e-code H4 headlights for $50/set

I've been told that it's okay to post this here. info on the GRM forum, but since this one potentially affects a lot of cars driven by GRMers we were given the okay by the GRM brass.

At Flyin' Miata, we've come across a stash of Bosch H4 headlights for a great price. The problem is that there's a fairly high minimum order. So we're using our Group Buy Center to get enough people together to make this happen.

The lights are a Bosch e-code H4, originally used on German VWs I believe. They'll fit any car with 7" round lights, such as 1990-97 Miatas, older VWs, MGs, Jeeps and a huge range of others. Unlike the sealed beams used on these cars in the US, the e-code lights give a much more well-directed beam that has a sharp cutoff so your lumens go on to the road and the shoulder instead of blinding oncoming drivers. They use a separate H4 bulb (also known as a 9003) which means you can choose from a fairly wide range of wattages and color temperatures. The amount of light these will put out has to be seen to be believed.

Assuming we can get 50 people, the cost of the lights will be $50 for two reflectors and two 55/60w bulbs. That's about half the usual price. We'd work the group buy directly through FM - basically, you order the parts from us and we'll sit on the information. If we get enough orders to put the buy through, then we'll bring the lights in, charge your card and ship the parts. If not, we say "sorry about that" and nothing happens. We're giving this one until February 28th, at which time we'll place the big order and get things going. The response in the Miata community has been pretty good already.

http://www.flyinmiata.com/groupbuy/

Do these have the "city lights" in them or are they the same as these:

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=0301600118

Also, is shipping charged on top of the $50 or is that included?

Bryce

They're the same ones being sold by Bus Depot according to the part number. No city lights.

Shipping is free if you come pick it up at our shop Otherwise, it's on top of the $50.

Dang and I just spent more than twice as much for Hella's in the fall. Grrr why does that always happen.

Anyway I HIGHLY recommend e-code H4 lights, they make an unbelievable difference in ones ability to see the road. It sounds like a bad cliche to say this but it truly is a night and day difference compared to the sealed beams.

matt147 wrote: Dang and I just spent more than twice as much for Hella's in the fall. Grrr why does that always happen.

Me, too, although not quite twice as much. Oh well.

that is a heck of a deal. I wish the Supra had 7 inchers. Unfortunately, it has the rectangular ones...

shipping to 92647?

A customer gave me a heads-up on this thread, and suggested I chime in. As Nashco mentioned, we already have a closeout on these E-codes for $44.95 a pair. So with all respect to Keith, a group buy would be redundant.

The Bosch's don't come packed with bulbs, but I can include high quality German made 60/55w bulbs at the same $50 "group buy" price. (At our current price it would have been $52.85.) So you get the "group buy" price right away, with good German bulbs. No waiting, no uncertainty about a group buy.

I have set up a temporary special ordering page for GRMS members that reflects the special Grassroots Motorsports offer. To get the $50 package price, order from this link. To read more about the product, see this link. (That link is for headlights only, no bulbs, at $44.95, but it includes more product info.) You can also find an excellent and detailed review of these E-codes here.

They're in stock and ship within about a day. Hope this helps.

Well crud. I just ordered them from you before the grms special.

In reply to foxtrapper:

PM me your name and email address. If the order didn't ship yet I'll adjust the price.

Update - Got your email and adjusted your price.

There's not much chance of the group buy not going through - we'll probably have enough people by tonight. Response has been very good. We've got 35 folks signed up already.

I don't know where our Osram bulbs are made, sorry. Can't tell you if they're made by good Germans or not.

I'll let the GRM community decide if they want to buy from a long-time advertiser and contributor to the site and community or someone else.

Based on the events transpiring here, I have completed my order into the group buy. Thanks Keith.
Or, thanks Busdepot for helping me realize that this truely is not the everyday deal.
Or, thanks Keith for all that you provide here and let this be my slight way of showing my appreciation.

Sure, I do not put many miles on my Miata in summer-only driving but at 20 years old with 94k miles on it, I have never changed a headlight during the 17 years I have owned it. I guess that should mean that one is about due. I might as well buy two in order to be prepaired (or avoid) that fateful day.

Yours,
John Welsh

Keith said: I'll let the GRM community decide if they want to buy from a long-time advertiser and contributor to the site and community or someone else.

ouch, harsh words Keith...

Rather than settle for Keith's less-then-welcoming designation as "somebody else," I thought maybe I'd introduce myself. (Some of you who own VW's may already know me; one or two of my customers have mentioned GRMS.)

I've run BusDepot.com for about a dozen years. While we're known for our VW Bus and Vanagon parts, we actually sell parts for all VW models. If you go to our homepage, you'll find links to parts for Golfs, GTi's, etc. Our company philosophy is summed up by our slogan - "Better Parts, Better Prices." In other words, high quality replacement parts at very low markup. I import many of my parts directly from Europe, and also do volume purchases of name brand factory closeouts, some of which happen to fit a wide range of cars in addition to VW's. These headlights are a perfect example; besides GRMH we've also been getting mentions on Mercedes and other discussion groups.

