Off side headlamp question
Off side headlamp question
Author
Discussion

maston

Original Poster:

872 posts

182 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
My off side headlamp has a metal umbrella type jobby thingy that sits between the h4 bulp and the lens.
It acts as a filter to dim the beam etc. This must be original fitment I guess.

My question is has your got it too and if I remove it I presume my beam will be a lot better (naff at the moment !)and any reason not to remove it ???

Many Thanks


Wedg1e

27,038 posts

295 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
Is it not a mirror that directs the light onto part of the reflector? Removing it may bu993r up your beamspread...

maston

Original Poster:

872 posts

182 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
Hi Ian,
No it's just metal but you may have a point ???
The passenger side does not have one though ???


RCK974X

2,521 posts

179 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
Disclaimer - AS FAR AS I KNOW....(so it might be wrong !!)

A lot of H4 headlamps have a metal mounting with extended baffle all in one. I believe this baffle is to allow for dipped beam to have a 'cut off' at the top so that oncoming drivers are not dazzled. Some are polished so also act as a mirror, some are not. If you look at a H4 bulb, the filaments are different distances from the mount/back (i.e. different focus points) so explains how baffle works.

I have also seen headlamps with no baffle, these tend to have heavier 'V' mouldings in the glass, so probably this acheives the dip beam cut off with those heavier 'V' mouldings doing the redirects.

Does that make sense ??


maston

Original Poster:

872 posts

182 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
Thanks Andy,
Makes perfect sense. Thank you.
My baffle is not polished and presumably with the type of headlamp I have it is probably not adviseable for me to take it out. I guess to improve the lighting I could buy a more modern headlamp like they have in classic minis (wipac h4 jobbies) ?

maston

Original Poster:

872 posts

182 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
Your reply also helps in resolving my question as to why oncoming traffic never complain at me driving with my full beam on biggrin

RCK974X

2,521 posts

179 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
No, I reckon it's not a good idea to remove the baffle !!

New headlamps....

The last set of Wipacs I remember had the baffle, but the Cibies did not.

You used to be able to get Cibie lights for both H1 (rally spot light type) which were well known, and H4 - which a lot of people don't realise - had those on kit cars. Those H4 Cibies had no baffle. I think there were Cibies made as standard inserts as well (which would fit the Wedge).

So I can only say, have a look around and inspect !!

Just explain to the nice policeman why you are staring at headlamps in various parked cars....biglaugh