Tamora headlights

[ZooOOM]

I saw the T350 post on headlight upgrades and it got me thinking, what can you do to improve the Tamora's?

I remember Racing Green offered something, HID upgrade or something, but it’s a bit on the expensive side for me. Besides I'd like to sort it out for myself.

Is there a direct replacement bulb set that would improve things? What type are they, size, £, etc?

[david godfrey]

alittle way down on the following from the FAQ help?

Bulb Specifications:
Headlamps (Main Beam & Dipped) 55W H7
Sidelights (Front) 5W
Indicators (Front) 21W
Side Repeaters 5W Capless
Brake Lights 21W
Tail Lights 5W
Indicators (Rear) 21W
Number Plate Lights 5W
Fog Light 21W
Interior Light 5W

(Headlamps upgraded to 50% Brighter Osram Silver Star H7 from www.powerbulbs.co.uk
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=7&t=170765&h=0

[ZooOOM]

Thanks for that David. I thought those FAQs only applied to the T350.

I was obviously misled by the title!!

The website you recommended also has Philips X-Treme Power H7. They purport to push out 80% more light. So I guess they are even better than the Osram Silver Star H7? If you know different please post.

[stevend]

I upgraded the headlight bulbs in my Tamora and it made a big difference, I should have the invoice at home and I will check this evening but I am pretty sure it was the Philips ones.

Steven

[nubbin]

The easiest way to upgrade headlights is to get a Bi-Xenon upgrade kit - try www.HIDs4u.co.uk - they do a full DIY kit for £270, which would probably fit the Tamora's existing lights, and gives the full HID on dip and main beam. I've had some HID kits from them, and fitted them to 2 Audi's and an MX5. Well worth it!

[s99ane]

There was an article in autocar last week about these aftermarket hid kits. It recons that these are illegal and would fail on mot testing.

[nubbin]

s99ane said:

There was an article in autocar last week about these aftermarket hid kits. It recons that these are illegal and would fail on mot testing.

Fail on what grounds? If they are correctly aligned, where's the problem? There is some sort of European directive that HIDs should only be used on cars with headlight washers, for some vague reason, but it isn't law. Even if someone did fail a car, it is the work of 5 minutes to put ordinary bulbs back in and have the car re-tested.

[AlexRWD]

I've been meaning to upgrade my bulbs for some time now, really must get around to doing it, only had the car about 2.5 years now ....

How easy is it on the Tam? I know you have to remove each wheel, then find some sort of cover, and is it then fairly simple, or a difficult and fiddly job?

Just checked the website for the Philips bulbs and they're out of stock at the moment.

[stevend]

I can't help, lazy me gave the new bulbs to the dealer to fit at a service.

Steven

[richb]

Because the lights in Griff's are poor by modern standards this matter has been rumbling on in the Griffith forum for some time. The problem for Griff's is twofold; i) it only used 6" lights in the first place (the last 100 had improved 7" lamps) and ii) the light is weakened by the Perspex fairings.

I would think the information there would be of interest to Tamora owners thinking of something similar and because the Griffith forum is busier there are more comments and ideas.

I believe the Tamora uses 7" reflectors with H4 bulbs (same as the last 100 Griffiths) so I think for a significant improvement you would need to go to HID lamps. There are loads of places selling these on eBay from about £99 for a set. And a chap called Seasider (Derek/Del) has put some pictures and narrative of how he did it on his web site. Remember his Griffith had the H1 set-up but it will give you some ideas. Rich...

[doctor_darren]

s99ane said:

There was an article in autocar last week about these aftermarket hid kits. It recons that these are illegal and would fail on mot testing.

Any chance you could post up that AutoCar article would be interesting to see? As I have already posted on a separate thread, I have also been told HID on dipped beam would probably fail an MoT.

Darren

[Podie]

nubbin said:

s99ane said:

There was an article in autocar last week about these aftermarket hid kits. It recons that these are illegal and would fail on mot testing.

Fail on what grounds? If they are correctly aligned, where's the problem? There is some sort of European directive that HIDs should only be used on cars with headlight washers, for some vague reason, but it isn't law. Even if someone did fail a car, it is the work of 5 minutes to put ordinary bulbs back in and have the car re-tested.

IIRC HID's have to have an auto-levelling feature AND headlamp washers...

[Podie]

Silverstone Performance did a twin headlight conversion jobbie...

[alt]

nubbin said:

it is the work of 5 minutes to put ordinary bulbs back in

Nubbin, I know you're a superhero but 5 minutes! TVR Power charged my an hour's labour to change mine as it's such a pita job!

[ZooOOM]

stevend said:

I upgraded the headlight bulbs in my Tamora and it made a big difference, I should have the invoice at home and I will check this evening but I am pretty sure it was the Philips ones.

Steven

I would appreciate it if you could confirm the correct size. H4 and H7 have been mentioned so far

[t40ora]

Wanna upgrade mine - use high power ones on the rest of our cars and they made a big difference.

But I'm just a bloody coward! Can't be messing with this cutting sealant and resealing stuff. I KNOW I'll bugger up somewhere along the way...... AND I can't a get my jack under the Tamora. AND I'd probably miss the jacking point and come through the floor......

All in all it looks like a few more quid spent at Racing Green.

[plasticman]

The bulb used in the large headlamp is a H4 but I have only seen the dip filament being used as the main beam is lower down (H7).If you buy a HID H4 conversion you would not be making full use unless you wired it to do both main and dip . You could then wire your old mains into the fog loom which is already in the front of the car unused .

[AlexRWD]

t40ora said:

Can't be messing with this cutting sealant and resealing stuff. I KNOW I'll bugger up somewhere along the way......

Is that necessary? I thought the access is via the back of the light, through the wheelarch?

t40ora said:

AND I can't a get my jack under the Tamora. AND I'd probably miss the jacking point and come through the floor......

I got a Halfords trolley jack which fits under the Tam fine, and it's pretty easy to jack, as there are plenty of meeting points for the tube sections that seem easy enough to use.

[t40ora]

AlexRWD said:

t40ora said:

Can't be messing with this cutting sealant and resealing stuff. I KNOW I'll bugger up somewhere along the way......

Is that necessary? I thought the access is via the back of the light, through the wheelarch?

t40ora said:

AND I can't a get my jack under the Tamora. AND I'd probably miss the jacking point and come through the floor......

I got a Halfords trolley jack which fits under the Tam fine, and it's pretty easy to jack, as there are plenty of meeting points for the tube sections that seem easy enough to use.

I think you have to remove the mastic from a panel in the arch, then unscrew etc etc then fit it back, remastic and so on.

As for the jack, I'll have a llok at Halfrauds as the one I have def doesn't fit.

[richb]

t40ora said:

As for the jack, I'll have a llok at Halfrauds as the one I have def doesn't fit.

This one's nice, alluminium and with a roller at the front instead of wheels so it is very low but it's expensive