Headlight upgrades

[geordiepingu]

Hello fellow TVR hooners,

I am in a position where I want to make my TVR a touch more road legal and also modernise the look a little bit, without spending the world's most obscene amount of cash.

I have a raspberry Mk2 400HC chim with the non-split front end. The rear lights have been updated to some non-fiesta looking LED units that don't look too chavvy. Happy with that.

The headlights have been questionable since I got it. It was imported with HIDs in a H4 housing from Japan. The conversion was done very well, so far I'd say it was a professional's installation, and passed every MOT without an advisory in the UK. It is known these were TVR friendly testers. A HID blew late last year, and so I made an effort to get LED replacements that at least had a deflector in the right place to try and make the beam pattern such that it doesn't dazzle other drivers. Whether it's actually E-marked is up for debate, the claim is it is but anybody can claim anything ;-)

I'm aware that there's some new MOT rules that would potentially prevent my Chim from passing. I've not yet discussed it with my testers, but I think in the spirit of not antagonising plod too much (to make up for the tunnel runs), it's probably better to ditch the H4 units and make something a bit more compliant in my setup.

I asked a bit of a closed question on one of the usual facebook groups as to if a new 7" unit fitting an MX-5 NA/Mk1 would fit, however it was quickly pointed out that TVRs use Bosch lenses designed for Scania trucks. I'm no beam pattern expert so I would like to divert to some export opinion. My original plan was to buy one of the E marked LED angel eyes units for a Jeep/MX-5/Land rover Defender and stick that in the original housing, and then apply a Mk3 Chimaera fair-in kit probably sourced from Steve Edwards. I'm not set on the angel eyes to be clear, I am just looking for a way to have modern LED bulbs in my Chim that would be mostly legal (i.e. not uprated bulbs in the wrong housing, E marked preferred). The angel eyes units I'm thinking of might be a bit of a gamble, but the advantage of using those is if I don't like them, I haven't really cut away at the car so I can keep my options open.

Has anyone any ideas/suggestions/blog posts etc I could use for guides, inspiration and suggestions on what I could do to have something more modern than H4 housings but still looks good? I do actually use the car so I would like something better than the OEM candles in the wind ;-) (and no the reflectors aren't corroded, brighter lights help me drive at night with my anything oncoming remotely dazzling me with my astigmatism, I just want to avoid dazzling other people if I can help it)

I'm definitely a fan of the faired in look, but would like to avoid cutting up my car to fit Lupo units if possible. At least the Steve Edwards standard housing kit is reversible.

[caduceus]

Given everything you've said in your post, I'd go for the Steve Edwards kit. Less of a ball ache too.

[MuffDaddy]

Could you share some pictures of both the lights fitted and maybe the fitting/bulb. Also which angel eyes are you considering?

[s p a c e m a n]

Cut a hole in the original reflector, glue something like these in place and stick on the faired in lenses? You'll have to remove the original glass because it will change the beam pattern so you'll have to do some tidying up around the edge of the old reflector, but it won't be a reflector anymore anyway so you could paint it another colour if you want. You can get them with leveling motors on the back to make them a bit easier to aim, or you could just buy some second hand projector headlights and butcher them for the parts you need. Just some other option I was considering doing to mine when I get some free time.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-2-5-Square-RHD-Beam-...

[Dave85chim]

Lupo light with Cowels glassed in on my car and just gives a fresh but classic look - well worth the cutting!

[MuffDaddy]

s p a c e m a n said:

stuff

So any headlight bowl that would fit in the hole, one of those projectors and a Steve Edwards shroud would work?

[geordiepingu]

caduceus said:

Given everything you've said in your post, I'd go for the Steve Edwards kit. Less of a ball ache too.

Thanks, any idea on how much of a ballache it is to put a new sealed LED beam in at the same time? I was pointed to the Truck-Lite 7" units and they look tempting.

[phazed]

Dave85chim said:

Lupo light with Cowels glassed in on my car and just gives a fresh but classic look - well worth the cutting!

That really does look excellent.

[s p a c e m a n]

MuffDaddy said:

s p a c e m a n said:

stuff

So any headlight bowl that would fit in the hole, one of those projectors and a Steve Edwards shroud would work?

I can't see why not. Those style projectors are designed to sit behind clear plastic lenses so the beam pattern should be spot on for MOT ect. Forgot to say that you'll either need bi xenon or to fit spot lights in the grill like a Griff for the high beam.

