Hella Optilux 2020 driving/fog lights!

[DanMan7]

Hey everyone. Found some AWESOME lights I bought for my Geo recently. They are made by Hella, they're called the Optilux 2020. Each light has dual driving/fog lights (two H3 bulbs in each assembly). They are roughly 2.38" high, which perfectly fit in the lower opening of the front bumper of regular 92 Metros. Anyway, I just purchased them for $60 plus shipping from http://www.summitracing.com. Anyway I did a lot of research, and they are SAE approved for highway use. JCWhitney had them listed but they said off-road only. So I did some research, and came to find out they are street legal.

Also recently I bought a custom dashmat for my car, plus a custom bra for the car (I think these cars would look good with a bra on the front) made by LeBra.

I'm also in the process of getting quotes to see how much it'd cost to take out the dent in my driver door (it was there when I purchased the car). Might be cheaper just to get another door and get it repainted.

Also, last week I installed custom Wolo high/low tone horns. Now it has roughly the same horn as a Cadillac, or similar. Sounds really good.

In the next month plan on getting some new 13" custom wheels with low profile tires (ends up being the same diameter as the 12" tires I have now).

I'm looking forward to the car project when I'm all done with it. It'll still be some time though.

[mostly_water]

Sounds like you have a vision DanMan, and the drive to see it through.

You should keep your nice ride away from Spokane though. Bad juju up that way.

[DerMann]

I too am in the process of replacing my Metro's headlights. I bought a brace of bulbs off eBay, but I was saddened to find out that my lights are sealed.

If I were to get the Optilux 2020, would it be a simple drop-in/plug-in installation? Or would I need to rewire the entire headlight?

Also, I'm saving up to get a new paintjob for my Metro. It's going to be black with a white racing stripe down the middle

[DanMan7]

The Optilux 2020 work in ADDITION to your regular headlights. They don't take the place of them. It's some work to wire up the Optilux 2020 lights. Each light has 3 wires, one for the driving light, one for the fog light, and one for ground. Then each pair of lights (driving and fog) has it's own relay. Four wires go to each of the two relays, plus four wires go to the switch that you mount inside on the dash somewhere. It took me about three-four hours to wire them up, but I did a custom job. I mounted them in the bottom hole of the front bumper, on each side of the license plate. Turned out really good. The lights use four 55w H3 halogen bulbs, two for the driving lights, and two for the fog lights.

My Geo (the 1992's) all have the sealed beam halogen headlights. But I recently had them realigned because they were way off, but they're plenty bright. Sometime I might get the aftermarket kit to convert them and use any bulb that you snap into place, but I'm not sold on them yet.

Anyway hope that info helped! Driving lights are only used, supposedly, for when you have your brights on. Fog lights can be used at anytime, but as long as you have your headlights on. Here in California you can only use auxiliary lighting if you have on your headlights as well.

[DerMann]

Right, many thanks for the clarification. Guess I'll have to keep on looking for a cheap composite set :\

[way]

Are they really bright? I've seen some fogs that are not very bright at all and I've held back because of that. I want them so bright they burn insects before they smoosh on the car

[DanMan7]

Yes they are really bright. I think brighter than the headlights. And they give off a white light, they're not amber or blue. They work great though. Add a LOT of visibility.

[way]

Excellent. I'll have to scrape up the change and invest in a pair. Thanks for your info.

[DanMan7]

Here's some images of the lights. The lights that are on are JUST the driving lights (you aren't able to turn on all 4 at the same time, just either the driving lights or the fog lights). From the pic you can see they're bright...and it's not even night time yet!



Here's a pic of them installed in the lower vent area on the front bumper, on each side of the license plate:


I always blank out my license plate just for privacy purposes.