Chimp Headlamps
Discussion
Hi all,
Just become a TVR owner again
, around 10 years after selling the cerb 
Its a 1998 Chimaera 4.0, Starmist Crimson, magnolia interior in need of some tlc.
Outriggers for a start, rear screen to name a couple.
In the process of sourcing replacement reflectors and have a quick question.
What should the area behind the glass, but ahead of the reflector look like ie what finish should it be - the area that appears to have been sprayed silver (see photo)

Cheers.
Just become a TVR owner again


Its a 1998 Chimaera 4.0, Starmist Crimson, magnolia interior in need of some tlc.
Outriggers for a start, rear screen to name a couple.
In the process of sourcing replacement reflectors and have a quick question.
What should the area behind the glass, but ahead of the reflector look like ie what finish should it be - the area that appears to have been sprayed silver (see photo)

Cheers.
MuffDaddy said:
I can't help with that but you have the best colour combination!
I've just been through full chassis refurb and have a new headlight solution in development at the moment. Ping me if you want information on either chassis rebuild costs or new headlights.
I shall do, many thanks.I've just been through full chassis refurb and have a new headlight solution in development at the moment. Ping me if you want information on either chassis rebuild costs or new headlights.
Steve_D said:
As you are aware the glass sits well forward of the reflector. You would not want to see body colour when standing beside the car and looking down through the glass so they sprayed the area silver,
Steve
Yes, aware the glass sits away from the reflector, and agree you dont want the body colour in behind the lens.Steve
Just wanted to know it was meant to look like it does.
I assume when you say "they" you mean TVR themselves ?
Happy to although they are in other threads too.
I have a Mk1 and have opted for Mk3 shrouds but rather than having a 7" light I am fitting a 2" bi-led with halo DRL and turn signal. This will require a 3d printed dish to make up the gap between the light and the shroud/bezel.
Edited to add a mock up image.

I have a Mk1 and have opted for Mk3 shrouds but rather than having a 7" light I am fitting a 2" bi-led with halo DRL and turn signal. This will require a 3d printed dish to make up the gap between the light and the shroud/bezel.
Edited to add a mock up image.

Edited by MuffDaddy on Wednesday 13th October 10:52
Rocket Science said:
Hi all,
Just become a TVR owner again
, around 10 years after selling the cerb 
Its a 1998 Chimaera 4.0, Starmist Crimson, magnolia interior in need of some tlc.
Outriggers for a start, rear screen to name a couple.
In the process of sourcing replacement reflectors and have a quick question.
What should the area behind the glass, but ahead of the reflector look like ie what finish should it be - the area that appears to have been sprayed silver (see photo)
Cheers.
Does this help at all?Just become a TVR owner again


Its a 1998 Chimaera 4.0, Starmist Crimson, magnolia interior in need of some tlc.
Outriggers for a start, rear screen to name a couple.
In the process of sourcing replacement reflectors and have a quick question.
What should the area behind the glass, but ahead of the reflector look like ie what finish should it be - the area that appears to have been sprayed silver (see photo)
Cheers.

Steve_D said:
Yes standard out of the factory.
Steve
Next question Steve

From another thread you have commented on the re-drilling of the Porsche LHD reflectors to allow them to be mounted, and from a different thread confirming the centre metal bulb cover needs to be there, and what its function is.
My question is - When drilling the new mounting holes on the LHD reflector is it done in such a way as to keep the metal bulb cover mounting points vertical, as opposed to any old way ?
Rocket Science said:
Steve_D said:
Yes standard out of the factory.
Steve
Next question Steve

From another thread you have commented on the re-drilling of the Porsche LHD reflectors to allow them to be mounted, and from a different thread confirming the centre metal bulb cover needs to be there, and what its function is.
My question is - When drilling the new mounting holes on the LHD reflector is it done in such a way as to keep the metal bulb cover mounting points vertical, as opposed to any old way ?
Hold your right hand up in front of you, fingers together and horizontal, palm towards you, thumb opened out at far as you can (but it won't go far enough). You now have the LHD beam pattern (If only your thumb was double jointed). Now turn your hand clockwise until your thumb is horizontal (Did you fall of your chair). this is now the beam pattern for RHD with your fingers as the 'Kick-up'.
So from this you can understand that the reflector and bulb are still producing the 'open vee' pattern you have just rolled it through the right angle so what was the 'Kick-up' now becomes the horizontal. I've since found that the shroud only prevents the bulb being directly visible so does not influence the pattern. The pattern is a combination of bulb, reflector and lens.
So the position of the new holes is simply moving them around the rim by the number of degrees of the 'Kick-up'.
Steve
One of my other cars has projector type lights and the back of the light has a screw in a slot. When going abroad you simply release the screw, turn the lamp until the screw is in the other end of the slot and tighten.
MuffDaddy said:
Happy to although they are in other threads too.
I have a Mk1 and have opted for Mk3 shrouds but rather than having a 7" light I am fitting a 2" bi-led with halo DRL and turn signal. This will require a 3d printed dish to make up the gap between the light and the shroud/bezel.
Edited to add a mock up image.