There's loads of YouTube videos on what to use and different ways to do it...

https://youtu.be/h2uiPFjSr5s

[94Griff500]

Hi Geordie, I just replaced my low beams with Hella Units listed in the Amazon USA link below. There are a number of US supplies of the Hella units, so likely the same or more-- in UK/EU. I put them in a Griffith 500 (same lousy original lights!), but yours should be a much easier install as your lights are not plexi-covered,etc. Keep in mind that the TRS youtube video is from USA, so make sure - if you buy from them - that you specify RH DRIVE, or you'll get LH drive units with the kick-up on the wrong side (for you being RH drive ). TRS is a good USA Lighting supplier; however, the Hella projectors are available with better pricing from other suppliers. Probably more so in the EU...
Obviously Hella makes standalone high or low as well as combo high/low with flippers, bulb options, etc..
I went with standalone low beams as my high beams are separate lights on a Griffith. If you go the Hella route, Make sure to buy the whole Hella kits as you'll need their lamps as well as their mount rings and adjuster pkgs to do the full install. Good luck....I love mine, but the Morimoto's are great, too.

Here's the USA Amazon link for the Hella's...scroll down and they show some options etc:

https://www.amazon.com/Hella-90mm-Headlight-Connec...

[geordiepingu]

Thanks 94Griff & Spaceman, think I finally get the idea of the projectors. They look appealing, but I'm wondering what to do about the glass lens. I still want some look of a 7" beam in there somewhere. Is there a clear lens option for a 7" reflector that I could stick on?

[s p a c e m a n]

Take the old lense out, lay a piece of perspex over it and stick it in the oven for 5 mins. Cut it into a circle and sikaflex it into the hole?

I'm guessing that the MK3 headlight upgrade involves a bit of fettling and sikaflex anyway which is why I was planning on retrofitting some type of projector in there when I get around to doing it rather than just sticking in a new/different headlight.

[bobfather]

s p a c e m a n said:

Take the old lense out, lay a piece of perspex over it and stick it in the oven for 5 mins. Cut it into a circle and sikaflex it into the hole?

Good idea but don't heat above 180C, or you risk moisture damage. Thermoforming polycarbonate is normally done at a much higher temperature (around 250C) but you have to pre-dry it first as polycarbonate in sheet form absorbs moisture easily and that moisture boils before leaving the surface causing bubbles. Pre-drying is a long process, 24hrs in a dehumidifier oven at 150C

[s p a c e m a n]

I always wondered what actually caused the bubbles if you went too hot, every days a learning day

[DoctorBonzo]

Dave86chim - who did those Lupos for you?

[MuffDaddy]

What do we make of these as an alternative. LED but look OEM

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/search?keywords=...

[bobfather]

MuffDaddy said:

What do we make of these as an alternative. LED but look OEM

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/search?keywords=...

These have lensing on the cover glass. You would have to either mod to mk3 faired or find a plain glass to replace the standard angled glass. You can't have two lensing glasses on one lamp

[Largechris]

s p a c e m a n said:

MuffDaddy said:

s p a c e m a n said:

stuff

So any headlight bowl that would fit in the hole, one of those projectors and a Steve Edwards shroud would work?

I can't see why not. Those style projectors are designed to sit behind clear plastic lenses so the beam pattern should be spot on for MOT ect. Forgot to say that you'll either need bi xenon or to fit spot lights in the grill like a Griff for the high beam.

There's loads of YouTube videos on what to use and different ways to do it...

https://youtu.be/h2uiPFjSr5s

Terrifying thread. No you cannot legally stick a clear plastic lens over an E approved vehicle lamp, headlight or any other function. Vehicle lighting optics are tested and approved in accredited laboratories.

Source - qualified automotive engineer 22 years experience.

Basically if you buy any replacement vehicle lights, they must be installed as is with no modifications to the optics. A clear cover, stone guard, protective film or anything else changes those optics and you will not be insured if an accident occurs.

[bobfather]

Largechris said:

Terrifying thread. No you cannot legally stick a clear plastic lens over an E approved vehicle lamp, headlight or any other function. Vehicle lighting optics are tested and approved in accredited laboratories.

Source - qualified automotive engineer 22 years experience.

Basically if you buy any replacement vehicle lights, they must be installed as is with no modifications to the optics. A clear cover, stone guard, protective film or anything else changes those optics and you will not be insured if an accident occurs.

So according to you, the mk3 conversions are illegal. Odd that there are loads out there and nobody is reporting mot problems

[Largechris]

If they are done anything like how they are described in this thread, then yes.