, at 50 feet it would be 6 inches below horizontal, etc. No way will you blind someone unless you are coming up over a rise. I've never had anyone flash me except when one of the adjuster broke and the light tilted up. From the photos in the original post the H4 looks it could be high, but just guessing. It's easy to check.

The beam is conentrated down unlike the H5 which diffusely lights up the area. With H5s you throw some light on the trees. With H4s the trees above are pitch black which is a bit eerie the first time you drive until you realize how much better you see the road. I still went to 100/80 "off-road" bulbs from my local autoparts store. The extra light is very useful, and if aimed right, no more noticeable to other cars.

Normy

I can't remember from your posts Bill...but did you use a relay to trigger the 80/100's, or did install one? And a different socket? I've thought about this mod for a while, but I'm pretty sure I have my lights the way you've described and I still get flashed.

I almost bought HID lights for my 928 today...but the impending purchase of an excessively expensive house interfered with my plans. A waterfront home with a big-assed garage is probably a better deal than improved lighting for my car, who's lights already make the landing lights on the 747 I fly seem weak.

[you probably think I'm kidding about that last~]

N!

Bill Ball

Hey Normy:

No, no changes for the 80/100. The electrical system has tolerated them fine for several years.

Yes, HID in H4 would be the way to go. I think HID in H5 could be a mistake. The diffuse light pattern, now superbright, would annoy other people. Anybody who has done HID H5s can chime in.

Scott M.

Big Dave;

I mentioned in another post that I have one H4 available. If your interested, email me.

Scott