Here is some things I discovered for those of you that might be thinking of buying some hella 500's. So this weekend, my big project was the fabricate a light bar for, and mount two more hella 500's on my car. Last winter, I fabricated brackets for a set of 500's, and mounted them. The new light bar is designed to mount to the old brackets, and provide a place for two extra lights. I'll post pictures this weekend, when I have a chance to take some seeing as it gets dark at 4:30 now and I get out of work at 5.

For anyone that cares- upon purchasing the two new 500's this weekend, bought from the same Pep Boys as the last two, but only a year apart, I noticed odd discrepancies between them:

• The new set came in a different packaging It was square, instead of rectangular. Probably a new package design, no big deal.
• Second, the new ones had a more mirror-like reflector, shinier almost.
• Third, the new set was made in Taiwan (of course), the old set was made in Mexico.
• Aside from some other teeny differences, the biggest difference was actually rather shocking- the beam pattern is different. The new ones are more focused and narrowed than the old ones, more like pencil beams than normal driving lamp beams. When viewing the car from the front with the lights on, the old ones appear brighter then the new ones, until you back farther away and the narrow beams make more of an effect. It's almost like the light is more focused on the new lamps. This doesn't bother me, seeing as I have one set of each and it's actually nice to be able to aim different beams on different parts of the road.

Just thought I'd throw out these observations, especially the last one, just because I felt it was interesting. Has anyone else noticed this? I'll take some pictures when I can.

 

It almost sounds like you bought one set of driving lights and one set of fog lights. Each have a different light dispersement pattern.

 

Yes I think that's what has happened.

 

I agree. My Hella 500s were marked driving lights and are pencil beams. Methinks that your first set are fogs.

 

No, both sets are definetly driving lamps. I know what the lens on the fog lamp looks like, and this is not it. Both sets have the same lens- the only difference is in the reflector.

 

Post a pic and lets see.

 

I will post pics of my setup this weekend when I have daylight with which to do so.

 

well considering they only make 3 types of 500's i doubt you got THAT mixed up

theres

fog
fog amber
driving.


it sounds to me like u either got a set that were misboxed, or they were actually assembled wrong.

i have 4 hellas on the front of my car, purchased almost 2 years apart and they are the same...

 

I checked the Hella website and they also sell 500's with an "FF" suffix. The site describes these as having "Free Form" reflectors, which supposedly are shaped to match the bulb precisely. I'd expect these to have very focused beams.

Perhaps your new driving lights are 500FF's?

 

I loved my FF1000's that I ran on my Subaru. Unfortunately they are too big for my MINI. I went with Hella 500 driving lights. I'd like to find out more about the FF500's.

 

It didn't say FF500 on the box, and the reflectors inside do not look like freeform reflectors. But then again, strange things happen...

 

Still got the box? Should be a part number on it. Here's the info from the Hella site. Interesting that a couple say "old version".

Part No. 005750952 Hella 500 Driving Lamp Kit
005750941 Hella 500FF Driving Lamp Kit
010032801 Hella 700FF Driving Lamp Kit
H13750601 500 Driving Lamp Kit (old version)
H13750611 500 Fog Lamp Kit (old version)
H13750621 500 Amber Fog Lamp Kit (old version)


Look like any of these?

 

I did notice that on the Hella site before. My light does not have the little blue hella sticker in the middle. In my opinion, the older light is better, so if you want a pair, buy the old ones while they're still around!

 

I just bought mine and the reciept has this part number... H13750601 500 Driving Lamp Kit (old version)

These are mine...

 

Too big? Why - I don't even know what you are talking about.....



I call it "Just Right"....

Getting back on topic - I ordered and installed a set of Hella 500 Driving lights on my wife's MCS within the past month. Got the lights from Summit - rectangle box, blue sticker in center. (sounds like the "old" ones.)

I have to finish the wiring this weekend, so no side by side comparison yet. However, they were MUCH easier to bolt on - no building bracket extensions, etc.

Oh - maybe that is what you mean about 'too big'

 

Can you give me any info on your mounting set up? I am thinking about adding a set of Hella 500 fogs in my lower grill as well.

Nothing wrong with overkill.....

 

I should say too big for where I planned to mount them. They are too deep for my mounting location. I didn't mount them on top because I figured they'd be bouncing about. They have a long beam & even a little bounce translates into a big bounce at the far reach of those beams. Bouncing beams drive me crazy.

I love the look of your car. A WRC MCS.

Photo Copyright Rally

 

I bought my setup from a member here that had an extra set. I believe that they are Outmotoring brackets, but that they are not on the website and may have been discontinued. I've heard if you email them that they may be able to drum up a set or two.
These brackets are solid... I'm betting I could stand on them. No flex, no bounce, no vibration, just solid.

 

I also used Outmortorings brackets. They have been discontinued, but a few weeks a go when I was over there I thought I saw a couple of pairs.

Also Aaron has re-engineered the bracket to improve it & is having them made. I'd suggest calling him & asking.

 

I bought the VIP Custom Part brackets and removed the dealer added driving lights and replaced them with the FF500s. Better aiming in night driving. The older 500s have the sticker the FFs do not. I have mounted the older 500s and the owners have been pleased and I have the 1000s on my Rovers and the FF500 has a pencil beam where the 500 is a more wider driving beam. Also, I have mounted WIPAC lights on VIP mounts and the beam is a bright aimed pencil also, great for night driving on unfamiliar roads. The VIP Custom brackets are easy to install and do not vibrate. The 500s are about 3/8" thicker and may rub on grille where the FF500s do not rub grille with custom brackets.

 

the Hella 500's come in pencil beam, flood beam, fog lights. I had the flood beams they are like the fog lights but dont have the top cutoff

 

Are these the FF500 Hella's? My old Hella 500's were only available in driving or fog.

 

im not sure I had them from my Jeep days got them for free form a shop up near me they had a WIDE but open pattern to them ran 2 of them and 2 fogs worked great! now just if I could find a place to mount some 4000's I got laying around LOL

 

I know Hella had a few that were made in Germany that had "cleaner" fluting on the lens and a better looking reflector. The Asian-made ones looked like they were using older tooling. I was able to compare them back-to-back at WalMart, where they were carrying both (both Driving lamps, both the non-FF model).