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are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:04 pm
by TerryG
I am planning on replacing my halfords special fog lights (they are ring and live in the "spoiler" on my RR) in the next week or so and can get a Lucas pair for £40 or a Hella pair for £45 which has "thicker glass" but it is not a brand i have ever heard of and i can't find any Wipac ones that will fit in stock anywyere. Has anybody had any of their lights and if so have they lasted well?
Re: are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:07 pm
by grumpy2
Hella was a popular brand some years ago. Not quite in the cibee wipac league but more link ring, competent but not great
Think vauxhall not rover!
Re: are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:24 pm
by mr rusty
As someone who's had a few French cars over the years I think Cibie are somewhat over-rated, they're really a French version of Lucas with the same prince-of-darkness capability..........when fitted to BX's and 205's, anyway!
I'm surprised you've not heard of Hella- they've been around donkeys years, but mainly as add-ons for Beemers and Mercs as they're a German manufacturer.
Re: are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:34 pm
by TerryG
:S I think i'll hang on and wait for some Wipac's to come back in to stock then. i have a cracked lens and i hate driving about with a broken light.
Cheers guys.
Re: are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:07 am
by OneCarefulOwner
If you hate broken lights, I'd have thought the thicker glass would have appealed!
Re: are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:48 am
by tractorman
I have used Hella lights for donkey's years without problems! I bought a halogen conversion for the Maxi in the late 70's and they were fine, then replaced some Wipac driving lights with a pair of Hella ones - and used those on the Montego afterwards. Again, the lights were certainly adequate. After the Montego hit a sandstone gatepost that jumped into the road, I bought the first Golf (Mk2) which had Hella headlights as standard and fitted a "GTi" grille - with Hella driving lights. Again, no problems with the lights on that (except that a stone went through a headlight - a Hella one replaced it!). Although I haven't put extra lights on either the Passat or current Golf, the standard Hella ones are fine - though I did put some better bulbs in the Passat's lights - haven't bothered with the Golf as I don't go far at night these days.
However, another stone attacked the current Golf's headlight and I put a pattern part in - and have regretted that ever since! So much so that I am hoping for another stone to come my way!
Re: are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 12:30 pm
by Maaarrghk
I've heard a lot of praise from off-roaders about KC lights.
Just to confuse things even further!
Re: are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:09 pm
by MG Mal
I thought the standard fit Aux lamps in a rangy front where Lucas Dx 95s?
I now the Hella 550 are a direct replacement for them, and many Maestro Turbo owner have replaced there damaged Lucas units with Hella's.
I might even have a coupl eof sets left over from a bulk buy I did for the Maestro boys a few years back.
Lucas Dx95 pendulum mounting (hang down).
I will have a look if you like.
Mal.
Re: are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:39 pm
by TerryG
MG Mal wrote:I thought the standard fit Aux lamps in a rangy front where Lucas Dx 95s?
That sounds right. At some point in history mine have been replaced with ring cheapos that have seem better days. I would normally go for factory parts but Wipac do have a reputation of producing good quality lamps (If only i could find a set!)
If you have a pair in stock you would like to sell i am definitely interested. Thanks

Re: are Hella lights any good?
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:47 pm
by Minxy
Nothing wrong with Hella lights - standard fitment on Audi/VW's, they would be my choice of weapon.....good enouph for the Audi rally team.........
