Miata Mailing List: November 1994, Message #24
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   From: "Ken Walker" 
Subject: Product Review: Hella H4 Headlights
   Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 14:34:00 -0500

     Several Miataholics on the net have recently encouraged me to upgrade
     my headlights to the Hella H4 beams.  I called Imparts in St. Louis
     and ordered them Oct. 26, and they arrived last night (Monday, 10/31).

     The total price from Imparts was 83.95 including tax, shipping, two H4
     replacement headlights, and two 55/100 upgraded bulbs.  I am pleased
     to say that I left just as halftime of the Monday night game had
     started, and I was through with installation before the start of the
     third quarter.

     Each headlight comes with a snapping bracket behind that can be
     un-snapped with your thumb and forefinger.  The bulb can then be
     inserted.  The standard 55/60 bulb is provided in a separate box, as
     were the 55/100s I ordered.  I kept the weaker ones for later sale, or
     for spares.  A rubber collar is provided to prevent shorting of the
     terminals, and is held in place by suction and the pressure of the
     wire harness once its plugged in.

     Headlights in the Miata are very easily removed.  Surprisingly, the
     instructions for this are right in the owners manual (I was shocked
     when my girlfriend brought the manual out to the garage and asked me
     if I needed the "instructions").  The only caution is to take care not
     to remove the headlight adjuster screws by accident.

     A bezel or "collar" surrounds the light, and the new assembly fits like a
     charm.  The only adjusting that needs to be done by the installer is to
     make sure the "H4" logo is right side up, and level.

     Done.  15 minutes for me, and I started without the "instructions."  The
     field of vision is phenominal.  Rather than two paths of light illuminating
     the road in front of me for ~100 feet, I was presented with a field of
     light that bathed everything in front of me for 250 feet at least.  The
     right hand side is illuminated a little more than the left, and there is a
     very discernable "ceiling" to the light field that would prevent the light
     from blinding the oncoming drivers.  If you were to sit in the car and
     project the headlights on a black wall at night the light field would look
     something like this from the driver's seat:

                                                +----------|
                                               /           |
                                              /            |
                                             /             |
          +---------------------------------+              |
          |                                                |
          |                                                |
          |                                                |
         /                                                 |
        /                                                  |
       -----------------------------------------------------

     The lights were easily the best 85 bucks I've spent on her so far.  Does
     anyone want to buy my old ones?  They'd be great for a motorcycle or for an
     older car with 7" round headlights...

     kjw &
     TIC-TAC