Hella vs PIAA

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:18 pm

I'm looking for driving lights for the new bumper....

Should I go with Hella or PIAA?
Does anyone know which would
A) Hold up better through water?
B) Give a better Light for the buck?

-it has to be a 4" light, like the PIAA 510...

Thanks
chris

renegadekj · **Posted:** Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:09 pm

I personally like PIAA, but have never had any hella's!

Josh

Rush345 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:49 am

Considering the price between Hella and PIAA , I can only say do your research!!!!!!! I have run PIAA for years in my headlight bulbs with no complaints.
Not dissing the Hella, But the PIAA is and have been dependable. It's your decission ,just do your research.

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:40 pm

Rush345 wrote:

Considering the price between Hella and PIAA , I can only say do your research!!!!!!! I have run PIAA for years in my headlight bulbs with no complaints.
Not dissing the Hella, But the PIAA is and have been dependable. It's your decission ,just do your research.

Yeah I've been searching around. I just wanted to get some opinions that contain Personal Experience, Using the PIAA's or HELLA's...

Thanks
Chris

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:24 pm

I'd say Hella 500 Driving lights are the best bang/buck lighting you can get, but their replacements, the FF500 and FF700 kits, have a free-form lens so they should be better.
I know you're looking at a smaller lamp, Hella makes them as well, though I don't have personal experience with them. I know they're cheap, the entire Optilux line-up is. I'd say get the size lamps you want from here: http://ptcfactoryoutlet.com
They have refurbished and new Hella lights, bulbs, etc, at the best prices on the net I've seen (I've looked way too much :roll:

). You migh be out $50 if you don't like them, but it's a much smaller investment than PIAA lights, and you can probably sell them to any Joe Smoe.

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:40 pm

Sweet... Thanks for the link... I haven't seen that one.

riptricket · **Posted:** Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:21 pm

what bumper?

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:40 pm

riptricket wrote:

what bumper?

Thanks Troysterr.... :roll:

corwyyn · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:13 am

Not sure how the PIAAs are constructed, but my Hella 500s aren't the most water-tight units out there:

Once they dried out they worked just fine, but they do take on water.

riptricket · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:29 pm

yeah, and the 500's, atleast mine, are not the best at having a perfectly round light display. when i turn them on, it kinda looks like an oval light display in the dark around me... if that makes any sense.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:42 pm

Why did you not consider the KC HiLites?

I find them to be a great value, american made and not gonna ruin my day of I trash one.

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:52 pm

WoodysKJ wrote:

Why did you not consider the KC HiLites?

I find them to be a great value, american made and not gonna ruin my day of I trash one.

I do not know... I'll have to check into them!

I don't think my factory Fog lights have ever had water in them, like in the Hella Pic above.. :shock:

Quote:

riptricket Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:29 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

yeah, and the 500's, atleast mine, are not the best at having a perfectly round light display. when i turn them on, it kinda looks like an oval light display in the dark around me... if that makes any sense.

yeah that makes sense....

Thanks for the comments everyone!
chris

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:29 pm

See if you can get your hands on a the lights before you decide or read the description carefully. I was all eager to buy a set of PIAA once only to realize the case was chromed plastic.

I bought a nice set from Summit Racing, all metal. My only problem is getting a replacement lens for a lamp. If I want a name brand light all I have to do is slip on a KC Lites cover. :lol:

Fouros · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:23 pm

consider hella 4000 compacts

die cast aliminium housing great light output

and looks good too

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:39 pm

LibertyFever wrote:

See if you can get your hands on a the lights before you decide or read the description carefully. I was all eager to buy a set of PIAA once only to realize the case was chromed plastic.

I bought a nice set from Summit Racing, all metal. My only problem is getting a replacement lens for a lamp. If I want a name brand light all I have to do is slip on a KC Lites cover. :lol:

I am not sure what this post means. Do you like KC's or hate them?

What lens are you looking for?

SRotblat · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:28 pm

riptricket wrote:

yeah, and the 500's, atleast mine, are not the best at having a perfectly round light display. when i turn them on, it kinda looks like an oval light display in the dark around me... if that makes any sense.

ahh thats the design of the housing's reflector...its not supposed to be circle :roll:

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:10 am

WoodysKJ wrote:

I am not sure what this post means. Do you like KC's or hate them?

What lens are you looking for?

I'll be honest, I haven't owned any of the name brand lites like Hella's, PIAA's or KC's so I can't give you an opinion of what's best. I can only give you my opinion. Your own choice depends on the type of light you want and how much cash is in your wallet.

And I don't hate KC's, just lights with plastic housings. Y'know, the cheap models.

What I was referring to about lens's was that the high priced lights have better quality lens's. Useful if you expect to encounter flying gravel from vehicles in front of you on the trail or highway.

Inc · **Posted:** Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:34 pm

I know the Hella lights that came with my KJ OEM light bar really suck. They aren't really bright, they don't put out a far beam and they aren't really adjustable in direction (only up and down). When I turn them on, there is more of a reflection on my hood and windshiled than there is light out in front of me. I took it out in the desert to adjust them and get them pointed more out instead of down on my hood and as soon as I adjusted them barely above the headlight beams, they pretty much disappeared. I couldn't tell they were on I had to turn off my headlights to see if they were working. I want to replace them with some PIAA, I don't know if there are any that fit, and there are way too many things I'd rather do first. :roll:

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:28 am

I've been reading the posts, and thanks for all the comments!
It really makes it easier with some personal input Intead of just numbers etc..... Plus every company's webpage that they were the best :roll:

I found these on Amazon and compared to a lot of other places... They are pretty cheap...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007VFAPW?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=msnshop-auto-20&linkCode=asn

My reasoning is...
A) the Hella's that I wanted, don't come in 4"
B) my bumper is going to be way too nice to just throw some Crap in it
C) the are made in the USA

Thanks Again...
Chris

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:21 am

i think they look okay... i'm not a fan of the guard on the front of the lights. Just not ever been a fan...

Hella vs PIAA

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