On a personal note, I'm also an enthusiast of small European sports cars. (I love my VW camper, but let's face it, it's a barn on wheels. Every once in a while it's fun to get from 0 to 60 in less than a minute!) My current daily driver is a Mini Cooper S convertible with various performance upgrades (supercharger pulley, air intake), chosen because it's a blast to drive yet also has a back seat for my little ones. I also have a 1968 Innocenti Mini (an Italian assembled version of the classic British Mini) and a 2-cylinder 1970 Fiat 500 () In the past I've had various other classic European cars, many somewhat obscure, some stock and some highly modified.

As for the Bosch H4's in question, FWIW they are not in fact originally for VW's as Keith assumes. Believe it or not, their only U.S. application was Harley-Davidsons. If you look closely you will find D.O.T. markings on them, which is generally not the case on H4's (as the U.S. D.O.T. does not approve H4 headlights for street use on cars). The reason is that Bosch got them U.S. D.O.T. approved for motorcycle use in order to sell them to Harley.

In any case they're a great upgrade and a steal at the price, no matter where you buy them. If you're still using 7" round sealed-beams, this is probably the best $50 you will ever spend on your car. I can't recommend them highly enough.

• Ron Salmon - BusDepot.com

Ron,
Thanks for the input.
Do you sell small watercraft?
Perhaps something close to a row-boat but a two seater with seating fore and aft?

I'm all for competition, but I have a lot of love for the folks at Flyin' Miata. Count me in for the group buy.

Sheesh. I didn't mean to open up a can of worms by mentioning the busdepot.com thing. Just for clarity, I am definitely not the one who sent Ron/busdepot.com over here to scrap it out with Keith. I know better than to screw with either Keith or Miata lovers in general on this forum...for fear of getting banned or outcast. I mean, if I can't fit in on the GRM forum, I just don't think I can fit in anywhere!

Obviously, Keith is still going to meet his quantity just fine. Really, what Miata guy is going to admit he got parts for his "sports car" from a VW Bus company?

Bryce

Ron, welcome aboard. I hope you'll stick around and add something to the community, as you've obviously got tastes that echo many of ours - my classic Mini was made in the UK instead of Italy, for example. The information on your site about these particular lights is good stuff.

As with every online community, this one has its own personality and it's probably a good idea to get familiar with it. If you look at the description of this forum, it says "Commercial and/or ads over $2010 will be deleted." For that reason, I cleared my post with the GRM brass before posting - we don't usually put ads on the forum, but since GRM owners are liable to own cars with this kind of headlights I figured it might be of interest so I sought out permission. I also try to avoid commenting directly on competitor's products and/or sales, but that's just how I like to do business.

The first two bus depot posts were pure ads and would have been deleted had they not been part of this thread. This community doesn't usually accept commercial posts, especially ones that come from a brand new account.

This thread needs a hug.

Nobody needs to be upset or feel like an outcast. We love you all. GRM readers are a tight-knit group, and the reader loyalty that we enjoy as a magazine frequently extends beyond just our magazine to include our advertisers. This is especially true when the advertiser in question is a regular contributor to our message board and has been working with us on project cars and personal projects for many years.

Nashco is right; Flyin' Miata is sure to reach their projected numbers for the group buy. Hopefully, Ron and the crew from Bus Depot will get a few orders as well and realize the value that comes with being a part of the GRM community as an advertiser. That way, no one will call "canoe" on him when he advertises on our message board.

The good news is that a bunch of us Miata-driving types will get heaping spoonfuls of glorious electric light for a good price. Yay capitalism!

Ron's probably scratching his head and trying to figure out what the canoe references mean! I apologize for coming across as harsh.

Just FYI, we've reached the numbers we need for the group buy, so the minimum order is assured. Anyone else is still welcome to join in, of course.

BusDepot wrote: As for the Bosch H4's in question, FWIW they are not in fact originally for VW's as Keith assumes. Believe it or not, their only U.S. application was Harley-Davidsons. If you look closely you will find D.O.T. markings on them, which is generally not the case on H4's (as the U.S. D.O.T. does not approve H4 headlights for street use on cars). The reason is that Bosch got them U.S. D.O.T. approved for motorcycle use in order to sell them to Harley.

If they are DOT approved then they are not true E-codes. A lot of US market street cars come with H4 DOT compliant lights, my G20 being one of them.

Keith wrote: Ron's probably scratching his head and trying to figure out what the canoe references mean! I apologize for coming across as harsh.

I, for one, don't think you came across as harsh.

I'm not a big fan of thread crapping, and to me, coming into a for sale thread and plugging your own stuff, is exactly that.

Sorry, Keith. I guess I was not aware of what was happening. I apologize for the comment, I meant no harm.

matt147 wrote: If they are DOT approved then they are not true E-codes. A lot of US market street cars come with H4 DOT compliant lights, my G20 being one of them.

They are E-codes. They have the markings on them. Having DOT motorcycle approval does not take away the European approval.

How about just 1? for the bike....