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Hella 500 vs 500ff vs 700 etc

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by calebm12, Jan 9, 2013.

  1. Jan 9, 2013 at 9:19 AM
    #1
    calebm12

    calebm12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Weathertech, hand turned wood shift knob, rear view mirror mod, grillecraft MX, hella 500s
    Am looking to put some hella driving lights behind my grill. Have done some searching on the forum and online and can't find a clear distinction between the reviews of a 500 vs 500ff. On the hella website it looks like the 500 have further light distance? Anyone had experience with these or other hella driving lights and care to share a recommendation. Looking for an auxiliary driving light that can be used on country roads or empty highways. MD only allows 4 forward facing lights on at a time so I would shut off my fogs with these on. Looking to get something behind the grill for less than 150.
     
  2. Jan 9, 2013 at 10:23 AM
    #2
    Jon850FL

    Jon850FL is Lurkin'

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    i just bought 4 hella 500s yesterday ill let you know the brightness. but i did alittle research on the difference between the 500 and the FFs and the 500s seemed to be the brighter light. as for the 700s i was wondering the same thing when i was purchasing my lights yesterday.
     
  3. Jan 9, 2013 at 10:29 AM
    #3
    ChamYota

    ChamYota Crash Bandicoot Or Groot AKA Cham "Scottalot" Yota

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    I have two hella 500ff on my bull bar for driving and i found them to be quite useful, they shot out maybe a foot or two further out ahead of the headlights and they lit the road up well enough for me to drive the backroads and at night in general much better. Im replacing them with an led light bar so yeah.
     
  4. Jan 9, 2013 at 10:39 AM
    #4
    calebm12

    calebm12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Weathertech, hand turned wood shift knob, rear view mirror mod, grillecraft MX, hella 500s
    It interesting that on Amazon the 500s are cheaper than the ffs
     
  5. Jan 9, 2013 at 12:07 PM
    #5
    Conti

    Conti Member

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    The 500ff's have a clear lens (or hella's free-form technology), where the 500 is textured. The 700's are just larger. http://www.hella.com/produktion/HellaUSA/WebSite/Channels/Drivers/Products/Performance_Lighting/Model500/Model500.jsp

    I just ordered a pair of 500ff this morning through AutoPartsWarehouse... http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/Univ/Hella/Driving_Light/H57005750941.html?intcmpid=Product+Listings+Best+Seller
    Used promo code welcome5 and got them shipped for around $65.

    Cheers.
     
  6. Jan 9, 2013 at 12:08 PM
    #6
    RedTacomaTy

    RedTacomaTy Well-Known Member

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    Complete: -2 10" Kicker CVR Subs -Hifonix Brutus BRZ1200.1D Amp -17x8 Tuff A/T T01 Wheels -265/65/17 Michelin LTX M/S2 Tires To-Do: #1 Satoshi Grill #2 Relocate the Horns #3 Hella 700FF behind the Grill #4 Shorten Mud Flaps #5 Avid Light Bar (w/ 2 Fog Lights OR 2 Driving Lights) #6 Weather Tech Floor Mats #7 Upgrade Door Woofers #8 Scooped Hood
    FF means free form, which means that the bulb housing uses more of the available light. FF housing capture about 50% of the light while regular housing only capture about 30%. In the end your decision between FF and regular is just if you want it to be brighter or not.

    700 just has a bigger housing than the 500, only difference.

    I have 2 700FF Hellas.
     
  7. Jan 9, 2013 at 6:28 PM
    #7
    calebm12

    calebm12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks conti. Just placed an order for the 500s.....to go behind a grill craft ordered this morning.
     
  8. Jan 9, 2013 at 6:57 PM
    #8
    BreezyTaco

    BreezyTaco Well-Known Member

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  9. Jan 9, 2013 at 7:25 PM
    #9
    BreezyTaco

    BreezyTaco Well-Known Member

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    Wait a min...what's the diff between the 500ff fog lights and 500ff driving lights? Which do I want for behind the grill app?
     
  10. Jan 9, 2013 at 9:23 PM
    #10
    RedTacomaTy

    RedTacomaTy Well-Known Member

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    Complete: -2 10" Kicker CVR Subs -Hifonix Brutus BRZ1200.1D Amp -17x8 Tuff A/T T01 Wheels -265/65/17 Michelin LTX M/S2 Tires To-Do: #1 Satoshi Grill #2 Relocate the Horns #3 Hella 700FF behind the Grill #4 Shorten Mud Flaps #5 Avid Light Bar (w/ 2 Fog Lights OR 2 Driving Lights) #6 Weather Tech Floor Mats #7 Upgrade Door Woofers #8 Scooped Hood
    Well one is a fog light and one is a driving light. Haha, is that what you meant? Again, FF is just free form which is a different kind of, more efficient lense.

    Fogs are better when they are lower, and driving lights should be about at headlight level. So for behind the grill I use driving lights, unless you need or want fog lights more.
     
  11. Jan 10, 2013 at 6:22 AM
    #11
    BreezyTaco

    BreezyTaco Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for clarifying the fog light vs. driving light :rolleyes:, I emailed them and told them I ordered the wrong set, but the specs were the same??? Either way, I should get the 500FF "Driving Lights". thanks.
     
  12. Jan 10, 2013 at 8:35 AM
    #12
    RedTacomaTy

    RedTacomaTy Well-Known Member

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    Haha no problem the differences between driving lights and fog lights are pretty confusing :D.

    But seriously, the only real differences between them are the housing and lenses, which is what affects the beam pattern. They usually have the same specs becuase they use the same bulb, for the most part.
     
  13. Jan 10, 2013 at 8:45 AM
    #13
    DelinquentTaco

    DelinquentTaco Active Member

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    I have the 700 driving lights on mine and they are great wouldnt want anything else.

    705229_10151242506940852_201987345_o.jpg
    281781_10151209500605852_1925457446_n.jpg
     
  14. Jan 10, 2013 at 5:17 PM
    #14
    steelers4582

    steelers4582 Well-Known Member

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    I mounted 500s a few weeks ago. Haven't had a chance to wire them in yet but here is how they look behind a Grillcraft....

    [​IMG]
     
  15. Jan 10, 2013 at 5:33 PM
    #15
    Elp303

    Elp303 Well-Known Member

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    I have 700's converted to HID. Very bright!
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Lumberjackcoma likes this.
  16. Jan 10, 2013 at 5:36 PM
    #16
    CayucosTacoma

    CayucosTacoma Just think outside the Yota

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    Specs in the Build Thread
  17. Jan 10, 2013 at 6:49 PM
    #17
    calebm12

    calebm12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Looks great. How'd u do the install mounting? Where'd u pick up the Toyota badge. Have this exact same set up in the mail!
     
  18. Jan 11, 2013 at 9:00 AM
    #18
    steelers4582

    steelers4582 Well-Known Member

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