Are the beach lights really that bad?

[MarkVw2017]

Hello,

My question is, are they T4 bulbs really that bad, that i have to spend £500 for slightly better lights (T7 bulbs) via the external pack option or should i save £500 and keep the t4 lights. Its alot of money.

Any photos of the difference would be great

(I know, i know the LED lights are the bees knees , but my budget, or sanity does not allow me to spend £1750 on headlights. I know they look cool as and are as bright as the sun.)

 

[WelshGas]

Hello,

My question is, are they T4 bulbs really that bad, that i have to spend £500 for slightly better lights (T7 bulbs) via the external pack option or should i save £500 and keep the t4 lights. Its alot of money.

Any photos of the difference would be great

(I know, i know the LED lights are the bees knees , but my budget, or sanity does not allow me to spend £1750 on headlights. I know they look cool as and are as bright as the sun.)

I’m afraid you are unlikely to get an objective reply. All I can say is they meet ALL legal requirements/standards.

 

[Borris]

You'll need to judge that for yourself I'm afraid.

However since you've asked, IMO the H4 head lights are dismal offerings that should never be anywhere near a premium vehicle. They fit much better head lights to most budget cars!

Speaking as someone who has up until fairly recently owned a 2002 T4 panel van with standard headlights, a 2015 california SE with H7s and now a 2016 California Beach with H4s, I can only say that I found the standard H4s to be barely adequate in comparison. BTW I owned the SE and Beach at the same time so was able to make an accurate assessment. As a result I upgraded the bulbs to Phillips Racing bulbs which made a small improvement but they still aren't great. On the other hand I didn't have any issues with the head lights on the two former vehicles. The standard lights with glass lenses on the T4 were excellent and the H7s on the SE were very good as well. I have often wondered if the design of the clear polycarbonate reflector on the basic head light is the issue? As for LEDs, whilst not being a California, the LED lights on my wifes Skoda Superb are simply superb! They turn night into day. However, I agree that the price of California LEDs are ridiculous.

I don't think photo's would help you decide. That would depend on how good the photographer was and you'ld have to compare the three options in the same setting, at the same time and under the same conditions. For that you'ld need three vans to do the experiment. I don't recall anyone doing that one. Some how you'll have to use your own eyes to decide. Not easy at this time of year!

What ever you decide, good luck.

 

[MarkVw2017]

You'll need to judge that for yourself I'm afraid.

However since you've asked, IMO the H4 head lights are dismal offerings that should never be anywhere near a premium vehicle. They fit much better head lights to most budget cars!

Speaking as someone who has up until fairly recently owned a 2002 T4 panel van with standard headlights, a 2015 california SE with H7s and now a 2016 California Beach with H4s, I can only say that I found the standard H4s to be barely adequate in comparison. BTW I owned the SE and Beach at the same time so was able to make a accurate assessment. As a result I upgraded the bulbs to Phillips Racing bulbs which made a small improvement but they still aren't great. On the other hand I didn't have any issues with the head lights on the two former vehicles. The standard lights with glass lenses on the T4 were excellent and the H7s on the SE were very good as well. I have often wondered if the design of the clear polycarbonate reflector on the basic head light is the issue? As for LEDs, whilst not being a California, the LED lights on my wifes Skoda Superb are simply superb! They turn night into day. However, I agree that the price of California LEDs are ridiculous.

I don't think photo's would help you decide. That would depend on how good the photographer was and you'ld have to compare the three options in the same setting, at the same time and under the same conditions. For that you'ld need three vans to do the experiment. I don't recall anyone doing that one. Some how you'll have to use your own eyes to decide. Not easy at this time of year!

What ever you decide, good luck.

Thank you very very much for the indepth reply.

Im shocked thth how vw sells the vehicle with such poor lights. I told the dealer what I've heard and read about them and he said he has never had a complaint about the lights ever and first time he has heard of it hence my question again?

 

[WelshGas]

Thank you very very much for the indepth reply.

Im shocked thth how vw sells the vehicle with such poor lights. I told the dealer what I've heard and read about them and he said he has never had a complaint about the lights ever and first time he has heard of it hence my question again?

So the Dealer wasn’t pushing the Light Pack or LED upgrade. Interesting.

 

[MarkVw2017]

So the Dealer wasn’t pushing the Light Pack or LED upgrade. Interesting.

No, not at all, thats what made me wonder?

 

[WelshGas]

No, not at all, thats what made me wonder?

Well, an honest Salesman prepared to give up some commission to give an honest answer.

 

[MarkVw2017]

I

Well, an honest Salesman prepared to give up some commission to give an honest answer.

I know, thats when i hear so many neg reviews on the t4 bulb headlights and then dealer saying he has never heard that before, made me slightly confused?

 

[Borris]

Well you often read on here that salesmen have never heard of the roof corrosion issues either. Salesmen aren't really a reliable source when it comes to knowledge of the product they sell.

