Headlights - age old issue

[Harrytsg]

I have just pulled mine out the car as they are about as reflective as sandpaper.

Of the options available I would rather keep the original look, or at a push, Lupo.

In your experience, are these worthy of re-chroming?

|http://thumbsnap.com/lbuGsBX1[/url]

Re-chroming and a lacquer of some sort?

or this kit, if it fits ???(my Bosch units measure 7 1/2 reflector - 8 inches glass).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Car-Halogen-Head...

or Lupo?

Or have I missed something new in the last year or so thats an alternative?

[QBee]

Racetech have a kit of ONE new reflector plus fitting kit for £72 plus VAT, so that's your benchmark as to whether a refurb is worth the money. You can buy the reflector on its own, but its over £100.....

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/rd25-tvr-car-part-...

[jojackson4]

Chimv8 is having some done
They make yours look new

Look at bringing a chim back

[magpies]

check out 'chimpongas' thread headed LED Headlights

he has had his reflectors done and looking at LED lamps

Edited by magpies on Sunday 25th January 18:44

[Harrytsg]

Thanks all, I'll give a localish metal finishers a call tomorrow, then make a choice on the way forward.

[davelittlewood]

These guys are good

http://www.dual-metallising.co.uk

[ChimpOnGas]

QBee said:

Racetech have a kit of ONE new reflector plus fitting kit for £72 plus VAT, so that's your benchmark as to whether a refurb is worth the money. You can buy the reflector on its own, but its over £100.....

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/rd25-tvr-car-part-...

That's crazy money, just buy the right Porsche 911 ones from Germany and you'll have a pair for around £90.00.

But they will need a little drilling to get the mounting hoes in the right places, the other option is having your originals re-silvered like the OP & Chimv8.

Three reasons they corrode:

1. They are more or less open to the environment

2. The heat from the incandescent halogen bulb warms the bowl so as it cools you inevitably get condensation forming on the delicate silvered finish

3. They were never protected (sealed/lacquered) from the factory which given the delicate nature of the silvered finish is asking for trouble

Finally there's a insane improvement in night time driving just waiting to be enjoyed simply by fitting the LED H4 units I'm trialing.

I still need to fit my new (& 2k sealed) reflectors that are ready to go in, my current reflectors look like the ones shown by "Harrytsg" at the top of this post. I'd describe them as dull & in need of replacement or re-silvering.

But just sticking the LED H4 units in with my dull reflectors transformed things so much I find myself constantly putting off the reflector change (it's cold out & I'm a lazy sod) .

TBH with my new reflectors God only knows what my Chimaera headlights will be like, my guess is.... somewhere between a lighthouse and the sun

Game changing!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=20&...

[Harrytsg]

ChimpOnGas, do you have a link for the Porsche reflectors, or which 911 variant they are from?

[Harrytsg]

Also, where is best to buy 2 sets of adjusters from, prices seem to vary >£25 for 1 set, which seems ridiculous.

[QBee]

Harrytsg said:

Also, where is best to buy 2 sets of adjusters from, prices seem to vary >£25 for 1 set, which seems ridiculous.

Is this what you need?

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/rd331-tvr-car-part...

[Harrytsg]

QBee said:

Is this what you need?

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/rd331-tvr-car-part...

They are, but don't have the rubber reflector bits or (looking at the picture) the small arms.

[s3c chris]

Hello.
I too am debating about the headlamps on my Chim.
I also prefer the original look and am whilst wondering about the Lupo conversion, a thought occurred to me.
London taxi headlamps seem to slope back so a quick look on ebay revealed item number 361187335937.
I don't know how to post a link (too old and miserable to learn) but I just wondered what you thought about the possibilities?
Chris.

[ianwayne]

1. Left click in the internet address window at the top to highlight the full URL.
2. Right click on the highlighted selection.
3. Click on 'copy'
4. When writing your reply, right-click in the space.
5. Select 'paste.' Voilá

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361187335937?ru=http%3A%...

[ChimpOnGas]

s3c chris said:

Hello.
I too am debating about the headlamps on my Chim.
I also prefer the original look and am whilst wondering about the Lupo conversion, a thought occurred to me.
London taxi headlamps seem to slope back so a quick look on ebay revealed item number 361187335937.
I don't know how to post a link (too old and miserable to learn) but I just wondered what you thought about the possibilities?
Chris.

Daz will be on here in minute telling everyone he thought of the London taxi headlight idea first, TBH I'd been scoping them out for some time too and can also confirm there are some things you need to know.

Firstly when you see them on a London taxi they always have a little brown dot in the middle of the lens. It appears they are all like this because the lens is made from plastic and it's such poor quality it can't even cope with the heat from a halogen bulb without scorching and going brown.

Secondly I'm not so sure they will fit as well as you think, it seems to me they are possibly a little too small for the Chimaera headlight bezels although I must admit I've not actually offered one up yet.

Perhaps with the much cooler running LED bulbs I'm using they won't suffer the brown dot syndrome, perhaps they will fit the Chimaera cowl perfectly?

Personally I'm keeping the original setup & new but drilled Porsche reflectors sealed with a good quality 2k clear coat, as we know I'm also running the very effective LED units.

But the taxi lights are an interesting possibility if they fit nicely without gaps, who will be the first to try them?

[GTRene]

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/u2340-tvr-car-part...

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/m1638-tvr-car-part...

?