Does anyone know if you can just buy halogen sealed beam headlights and fit them straight to the 3 point connector or do you have to change to whole wiring system as one of my old non halogen headlights has stopped working and I know it's the sealed beam unit that's the problem. If not then can anyone direct me to where you can buy the old sealed beams online?
Did the swap last year, and wow, what a difference
Made me ask myself the question as to just how I used to drive at night when I was a teenager trying to follow the glimmer from those electronic candles.
As long as you have a working sidelamp - that's enough! The ones in the headlamps don't need to work. Whoever told you that??? I still have sealed beams on my Trav - and they are perfectly good for the speed of the car! I use them regularly at 5am on dark mornings - on my way to 'light up' for the day......
Roy, maybe i didnt explain myself properly, it is from my understanding from posts on the forum that if a car is fitted with additional features such as forms of lighting then they have to work to pass the mot.
Also when I asked this question at the garage where my minor is tested he confirmed this and said that If I had fitted halogens with integrated side lights he would need them to work for the mot. The reason I had had this conversation was because I fitted the lights between mot's and it failed due to alignment issues which I had to rectify.
Richard
Opinions are like people,everyone can be different.
Well - he's wrong - as long as you have the original sidelights - that's all you require. You don't need TWO side lights on each side. However - I do think the integral sidelights are better - and if you make them work - it means you can convert the original lights to be 'indicator' only. Perhaps orange bulbs inside the clear lenses - something like that.
Wipac Quadoptics are the ones to go for. The type with provision for sidelights usually has a hole in the reflector with a blanking plug when side lights are not required.
The additional lights refers to reversing, rear fog, indicators if trafficators are fitted.
My TR7 reversing lights have never worked - passes MOT ok....they don't have to work, and I have no use for them - so have never bothered to investigate. Rear fog warning etc if fitted - must work. Most of the halogen units have a little clear window for a sidelight to shine through - it's fitted on a holder external to the headlamp reflector - and of course - leaves no route for moisture to enter the reflector, which is good! I have these also on the TR7 -and the lack of a sidelight on them - has never been questioned.
I brought a halogen conversion kit from my local factors for my self built car.
I had gone to enquire about buying sealed, but they were no longer available.
The only differences I had to the sealed beam was the glass of the unit is flat against domed as in the sealed beam, other then that mine was a straight swap.
I'm not sure they provide the correct beam pattern - could be trouble at MOT time. They will also not 'look right' on a Minor - they certainly look really silly on a Mini!
MechanicMichael wrote:I brought a halogen conversion kit from my local factors for my self built car.
I had gone to enquire about buying sealed, but they were no longer available.
The only differences I had to the sealed beam was the glass of the unit is flat against domed as in the sealed beam, other then that mine was a straight swap.
Production of sealed beam units stopped a couple of years back I think. (How many modern vehicles use 7" round headlights even then they will all be halogen so its only the fast diminishing aftermarket so no surprise really) I guess stocks are running out though you may find some on a shelf at a motorfactors if lucky...
Wipac halogens and some Lucas ones have a curved glass and look better in a Minor. The ones Minor specialists tend to sell are slightly curved which is better than flat...
You can now get Halogen bulbs to fit the older Lucas 700s pre focus bulb headlights (original on pre 1964ish Minors)if appearance is that important to you.
cheers
Iain
Fairmile Restorations.
'49 MM, '53 convertible, '55 van, and a '64 van.
Marina p.u., '56 Morris Isis Traveller, a '59 Morris JB van, a'66 J4 van, a '54 Land Rover, Land Rover 130, Renault 5, '36Railton, '35 Hudson, a Mk1 Transit and a Sherpa Camper...
A car can be restored at any time, but is only original once!
Plenty of sealed beams still available in LHD land
For pre focus headlights you can get the P45T base H4 bulbs. They're not too common but they're easy to find on the internet. I'll probably go for those when my round bulbs burn out.
Have one on the bike and the difference is substantial.
bmcecosse wrote:I'm not sure they provide the correct beam pattern - could be trouble at MOT time. They will also not 'look right' on a Minor - they certainly look really silly on a Mini!
Well of the ones I have seen on eBay some are E marked and some are not but claim to pass the MOT test. But yes I agree they don't quite look the part.
I was told years ago that if the headlamps were uprated the Dynamo should be changed for an alternator. Is this still the case or are modern halogens ok with a dynamo?
However - I do think the integral sidelights are better - and if you make them work - it means you can convert the original lights to be 'indicator' only. Perhaps orange bulbs inside the clear lenses - something like that.
