Mk1 lights upgrade

Author
Discussion

Bomberharris

Original Poster:

315 posts

145 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Im struggling with my lights as live in a very dark unlit area, plus being low down coming up against modern cars coming the opposite way. Im also planning to do a eurotrip,

What are good routes for upgrade? Also has anyone done extra spot lights and where how fitted?

TYIA

Oldandslow

2,405 posts

206 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Are they sealed units? The originals are really poor. Any 7" replacement with halogen bulbs is a massive improvement.

pewe

648 posts

219 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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I put Wipac Quad Optics units and some Phillips Vision Plus bulbs into mine
.
Bought from http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/

They have an amazing selection of both on offer but my combination seems to work well.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe.

Bomberharris

Original Poster:

315 posts

145 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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Thank you i have taken your advice, but not on the wipac lens are they so important to change? As well as bulb?

Bomberharris

Original Poster:

315 posts

145 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
quotequote all
Btw did you order the wipac with or without 'pilot'?

Tyia

thecremeegg

1,964 posts

203 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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The lenses make a huge difference. I got some Wipacs a few weeks ago and along with some Osram Nightbreakers they're a vast improvement over the old lenses I had.

PATTERNPART

693 posts

201 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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I put Wipacs on with common or garden Ring bulbs and cant see much difference.

pewe

648 posts

219 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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Lenses were IIRC without pilot windows as sidelights are of course separate on MK1's - unless you're planning to make the sidelight apertures into air-intakes.....
Might be worth comparing these:-
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/product.php/...
Cheers, Pewe.

Munter

31,319 posts

241 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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I always found washing the lens to give huge improvements. Even having them down in the summer they seemed to get a coating of filth.

Mine were not the sealed units though.

SportsCarShop

591 posts

138 months

Thursday 1st January 2015
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The way to get a real improvement is to fit HID lamps - that of course requires an H4 lamp if sealed beams are fitted, done this to a few Jaguars, and Have a TVR Chimaera in with HIDs right now. But HID bulbs with traditional lenses is a half way house as the real change in lamp design is the move to using the reflector instead of the lens to make the beam pattern - so the real question is; does someone make a lamp with a calibrated reflector and a clear plastic lens? Would fit MGs Triumphs, E types and TVRs etc too?

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

219 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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I don't think there is a road legal HID kit for Mk1/2. Its not just the bulb & reflector, it would also need lamp auto-levelling and wash, both of which aren't practical options. Putting HID bulbs in the standard light units is a bad option.

J-Tuner

2,855 posts

243 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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I upgraded to a set of raybrig clear lenses and nightbreakers - i think thats the best you're going to get without going silly as they are direct replacements smile



Edited by J-Tuner on Thursday 8th January 16:39

Jobbo

12,972 posts

264 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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I got some reflector headlamps off eBay a couple of years ago, and a set of Osram Nightbreakers. Something like this (do check they'll fit the MX5; I'm pretty sure mine were sold as MX5 or Land Rover fitment because they're standard units): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Halogen-Crystal-headlamp...

Well worthwhile doing and a massive improvement. I had one sealed beam unit and one glass lens replacement unit before; definitely go for reflector rather than lens.

Podie

46,630 posts

275 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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Straying out of my usual areas of PH....

Saw a Mk1 the other week with rectangular, low profile units - parked up at the same time as the owner and he told me it was a Ford Probe conversion...