MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Cleaning BPF headlights

Does anyone know how to clean inside the Lucas BPF headlights.

I have an original tripod pair that has what I would describe as slightly misted glass and a standard pair that have some dirt and what appears to be a slightly oily coating on the reflector.

I assume that I can rinse with some kind of cleaner or solvent, but I don't want to leave the reflectors prone to oxidising. Has anyone tried or got any ideas?

Neil
Neil McGurk

Hi Neil - Try meths - will not damage the reflector and evaporates quickly leaving no deposit.
Cam Cunningham

Do not use any material to come in direct contact with the mirror surface of the reflector in an effort to clean it. I've tried everything. If you use a liquid the liquid will leave a deposit where the droplets are left to dry. To remove the deposits or a film on the reflector you have to gently apply pressure and this will dull it by leaving scratches on it. Fast drying solvents will leave marks from where they evaporate. My advice is to make a soap solution with distilled water and a dishwater soap and add some on the product that prevents spots from forming on glass in the dishwasher. Pour this into the lens/reflector housing and use only the agitation of shaking it around to clean it. Let it sit and shake the solution again. Do this several times over the course of an hour or two. Rinse it out with clear distilled water mixed with the spot preventive and gently dry it out with a hair dryer on low. This sounds like a homemaker's 'Hints from Heloise.'
Martin Straka

Cam, Martin,
Thanks for the suggestions. I like the dishwasher soap idea, so I will have a go and report back!
Neil McGurk

Caution! Dishwasher machine soap is corrosive and contains pumice. That is why drinking glasses become fogged after a few years of being washed in the dishwasher. I know you probably meant dish washing liquid, but just in case...
GrandPaFuzz
Russ Carnes

Neil. Don't use dishwasher soap. I meant, as Russ pointed out, dish washing detergent. The only dishwasher ingredient is the spot preventive.
Martin Straka

Russ, Martin, too late!

The dishwasher soap worked well on the tripod, really well on one old 700, but not so well on the other 700. I was reluctant to use washing up liquid as we call it as I know that is corrosive as we are frequently reminded never to use to wash the car. I still have more lamps to clean, so I may try some neat bodywork shampoo next as I just washed the chrome wire wheels on my Jag with that and it worked a treat.

Neil
Neil McGurk

Hi Neil,
How did the reflector surface turn out on the lamps that were successful? Was there any dulling due to the harsh cleaning nature of the dishwasher detergent? Do you mean that old dirt was left behind when you say "not so well on the other 700." -M.S.
Martin Straka

The tripod surface is very shiny, however, previous small "water mark" stains were not removed, but the overall effect is pretty much like new. The other successful lamp was used and has some black dots on the reflector. I'm not sure if these are worse than before or not, anyway its all much cleaner and more shiny than before. I popped it in the Rayburn (oven) to dry out and it may even have become a litle more yellow. The less successful one is a NOS unit. I suspect that the surface had some kind of protection when produces and this thickens? with age. The other two have been used and maybe use helps the surface protection to evaporate before becoming sticky? I may try Cams meths suggestion on this one.
Neil McGurk

Neil,
I don't think that dish soap (washing up liquid) is corrosive. In fact, I've used it for years to wash cars. I believe the main reason to not use it is that it effectively removes wax as well as grease and dirt.
Cheers,
Gerry
G T Foster

I believe that domestic washing up liquid has a salt ( not sure whether this is common salt or not) added to it, which proper car wash liquid hasn't.
Cam Cunningham

This thread was discussed between 05/07/2008 and 10/07/2008

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.