Hella Micro DE
 

Anybody else running them? I ordered mine last week and they just got here earlier today. So far just looking at them... wow! My last driving lights were complete junk, which I expected for the $30 price. They were Optilux 1300's, and goddamn were they useless. At first I thought they were ok, but they produced NO extra visible light over my e code's with Silverstar bulbs. Not only that but after I took them apart to swap the bulbs for higher wattage ones, I could never get the things to seal up again. So they stayed foggy and ugly, until finally the shitty wiring harness burned in half at the inline fuse holder. So I ripped the wiring out and snatched them off.

Anyway, back to the DE's, they look awsome. Housings look well made, with no way I can see for moisture to get in as easily as in the Optilux. Rubber boot at the rear for the wiring, so no chance there. The wiring harness is suprising to me. Very significant when comapred to the old harness which was just some ~16 gauge wires and a shitty relay and useless swtich. This swithc also looks crappy, but I already have a nice toggle with green light to match my interior. Everything has nice looking looms, and harness connectors. Cant wait to get these in and try them out. Now if only my car ran!

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Useless pictures, but I couldnt find many on google outside of stock pictures taken by Hella, or by VW guys. These also come in a $800 HID version, but these should do fine. Or I could go with an aftermarket HID kit and install them that way if the lighting isnt enough. From all I hear though, these put out alot of light, with a really nice pattern, and a good cutoff much like the e-code headlights.

Are you going to mount them in the mouth or cut holes in the bumper for them?

In the mouth. My last ones mounted well in 2 existing holes that hold the upper edge of the mouth. Spaced just right too.

Now then, to make some use of this useless thread. Wiring... how should I do this. I want a switched source thats independant of the headlights. I had the old ones wired to the aux blue plug on the driver side of the engine bay, but that was a ghetto way to do it I think. I was going to do it straight to the battery, but remembered that wouldnt be switched. I feel bad wiring a larger gauge wire to a thin old brittle existing wiring harness wire. Anybody have a better idea for source? Wiring/Electronics are NOT my strong point. Thanks

I had my PIAA lights wired to the famous blue connector in my first Miata.

Is the light output as good as you expected?

It's definitely not bad for the size and the cost. Good beam pattern, and the factory included bulbs are good. I replaced the bulbs ~100W bulbs, forget the exact number and they have already burned out within 6 months of installing them. I guess I will go back to stock wattage. I have never had a high wattage bulb last more than a few months. Overall though, I would say I am still pleased with them. The only down side which is not related to the lights themselves but the height at which they have to be mounted on our cars. With them so low it's hard to really put the light where you need it with such a shallow angle only 10''-12'' off the ground. If they were higher up it would be much easier to adjust them for better light placement on the road.