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MG MGA - Headlights

I find that my headlights are the PL700 type. one is in good condition, the other reflector has rusted. I am wondering how to proceed with my resto. Is there any benefit to keeping to PL700s? Are they legal for Canada? Or should I just fit the "ordinary" round sealed beams?
Art Pearse

Original PL700 lamps were somewhat superior to other lamps of that time, either sealed beam or replaceable bulb type. Put halogen bulbs in them and they are even better today. I am pretty sure they are not legal in the North America market which mandated sealed beams sometime before MGA were produced. However, as long as they work you are not likely to get any hassle from police, as they are usually happy if you just have two headlights that actually work.

As far as I know, ALL of the current PL700 reproduction lamps are garbage, some worse than others, close to useless for lighting the road. Most suppliers won't admit it and don't want to talk about it. Moss Motors at least posts such a notice in their catalog listings. Most of the current repro units also have cosmetic deficiencies (not concours quality).

If you have some vintage PL700 lamps, and you like the look, you would be well advised to attempt to restore the original ones if possible. There has been some past discussion on various BBS about cleaning the reflector or possibly having it re-silvered.
Barney Gaylord

Barney, I know these are at least 30 years old. They have the Lucas name. Does this make them genuine?
Art Pearse

I dunno. The repro's have the Lucas name too, but the logo most often does not look like the original. See here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/faulty/ft013.htm
The real proof is in the light pattern. Power it up and shine it on a wall to see what it does.
Barney Gaylord

Here in Washington, replaceable-bulb headlights have been legal as aftermarket equipment since around 1980 or so, so they may have been legal in other states and provinces as well. The sealed-beam laws kept North America behind the rest of the world for a long time, but now that all headlights are replaceable-bulb types, the point is moot, isn't it?
David Breneman

Barney,

What halogen globe do you use. For the A do you replace the whole bulb retaining system. Is there a halogen buld which has the same rear end as the original bulbs.
I would like to replace my candle power lights with someting better, but i want to keep the original Lucas glass.
DJ Lake

Sweet, simple, and cheap. Since we have a long history of sealed beam headlamps in North America, just drop by your local discount department store and pick up some sealed beam halogen bulbs, about $10 each. See here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et206.htm
Barney Gaylord

Oops. I guess I'm on the wrong side of the planet for that suggestion.
Barney Gaylord

DJL
Here's a link that will give you an idea of what is what.
http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/goffybulbs.htm

I'm pretty sure these are actually made in Australia, but I can't find the company right now.

The BPF have a two lead/spring contact with a cap wired into the system. Real BPF are round globe tungsten, but there are halogen H4 on this base.

There is an alternate cap that converts it to the common 3 spade configuration.

There is a P36t H4 that fits the same lamp but uses a retainer spring and has the three spade configuration. This is definitely better as the spring contacts die from heat.

FRM
FR Millmore

I've got a bulb here but no makers brand on it.On the side it reads 12v 55/60w BPF/P22d base. hth Bob
B WALKER

The British Pre-Focus P36d (P22d) is the one i want. As i want to keep the original Lucas glass at the front. I carry an old bulb in the Toyota to check auto shops when im out.

FRM that link you provided above has an amazing selection of bulb types.
DJ Lake

There is a guy here in UK that can fit the original lense from a Lucas BPF lamp with a new reflector. Apparently he takes the reflector from an Indian made Lucas TVS lamp and swaps to the original lense. As I am informed it's the lense that is critical to the light pattern and the reflector that is usually corroded, so this gives the perfect solution. These units can of course be fitted with the halogen bulbs as described to provide a very original looking lamp with practical performance.
Neil McGurk

DJL
Not something you will readily find in auto shops! I've gone around in circles with people who specialize in lighting, who tell me that the bulb I have in my hand does not exist! People dealing with classic Britbikes are a better bet, since they used the BPF setup for a lot longer. My 73 Norton had BPF with spring contact cap. When they died I found I had a set of Wipac lights from the 70s that were horrible lamps so we had removed them after about two miles use, but they had BPF base H4 bulbs. When those died I found a set of Phillips H4 that fit the lamps but had the three prong connector and a spring retainer that replaced the cap, so I wired up a pigtail/plug with bullet connectors to plug into the harness.
I'm reasonably certain that all these parts were available from Lucas at some point in the 70s, and they might be more common in Aus than here, since we had US spec sealed beams in everything. And as stated, I think these bulbs are now manufactured by an Aus company.

FRM

FRM
FR Millmore

Diverging a little bit, I just bought a pair of new Lucas headlamp buckets with the three - point adjusters. I find that my headlamps won't fit into the chrome retainers as the steps used to locate the lens are too big and cause the lens to stand too far off the back ring.

Has anyone else had this experience, and what is the cure apart from cutting off the steps?

dominic clancy

DJL,Have you asked Barry at MG AUTOMOTIVE Brendale
B WALKER

Dominic,
I fitted new buckets and new locking rings to my coupe a couple of months ago. I too could not get the headlights and chrome rings to fit properly. I found the new mounting rings were not round, and they were over size. I had to take a punch and a hammer to the rings, and punch them in until the chrome rings would fit. I believe these rings were made in India! The chrome rings were the original ones.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Dominic,
There are two sizes of retaining ring one is deeper than the other, I think the BPF is deeper than the sealed beam but I will check. I have quite a lot of old lights in my workshop!
Neil.
Neil McGurk

this is the place to get those BPF bulbs:

http://directshopping4u.com/Motorcycle-Bulbs/-Lighting

Siggi
Siggi

I broke off the locating ears and then used a small U-section rubber strip to cushion between the rear ring and the front ring, so that the lamp is held snugly in the fitting. The stepped ears are in the right place, I suspect that the slot for them in the chrome ring is too narrow.

I've now fitted the new headlamp buckets - much better than the rubbish that the body shop fitted.

The gaskets supplied with the new buckets are, however, the pits. The rear seal to the body is a good 1/2 inch too wide in diameter. The seal for the trim ring is so thin it is possible to put a hole in it with two fingernails pressed to it.

dominic clancy

I will be calling MG Automotive today to see if they have the bulbs. Cheers.
David Lake

Hi David,
Attached is a flyer for a halogen bulb supplier in S.A. Classic & vintage bulbs, Anthony Pearson,82 Cumming street Blackwood 5051 South Australia.

hope its of use, Ian.
I Hazeldine

MG Automotive do not stock the globes.

But Classic & vintage bulbs do stock them at $25 each. Postage to the Gold Coast $8. Thanks for the link Ian.
David Lake

Art,

Can you e-mail me about your headlights?

Safety fast!

JMG
John Greenlee

John, see your email
Art
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 08/04/2011 and 15/04/2011

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