 

[WelshGas]

I

I know, thats when i hear so many neg reviews on the t4 bulb headlights and then dealer saying he has never heard that before, made me slightly confused?

Don’t forget owners who believe they have a problem post on Forums, those who don’t rarely post and if they do get inundated with opposing views from those who spent the extra and very few would admit the extra was not worth paying.
I very much doubt the Poll you posted will get any useful information, I’m afraid.

 

[motacyclist]

Are you buying off the place at Llandudno Junction?

 

[WelshGas]

Well you often read on here that salesmen have never heard of the roof corrosion issues either. Salesmen aren't really a reliable source when it comes to knowledge of the product they sell.

Yes, but they’re not giving up any Commission are they. In fact probably just quoting the VW official view.

 

[Max-Felix]

It also depends how much you use them! We're all different in our patten of driving and in all honesty I probably drive in the dark only or twice a month if that so could not give a fig about this light is 20% better than that light etc.

 

[MarkVw2017]

Are you buying off the place at Llandudno Junction?

Hi @motocyclist, yes we are. Me and my wife only went in for a quick nosey as not seen one in the flesh but they let us have a proper good look around at the cali in the showroom with no pressure sale so was a nice experience and both fell in love with a California straight away and placed an order 2 weeks later.

 

[MarkVw2017]

Don’t forget owners who believe they have a problem post on Forums, those who don’t rarely post and if they do get inundated with opposing views from those who spent the extra and very few would admit the extra was not worth paying.
I very much doubt the Poll you posted will get any useful information, I’m afraid.

Was thinking if it was 100% yes, then could have made me reconsider

 

[Sonas]

yes they are quite bad in my experience.

 

[Billywizz]

I find the H4s fine, I guess you just get used to them, I can see fine and not hit things so that’s me happy.

 

[2haw]

With experience of only having the standard headlights on my first Beach, they were pretty bad but luckily I didn't do a lot of night time driving!

However, a couple of things to consider with the £400 exterior pack upgrade is that the pack also comes with fog lights and the H7 Ocean headlights do look a bit better than the standard set up. So I would definitely say that it is worth specing.

 

[motacyclist]

Hi @motocyclist, yes we are. Me and my wife only went in for a quick nosey as not seen one in the flesh but they let us have a proper good look around at the cali in the showroom with no pressure sale so was a nice experience and both fell in love with a California straight away and placed an order 2 weeks later.

OK Mark was going to PM you (I have bought two Cali’s from there), but you are not VIP so unfortunately I can’t. Recommend to join as you will get your money’s worth, will chat via PM when you have. FYI I live in Chester but spend a lot of time at Llanddulas, maybe not too far from you?

 

[Fast Freddie]

Hi
I have a Beach with standard headlamps. I also have fog lamps. I did find the lights poor compared to the lights on my other vehicles, even my Saab which was 9 years old.

However I have upgraded the bulbs to brighter ones and I tend to switch the front fog lamps on too - I find these light up the road close to the van, and the brighter bulbs have improved the distance too. Make no mistake, they are legal and usable and if you drive appropriately they are OK. I do agree that in such a premium vehicle I was disappointed that they were not better. If we ever renew the vehicle I would probably consider buying the more expensive lights but its not a big enough issue to do more than I have already done. I still love the Beach.

 

[Silver5urfer]

Standard H4 headlights on my beach are dreadful, barely adequate, I can’t believe that they meet minimum legal requirement. Dipped beam is particularly poor, I sometimes wonder if they are on at all. They are a warm colour (yellow/orange) don’t throw any light up the road making it very difficult to drive at night. Will upgrade bulbs to Phillips racing vision for marginal improvement.
I would gladly pay the £400 to up grade my headlights to the H7s.

 

[WelshGas]

Standard H4 headlights on my beach are dreadful, barely adequate, I can’t believe that they meet minimum legal requirement. Dipped beam is particularly poor, I sometimes wonder if they are on at all. They are a warm colour (yellow/orange) don’t throw any light up the road making it very difficult to drive at night. Will upgrade bulbs to Phillips racing vision for marginal improvement.
I would gladly pay the £400 to up grade my headlights to the H7s.

If they are that bad maybe SpecSavers might be a better choice.

 

[GreggB]

Well covered topic I think but my experience of H4’s in my T5’s is poor dip beam and ok main beam. Dip can be noticeably improved with a bulb upgrage, Osram night breakers in the case of my work van. Still not fantastic but I find myself not complaining about them as much. Yet to upgrade the Beach as I was considering a change to H7 twin reflector units or even something aftermarket.

 

[Ricotansky]

This comparison might help you decide?

https://www.t6forum.com/threads/h4-h7-journey.3888/

 

[Jonathan Duke]

I've the H7s after adding the exterior pack to my Beach..... They work fine for me. I had LED on my previous 2x cars.... They were great, but not worth the extra IMO. Plus, after a small accident on my last car.... A replacement headlight was eyewateringly expensive, an I vowed never again for headlights (I would take them if FoC, or maybe even a reasonable amount, of course.)