This is mostly just a rant, so feel free to ignore...

I've had it with these hella clear covers. I got a set to protect the rather pricey Hella 4000s I have on my bumper. They don't sit up against the lens, but rather about 1/4" away (I assume because of the heat generated by the lamps). This 1/4" gap is more that enough room for dirt/mud/grime to get between the cover and the lamp. I live in the northeast, and this time of year, my truck lives in the grime. I have yet to be able to use my 4000s this winter without having to remove the covers, and during the winter is when I need the covers on the most. They are no better than the b/w covers that came with the lamps.

What a waste of money.

 

I took mine off yesterday to work on my Hella 500 fogs, I pulled apart a connector and didn't know it :pat:, and they were filthy with grime on the outside, but clean as a bell on the inside. Seems like if yours are like mine that you could just give'm a quick shot of windex and a wipe and they would be good to go. Although they were filthy, they still projected a good bit of light. Yours must be getting really caked up with gunk or I just don't understand.

Hope you find a fix!

If you just decide to trash your Hella's I'll take'm off your hands for FREE and even pay the shipping!

 

That is weird Jackson.
I have 2 sets on both of my 500s, and they sit tight up against the Hella lens.
Must be a design difference between these and the bigger ones for the 4000 series.

In fact I have not taken the covers off in over 3 years or more, actually they have not been off since they went on, maybe 4 years?
Lost track of time.

My lens underneath look clean as a whistle when the covers are washed on the outside, and I use the lights at night coming home from work.

Mine too are exposed to grit & grime from all the rain we get here in the winter in the Pacific Northwest.

 

I think it's just a poor design, though I'm not sure if/how it could be improved. I've got to think that the gap is because of how hot the 4000s get (much, much warmer than my 500s). I'm just going to deal with it at this point... maybe I'll put my rack back on with the 500s and use those.

 

Yeah, I would think that the clears are more for protecting against flying debris than keeping them clean and I do remember reading about heat buildup. My 500s have a raised dot in the middle to project them out a bit, but it's only like 1/8".

How about a mod where you retrofit a washer nossle onto the front of your bumper aimed at your lamps? Too excessive?

Just throwing ideas out.

 

The problem is that dirt builds up on the INSIDE of the cover. The front of the covers stay relatively clean, but the insides just keep getting worse.

 

The problem has to be the gap.

I would bet that it needs that much (1/4") so that the lenses don't crack from the heat but then they get dirty. In reality it would be easier to just leave the black and white ones on and then pop them off when needed if you are going to have to start carrying something to clean them with and get out and do it anyway.

On the Hella 500s it is like maybe at the most 1/8" of a gap and the fronts of my light lenses were clean as a whistle yesterday when I worked on them while the outside of the covers got my hands filthy.

Definitely a bummer dude!