HELLA vs. BOSCH

[reelizmpro]

I have a set of Bosch smiley euro ellipsoids on my M3. Got them off a sport evo in the UK. I'm curious has anyone converted the two auto adjusters to manual? Are manual adjusters and grommets still available? Thanks.

[Sam Cogley]

Wrong.

Interesting. That's the first time I've seen those, and I've seen a number of posts here indicating that they don't exist. Thanks for the correction.

Of course, there are still Euro ellipsoids without the smileys. :p

As far as construction goes, the Bosch headlights I have seem pretty darned indestructible.

[theox69]

I was under the impression that HIDs are actually not nearly as hot.

the euro headlight breakdown goes this way.

all cars after august 1988 recieved euro ellips in europe.
for about 1 year (the first year) they were non- smileys- after that they were all smileys.
both smileys and non smileys were made by both companies- like stated, there are alot more Hella lights in circulation than Bosch.

which are better is a matter of taste. - I personally prefer the Bosch lights. they seem to be less pitted, the chrome seems to be shinnier longer- and the lenses seemed to hold the seal better/longer.
Bosch has a metal rear housing- with a plastic cap(interchangable with hella)
Hella has a plastic rear housing- with a plastic cap. with the hellas being plastic and chrome plated in the reflector area- if water does get in there( and will over 20 years) they seem to "fade" a bit- causing a not so bright pattern to shine out.

my 2 cents.

very helpful, thank you

[nando]

but running 100w+ without the plastic melting?

most HID kits are only 35w. the stock bulbs are 55w, so even if you got one of the higher output kits (which are 55w), you still aren't going to melt anything.

[mikeedler]

I was under the impression that HIDs are actually not nearly as hot.

the euro headlight breakdown goes this way.

all cars after august 1988 recieved euro ellips in europe.
for about 1 year (the first year) they were non- smileys- after that they were all smileys.
both smileys and non smileys were made by both companies- like stated, there are alot more Hella lights in circulation than Bosch.

which are better is a matter of taste. - I personally prefer the Bosch lights. they seem to be less pitted, the chrome seems to be shinnier longer- and the lenses seemed to hold the seal better/longer.
Bosch has a metal rear housing- with a plastic cap(interchangable with hella)
Hella has a plastic rear housing- with a plastic cap. with the hellas being plastic and chrome plated in the reflector area- if water does get in there( and will over 20 years) they seem to "fade" a bit- causing a not so bright pattern to shine out.

my 2 cents.

[theox69]

but running 100w+ without the plastic melting?

[LovableSheep]

A number of people have been running HIDs in Hella housings without any issues.

[theox69]

but Bosch has metal housings -- so wouldnt it make them better quality of you're installing HID's, as opposed to Hellas plastic housing.

[Kingb]

Wrong.

Just like he said and a couple others. There are both Bosch and Hella euro smileys. i have a couple sets of both. Look at my location. "Germany" I prefer Hella smileys, the lense is more clear compaired to the bosch above. I even spend the time and switched mine to Hella's from bosch when one lense cracked

[fretburnr]

the euro smileys I had on the red car were Bosch.

[TDE30]

There is only one smiley ellipsoid: Hella. Bosch only made Euro ellipsoids without the smiley, and Hella made them both ways.

Wrong.

[Sam Cogley]

Okay it doesn't matter...this still isn't helping me choose which smiley ellipsoid to get...

There is only one smiley ellipsoid: Hella. Bosch only made Euro ellipsoids without the smiley, and Hella made them both ways.

NOT ALL EURO ELLIPSOIDS ARE SMILEYS!

AFAIK, Hella also made all of the US ellipsoid lights.

[cferb]

I've heard Bosch is slightly better, there are different materials, I don't think it's the reflector, I think it's the actual housing, but Hella is easier to find, and comes smoked.

[theox69]

Okay it doesn't matter...this still isn't helping me choose which smiley ellipsoid to get...

[TDE30]

By euro ellipsoids I was referring to smileys. Sam wins and you're the coolest guy ever.