Headlight conversion
 

Since I'm doing a lot more nighttime driving these days, I decided it was time to upgrade the headlights. Flyin' Miata had a group buy a couple of years back, and my buddy got them and loves them. So, off to the website.

Apparently, FM no longer sells the conversion kit. I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that these were H4 sealed beams. I did a quick search, and GoMiata came up with the following: MIATA EURO HEADLIGHT CONVERSION KIT 7" ROUND (Pair) 1990-1997 They're 60 bucks, about equivalent to the FM kits, as I remember.

So, is this pretty much the same thing? I'd love to get some low profile lights like Moss sells, but I'm not about to drop $500 on headlights. Do I dare try for some eBay conversion? H4 or do I go for xenon/projectors? I want to be able to see, but I also don't want to be blinding oncoming traffic.

Recommendations?

Those look like ebay specials. Here's a place that sells the Bosch version fairly inexpensively ($45), as well as bulbs.
Bosch European H4 Headlights - PAIR

Go with the Cibie, Hella or Bosch E-codes in that order. They all carry H4 conversions. The cheap ebay ones are terrible at best.

matthewdesigns, thanks for the link.

I did a little searching, and that looks to be one of the better prices. Cibie and Hella were both more expensive. I do believe it was the Bosch that FM sold, and I do like my friends lights.

Order placed. I searched for Bosch H4 lights, trying a bunch of different search terms. That was the best price. It was even linked to from several other places as a great deal, from Jeep to VW to BMW sites.

I find it quite funny that the VW Bus place was the cheapest. Yet the same parts, when linked to from Mercedes or Porsche sites, were more than double the price. Aparently the saying "more money than brains" applies to those import owners twice over.

Just wanted to follow up on this for closure. I got the Bosche H4 lights in on Thursday. Got a chance to install them on Friday. Found out at that time that the existing lights were Sylvania sealed halogen. Swap took less than half an hour, and that's with me being all ADD and cleaning up all the parts.

Drove the car Saturday night (last time for this year) and was amazed at the difference. Better light output by far, much more defined cutoff and better pattern as well. Well worth the $62 bucks it cost me. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

What wattage bulbs did you go with? Does installation of lamps like these require a wiring upgrade if you stick with relatively low watt bulbs?

I believe they're 55/60, the ones from the link you provided. They use the stock, factory wiring with no modifications. The bulb is the max recommended size. You can get larger ones, but the wiring may not be up to providing the power required.

FM still sells the bulbs, and that is what they carry as well.

Oh, and props to you for the link, too.

Thanks Roger. Glad it worked out. I've been eyeballing these for a while and have just never pulled the trigger. I guess if I knew anyone locally with a set who could show me what I'm missing I may already have bought them.

^Definitely worth upgrading! I've heard nothing but good things (and I love mine too)