Alt Head lights.
Alt Head lights.
Author
Discussion

TVRleigh

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

243 months

Saturday 18th August 2007
quotequote all
I heard some one say at BBWF, that they fitted different head lights in there pods, I did not get the chance to see them.

But as I have my pods out, then this would be the best time to do this mod, if its will improve the cr_ap lighting.

Anyone know any good light will fit into the pods. does not matter if I have to make new brackets, as plain to re-make the brackets in carbon fibre anyway.

Thanks
Leigh

gsx600

2,740 posts

278 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
Leigh

I think Jason still has some alternate lights in his pods, twin round spots in each I think ?

I quite liked the look of the front lights on the 7 lookalike that we saw at the car park stop on the sunday of bbwf

cuneus

5,963 posts

272 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all

jvaughan

6,025 posts

313 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
I have those too.

the company formerly known as Peninsula did mine...

Pic below...




Edited by jvaughan on Sunday 19th August 15:54

jvaughan

6,025 posts

313 months

Sunday 19th August 2007
quotequote all
I have my lights fabricated into the pod fibreglass.. the fromt water shield .. bug catcher is a sheet of carbon fibre.

on dipped beam, the two outer lights light, with the inner lamps displaying the side light. main beam is the inner lights on full, with the lower spoiler mounted lamps..
Pull flash illuminates all frontal lights smile

TVRleigh

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

243 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
Hi J,

Do you know what the lights are, as that's what I want, plus can do it myself, also have the carbon fibre ready to be cut to size.

Do they make a lot of differance, or is it just for looks, was also thinking of doing a HID convertion at the same time or is this not worth it.

Just need to sorce the lights.

Edited by TVRleigh on Monday 20th August 01:52

jvaughan

6,025 posts

313 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
The lights themselves are Hella Units.
They just about fit.

They give a lot more clean light with a definative cutoff. Main Beam floods the road hehe

The only problem I have is if driving on rough roads, the pods do vibrate a little and the pods amplify the shake. Its anoying, but it does IMHO improve things.

TVRleigh

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

243 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
ok thank you.

So you don't think the HID conversion will be needed.

do you remember what the cost was. and you got any pic's of just the lights in the pods.

Thanks
Leigh

jvaughan

6,025 posts

313 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
I have pix somewhere, but not to hand. D didnt go for HID because of the cost .. plus given the vibration the lights are exposed to ... plus there are no fancy plastic protectors on wedge lights .. HID replacment bulbs are pricey !

TVRleigh

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

243 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
Do you know if the main or dip should be on the out side. as the two car's with them seem to be different, or is it just personal taste.

Also the pic's I've seen of the bare lights, they seem to stick out a lot, I asume this can just be spaced back to make them more flush.

rev-erend

21,624 posts

314 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
Jason

The HID lights price has fallen a lot in the last 2 year's .. but there is some dispute to their legality.

From the DfT:

December 2006

Aftermarket HID headlamps

In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.

The following is the legal rationale:

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.

However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).

For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.

Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:

1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.

2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).

3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:

1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.

2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.

3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.


If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:

Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street Telephone: 020 7944 2078
London Fax: 020 7944 2196
SW1P 4DR Email: TTS.enquiries@dft.gsi.gov.uk

TVRleigh

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

243 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
lol and car's may not make excisive noise hahahahaha

rev-erend

21,624 posts

314 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
TVRleigh said:
lol and car's may not make excisive noise hahahahaha
Must admit - I've been tempted by the HID route as the std headlights are pretty bad but I don't even notice until the Autumn and winter evenings.. not long now.

The last post will probably depend on the MOT tester.. guess it depends on who you get and at £50 an MOT if just 1 says no .. then it will be a right pain to take a chance on another.

I would still go for it though.

TVRleigh

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

243 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
Well, as you may have read, have no problem getting my car though a MOT.
MOT guy "Is everything working" me "Yes" ok here's a MOT wink

rev-erend

21,624 posts

314 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
TVRleigh said:
Well, as you may have read, have no problem getting my car though a MOT.
MOT guy "Is everything working" me "Yes" ok here's a MOT wink
Diamond.

TVRleigh

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

243 months

Monday 20th August 2007
quotequote all
Also he own's a Cerbie.

TVRleigh

Original Poster:

6,553 posts

243 months

Tuesday 21st August 2007
quotequote all
Also Rev has never gone over 70MPH on a motorway either wink

gsx600

2,740 posts

278 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2007
quotequote all
What about twin round lamps in each pod with the angel eye rim, ala BMW, could they be made to fit , hid or Halogen ? Although I've always thought that with oblong spots in air dam, you really need oblong lights in pods, anyone out there do angel eyes in the oblong format ?

rev-erend

21,624 posts

314 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2007
quotequote all
jvaughan said:
Wake up Rev ...

FTF are you on about ? imnot suggesting replacing teh standard bulbs only .. im talking replacing with genuine HID units. Not illegal as various TVR delaers have offered them for replacments to cerbies and tuscans alike.

Hella offer the same round lamps that I have in either fillament bulb (H4 or HID)

Nothing illegal about that

also the bit about dipped bean staying on with main bean .. thsi does not count if you have separate lights and the main bean has a side light built in.

Normal cars donot have dipped and main bean on together when hi beam is selected

Edited by jvaughan on Tuesday 21st August 22:01
Jason - I just posted the info from the DFT ..

How people use it / what they do is up to them.

jvaughan

6,025 posts

313 months

Thursday 23rd August 2007
quotequote all
Sorry Alan, will try not to surf PH after drinkinghehe

Apparently the wife told me this morning, I was looking for your phone number to call you up too boxedin