Chimera lights

[kriss5154]

Needs some thoughts have 1996 chimera, was thinking of buying light kit to cover the lights like Griv, I seem to think that TVR did offer a Chim with lights like this, am I going mad, I have looked at modification not sure it’s worth doing, any thoughts

[Classic Chim]

I think the last cars had them and from about 2000 onwards the factory offered this conversion from new. .
Tvr Central do this at a reasonsble price I seem to remember.
Might be worth checking there website for details.

[TVRJAS]

Big thread here if you're thinking Mk3.... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Had mine done last year Mk3 style.

[kriss5154]

Thanks

[Litcoat]

I think it's a worthwhile mod, gives the car more flowing lines from front to rear.

[QBee]

The options are:

Refurbish the originals and/or use brighter bulbs (Osram, Ring, Phillips all make 80-120% brighter bulbs).

Convert to VW Lupo lights

Convert to Tuscan style projector lights - Central TVR amongst other offer this, and it includes a front end respray.

Mark 3 faired in lights.


You will get various opinions, but the Mark 3 faired in look seem to get the most votes.

[Engineer1949]

lupo conversion gets my vote very good beam all sealed so no silvering issues.

tvr_9_march 5 by Brundall Motorsport, on Flickr

john

[mike-v2tmf]

[bobfather]

As I understand, the Lupo conversion has a lot of advantages but the beam isn't as good as you would expect. The problem appears to be that the beam pattern is disrupted because the reflector has a larger diameter than the reshaped lamp shroud. The beam on the original setup is a combination of the reflector and the lens. The Lupo beam is created purely by the reflector so cutting off part of that reflected light damages the beam pattern

[SILICONEKID 345HP 12.03]

bobfather said:

As I understand, the Lupo conversion has a lot of advantages but the beam isn't as good as you would expect. The problem appears to be that the beam pattern is disrupted because the reflector has a larger diameter than the reshaped lamp shroud. The beam on the original setup is a combination of the reflector and the lens. The Lupo beam is created purely by the reflector so cutting off part of that reflected light damages the beam pattern

I have that very same problem , the pattern is disturbed and is useless .
Would it be worth removing the shrouds ?

[SILICONEKID 345HP 12.03]

[quote=SILICONEKID 345HP 12.03]

I have that very same problem , the pattern is disturbed and is useless .
Would it be worth removing the shrouds ?
Not hapoy with mine and whats worth they are just glued in so If they get damaged its an awfull job .

Wish I had gone for the mk111 ..

Soend spend spend .

[ianwayne]

I actually think faired-in looks the best, But 2nd prize is the Lupo lights IMHO. I have them on my current Chimaera fitted by the last owner at Carizma.

They're brighter and have better beam than the originals; I hadn't noticed any disruption to the beam myself. However, I recently found condensation spots inside mine:



A bit disappointed because I thought they were sealed beam type!?

Edited by ianwayne on Saturday 6th January 22:48

[portzi]

ianwayne said:

I actually think faired-in looks the best, But 2nd prize is the Lupo lights IMHO. I have them on my current Chimaera fitted by the last owner at Carizma.

They're brighter and have better beam than the originals; I hadn't noticed any disruption to the beam myself. However, I recently found condensation spots inside mine:

A bit disappointed because I thought they were sealed beam type!?

Edited by ianwayne on Saturday 6th January 22:48

Hi Ian,

PSA
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I had the same problem in one of my lupos about 3 years ago, it turned out to be the back inspection hatch on the lupo light had come undone leaving a small gap, presumably allowing condensation to form, I re-closed the hatch and have had no problems since, hope this works for you.

Kind regards
Mark

[ianwayne]

Thanks for that, I didn't find anything on my search.

I have a 1996 facelift front end so have access panels in the wheelarches. I'll check when the weather get a bit warmer.