I’m happy to be proven wrong and I’m all for people coming up with solutions now these cars are getting older.I have a Mk1 and have opted for Mk3 shrouds but rather than having a 7" light I am fitting a 2" bi-led with halo DRL and turn signal. This will require a 3d printed dish to make up the gap between the light and the shroud/bezel.
Edited to add a mock up image.

Edited by MuffDaddy on Wednesday 13th October 10:52
But I thought it’s recently become an MOT fail to fit led lights to cars that didn’t have them in the first place.
swisstoni said:
I’m happy to be proven wrong and I’m all for people coming up with solutions now these cars are getting older.
But I thought it’s recently become an MOT fail to fit led lights to cars that didn’t have them in the first place.
Time will tell, but because I am not fitting an LED light in to an existing halogen casing I think it is OK. I'm fitting a complete LED system with drivers and lenses deigned for the bulb. In fact the bulb forms part of the unit. But I thought it’s recently become an MOT fail to fit led lights to cars that didn’t have them in the first place.
Section 4.1.4 of the current MOT inspection manuals for both motorcycles and cars and passenger vehicles states ‘Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.’
MuffDaddy said:
swisstoni said:
I’m happy to be proven wrong and I’m all for people coming up with solutions now these cars are getting older.
But I thought it’s recently become an MOT fail to fit led lights to cars that didn’t have them in the first place.
Time will tell, but because I am not fitting an LED light in to an existing halogen casing I think it is OK. I'm fitting a complete LED system with drivers and lenses deigned for the bulb. In fact the bulb forms part of the unit. But I thought it’s recently become an MOT fail to fit led lights to cars that didn’t have them in the first place.
Section 4.1.4 of the current MOT inspection manuals for both motorcycles and cars and passenger vehicles states ‘Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.’
Edited by swisstoni on Friday 15th October 11:49
Steve_D said:
The dip beam shape is flat to the offside and angled up to the nearside to light the verge/cyclists etc. The angle is about 20-30 degrees (don't know the correct figure).
Hold your right hand up in front of you, fingers together and horizontal, palm towards you, thumb opened out at far as you can (but it won't go far enough). You now have the LHD beam pattern (If only your thumb was double jointed). Now turn your hand clockwise until your thumb is horizontal (Did you fall of your chair). this is now the beam pattern for RHD with your fingers as the 'Kick-up'.
So from this you can understand that the reflector and bulb are still producing the 'open vee' pattern you have just rolled it through the right angle so what was the 'Kick-up' now becomes the horizontal. I've since found that the shroud only prevents the bulb being directly visible so does not influence the pattern. The pattern is a combination of bulb, reflector and lens.
So the position of the new holes is simply moving them around the rim by the number of degrees of the 'Kick-up'.
Steve
One of my other cars has projector type lights and the back of the light has a screw in a slot. When going abroad you simply release the screw, turn the lamp until the screw is in the other end of the slot and tighten.
Perfect Steve, thank-you - great info. Hold your right hand up in front of you, fingers together and horizontal, palm towards you, thumb opened out at far as you can (but it won't go far enough). You now have the LHD beam pattern (If only your thumb was double jointed). Now turn your hand clockwise until your thumb is horizontal (Did you fall of your chair). this is now the beam pattern for RHD with your fingers as the 'Kick-up'.
So from this you can understand that the reflector and bulb are still producing the 'open vee' pattern you have just rolled it through the right angle so what was the 'Kick-up' now becomes the horizontal. I've since found that the shroud only prevents the bulb being directly visible so does not influence the pattern. The pattern is a combination of bulb, reflector and lens.
So the position of the new holes is simply moving them around the rim by the number of degrees of the 'Kick-up'.
Steve
One of my other cars has projector type lights and the back of the light has a screw in a slot. When going abroad you simply release the screw, turn the lamp until the screw is in the other end of the slot and tighten.

swisstoni said:
I’m happy to be proven wrong and I’m all for people coming up with solutions now these cars are getting older.
But I thought it’s recently become an MOT fail to fit led lights to cars that didn’t have them in the first place.
That’s not quite correct. Devil in the detail, or wording in this case. But I thought it’s recently become an MOT fail to fit led lights to cars that didn’t have them in the first place.
It’s illegal to fit LED bulbs to existing halogen units. Much like it’s been illegal for years to fit HID setups to standard Halogen units, due to beam patterns I believe.
It’s legal to fit LED units to a car with halogen headlights ie replace the whole unit. My Westfield passed no issue where as a friends daily car with LED bulbs only failed.
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