bad luck with hella 500's

["Derek L." <t3lk0@mailcity.com>]

Greetings all.

The DOT lights on my 4000csq really suck!  

So I go and buy 4 hella 500s (driving beam) and fabricate an attractive, lightweight bar that mounts to the old licence plate hardware.  The lights look great, and perform even better, what a great deal at $460 less than euros, until...

I break 2 lights within a week.  Not while they are on, either.
Both appear to be impact rather than heat.  Strange thing is, my PIAA 1500's have several small pits in them indicating impacts, but they're just fine.  (and mounted even lower!)

Do hella 500s break this easily, did I get a pair that weren't Q/A'd properly, or what?  I went to my favorite VW/Audi shop and asked about some stoneguard like product to repel rocks and such.  I was told this would trap too much heat inside the lamp and they would break even sooner.  Does this sound reasonable to you?  They also discouraged over wattage bulbs.

What do you think?  Any similar experiences?  Are the higher end (more $$) any more robust?

Thanks in advance!

-Derek L.
Seattle, Wa
'86 4000cs quattro (blind once again)


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