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Old 03-09-2012, 09:03 PM   #1
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suggest some lights for the front of my E350

Without breaking the bank...
Could you suggest a pair of driving lights?
I'd like to mount them on the top of the front bumper next to the grill area.

Sure would like HID lighting or LED but the ones I've seen are too much $
Unless you can prove me wrong

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Old 03-09-2012, 10:41 PM   #2
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Re: suggest some lights for the front of my E350

You might take a look at the Free Form Hella Ralle 4000 Halogen lamps. They are shown at this link for $125.99 each.

http://www.rallylights.com/Hella_Rallye_4000FF.aspx

You would need a little over 4" of clearance from the bolt hole to the back of the light to mount them on the bumper. Not sure if that's possible with a stock bumper.

Another option would be the Hella 700FF at $77.39 for the pair.

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=2167

The 700's are a thinner light and would mount on the bumper fine. They come stock with a 55W bulb which could be upgraded to a 100W for better output with no problem.

As a general rule of thumb the larger the reflector the more light it will collect and the more light you will have on the road. The 4000's are a 8.75" light and the 700's are a 7.5" light. The 500's which are the next step smaller are around 6.5". I just installed a set of the 500 fog lights. They are a good value for a fog light that fits in the light hole of an Aluminess bumper. If you have the room I would suggest going bigger than the 500's if you want bright lights.

Check out the Rallylights.com website for other ideas. I am a happy customer of theirs. If you have questions about the lights call their 800 number and talk to Will. He's very knowledgable when it comes to lights. He helped me quite a bit on my recent purchase.
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Old 03-10-2012, 12:34 PM   #3
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Re: suggest some lights for the front of my E350

I like the Hella 700FF, thanks!

Maybe I should spend a little more and get something better?
say $150-$250 ?
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Old 03-10-2012, 12:40 PM   #4
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Re: suggest some lights for the front of my E350

I bought 4 Hella 4000's off of Craigslist, new in the box (halogen not HID) for 400.00, then sold 2 for half my cost, a great deal all the way around. They are freakin' bright too. It may pay to look around for some used goods, just my .2!
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Old 03-10-2012, 01:35 PM   #5
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Re: suggest some lights for the front of my E350

X2 on Rallylights.com. I have ordered lighting gear from them many times with no problems.
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Old 03-10-2012, 01:42 PM   #6
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Re: suggest some lights for the front of my E350

If you can afford a larger diameter light than the 700 you will get more light out of it. I would suggest you stay with the newer Free Form reflector design. They are brighter than the older design that uses the lens to focus the light and sent it to the road.


From looking at the pictures on the Rallylights.com website it looks like the Free Form reflector, bulb and probably the lens are the same for all Hella lights of similar diameter. The more expensive models have sturdier housings and mounting systems. If you bounce around offroad the stouter lights will stay together where the less expensive ones will probably come apart on you. The Hella Rallye series lights are built stronger to take the beating they get in rallye and off road racing.

Spend the extra couple of $$ to get a higher wattage bulb. They are worth the money. I always order at least one extra bulb so I have a spare in my toolbox. It's easy to find H3 and H4 bulbs in most autoparts places but I like sticking with the Hella bulbs.

Another thing, don't get sucked into the blue lights are brighter thing. That's a myth. Your eyes actually see better when the light is in the lower spectrum range than the blue ones. All the blue lights do is make your eyes angry and that makes people think they are brighter. If blue lights worked better why wouldn't the people that need and actually use the brightest lights available and have the budget to cover any light spec a blue light on their Boeing 747's? A light somewhere between 5000 and 6000 Kelvin will give you the brightest white light out there. Nothing screams "Officer look at me" quite like some cheesy aftermarket HID conversion bulb that sprays 8000 Kelvin blue light all over the road.
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Old 03-10-2012, 11:07 PM   #7
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Re: suggest some lights for the front of my E350

thanks!!!!
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Old 03-11-2012, 12:35 AM   #8
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Re: suggest some lights for the front of my E350

I replaced my stock headlight bulbs...what a difference for both on and off road...bought the Ultra's
http://www.sylvania.com/en-us/products/ ... fault.aspx
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Old 03-11-2012, 08:31 AM   #9
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Re: suggest some lights for the front of my E350

good suggestion, but I did replace the stock bulbs the day after I bought the van.

I found I need more light for some of the roads I've been exploring.
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Old 03-12-2012, 01:29 PM   #10
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Re: suggest some lights for the front of my E350

For those that do have the hella 4000driving lights with city lights, mind posting a picture or two of them, lights one and off?
thanks
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