Hella vs Bosch

[Van Westervelt]

The debate on euro smilies seems to continue. Mostly I have seen the debate be that bosch units are all used and hellas you can get new. I have put the myth to death as I just got a brand new set of bosch smilies. Now what things should I check to see differences? The lights cutoff, ellipsoid size etc. Any input?

PS I will post pics of my new bosch's very very soon :)

[nando]

I don't think there is any difference optically.

[golde30]

I don't think there is any difference optically.

i have swapped some parts from HELLA to BOSCH...they are basically identical.

[Propwash]

I like mine...

[Mless5]

Don't know about smileys, but on my e28, Bosch didn't have the raised section of the left side of the cut off, whereas Hellas do (v shaped cut off).

[MrK]

Don't know about smileys, but on my e28, Bosch didn't have the raised section of the left side of the cut off, whereas Hellas do (v shaped cut off).

That cutoff you're referring to differentiates euro lights from US spec.

The former has a 'v' shaped cutoff, and the latter has a horizontal cutoff.

[rede30]

bosch has a bigger ugly logo on the lense.

[erik325i]

I like mine...

Thanks for the very productive post, considdering that you don't even have smileys...

I've had both Hella and Bosch in my car, and they are optically the same. I am using Hellas now simply because Bosch didn't make any smoked smileys...

-Erik

[RCWells]

I have Bosch, and prefer to the Hella if for no other reason than the frames. I bought a set of Hellas and the frames sucked, just felt cheap and were not as well made.

As for lighting output, I've no idea if one is better, but it's highly unlikely that that is the case.

[asubimmer]

Thanks for the very productive post, considdering that you don't even have smileys...

I've had both Hella and Bosch in my car, and they are optically the same. I am using Hellas now simply because Bosch didn't make any smoked smileys...

-Erik

they didn't but you can, mine are ;-)

[bmwm3n528]

Who cares? Just buy DEPOs.

[asubimmer]

Who cares? Just buy DEPOs.

true that

[Van Westervelt]

Depos are the worst. Some people don't have issues with them, many do. I have 2 sets of bosch amd 1 of hella smilys, and a couple sets of depo's crap. Depos actually seemed decent, just cheap housings.

[KenC]

There isn't much optical engineering that went into the depos. They look the same, but they're a really shitty design without a fucking foci on the high beams. The lows are also shitty when you comare them to an OE.

[Van Westervelt]

There isn't much optical engineering that went into the depos. They look the same, but they're a really shitty design without a fucking foci on the high beams. The lows are also shitty when you comare them to an OE.

Agreed. And by the way, my gf says you have a potty mouth :tsk: