Headlight upgrade - which one ? Recommendations please

[DOUGGRIFF]

Hi. My Griffith is going in for a few bits soon and I was thinking of getting the headlights upgraded at the same time.
I’ve done a bit of looking around to look at the options and wondered if anyone could recommend which is best from experience.
I’m tempted by the 7” headlight upgrade but then there are various simple HID conversion kits that include all the relays etc. At the other end of the spectrum is the mod- wise brighter light kit.
In all honesty I will very rarely be using the car in the dark, but it would be nice to see where I was going if I did.
Has anyone gone for the simpler HID upgrade kits and how have you found them ?
The 7” headlight upgrade looks great but it would involve a lot more disturbance to the front end ( and cost ) which slightly puts me off.
Many thanks in advance for any advice.
Very best regards.

[BIG DUNC]

I have the Sportmotive 7 inch upgrade.
I also ran thicker wires direct from the fuse box and fitted relays, as TVR should have done originally. I also fitted updated bulbs into the new light units.

The Sportmotive kit is expensive, but the difference, if you will excuse the pun, is night and day.

I haven’t tried the other options you mention such as LED so cannot compare them or say which is best.

[Tavan]

+1 for the Sportmotive kit

[bomb]

My car is in at Sportmotive now, getting the 7'' lights fitted. I did a bit of research prior to upgrading and decided that was the very best option.

Looking forward to getting the car back next week.

[phillpot]

BIG DUNC said:

I have the Sportmotive 7 inch upgrade.

Does that put dip and main beam in the "headlights"? Are what were main beam rewired as spot/driving lamps ?

[DOUGGRIFF]

Great thanks for your quick replies.
Looks like the sportmotive upgrade may be the best way forward.
Very best regards

[Colin RedGriff]

HID bulbs aren't suitable for adding to the standard light units (or the 7" upgrades. They need to be combined with proper reflectors designed for HIDs otherwise you won't get a clear beam pattern.

[300bhp/ton]

Colin RedGriff said:

HID bulbs aren't suitable for adding to the standard light units (or the 7" upgrades. They need to be combined with proper reflectors designed for HIDs otherwise you won't get a clear beam pattern.

That’s not actually true. There is other legislation saying you maybe shouldn’t fit HIDs to these lenses. But it is not guaranteed that you can’t get a good beam pattern out of them. It might be a better beam pattern in some cases.

[Hedgehopper]

It might be worth considering how zealous (or not) your MOT guy is. The lack of wash/wipe and self levelling will be fairly obvious to him if he cares to look.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afterma...

[BIG DUNC]

phillpot said:

Does that put dip and main beam in the "headlights"? Are what were main beam rewired as spot/driving lamps ?

Yes, the main light now does both main and dip beam rather than dip beam only. This frees up the lower lights to use / wire as you please and I understand many people do have them as switchable driving lights or fog lights. However, I left mine as additional main beam.

[phillpot]

BIG DUNC said:

phillpot said:

Does that put dip and main beam in the "headlights"? Are what were main beam rewired as spot/driving lamps ?

Yes, the main light now does both main and dip beam rather than dip beam only. This frees up the lower lights to use / wire as you please and I understand many people do have them as switchable driving lights or fog lights. However, I left mine as additional main beam.

Thanks

[bomb]

Just got my car back from Sportmotive and the headlamp upgrade is very good.

Recommend their services. The upgraded lights are excellent compared with the standard 5 inch originals.

[DOUGGRIFF]

Thanks again for your advice.
Just out of curiosity how long did you have to leave your car with sportmotive for them to do the upgrade please ?
Many thanks

[bomb]

The car was there about a week. They may do it slightly quicker depending upon their workload. A week suited my own timings.

Edited by bomb on Saturday 23 February 09:10

[DOUGGRIFF]

Thanks . I would be interested in seeing the photos if you get a chance.
Very best regards

[bomb]

I have just edited my post with photos for you.

[blueST]

Sorry to wade in on TVR stuff, not being an owner myself. Assuming these are normal 7” headlights like you get on Land Rovers and stuff, have you seen the E marked LED units from Trucklite and JW Speaker etc.? I have a set of the Trucklites and they are excellent.

[blitzracing]

300bhp/ton said:

Colin RedGriff said:

HID bulbs aren't suitable for adding to the standard light units (or the 7" upgrades. They need to be combined with proper reflectors designed for HIDs otherwise you won't get a clear beam pattern.

That’s not actually true. There is other legislation saying you maybe shouldn’t fit HIDs to these lenses. But it is not guaranteed that you can’t get a good beam pattern out of them. It might be a better beam pattern in some cases.

The HID plasma envelope is a completely different shape to hot filament lamp, so it will always be outside the headlight lens ability to focus on both dip and full. Sure you can point everything downwards so you dont blind on coming traffic, but its pretty obvious to Plod by the light colour that they wont be OEM on a TVR. Certainly the plague of tts with HIDs fitted to old Golfs , Cleos, and like that illuminated passing satellites has been greatly reduced around here over the last couple of years, so Im sure Plod / MOT time is taking action.

[DOUGGRIFF]

Thanks for taking the time to upload the photos. Looks great.
The night time photo is amazing. I don’t really drive the car at night but it’s worth doing just in case I ever do.
Thanks again for your help
Very best regards

[das2000m]

Do these conversations involve opening up the hole aperture or is it just the pod that’s a different shape?