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MG MGA - UK Headlamp advice needed

Having just finished an Alternator conversion and fitted headlamp relays my next job was to fit Halogen H4 bulbs only to find my units are sealed beam, one a Lucas and the other a WAGNER unit. Having looked at alternatives I'm confused between the various configurations so can anyone make a UK recommendation. The socket, as shown below, appears to be an identical fit for the H4 bulbs I have already purchased, is this correct? Should I assume I will need to re-align after fitting even though I have not tampered with the adjusters?

Cheers Kevin


K Garner

Just install halogen sealed beam lamps. Cheap and very effective. For UK they have to dip left rather than dip right, but I recon you should be able to find them anywhere you buy auto parts. Around here they are about $9-USD. You can change the bulbs without affecting headlight alignment. Just remove the chrome trim ring and three small screws to remove the bulb retaining ring.
Barney Gaylord

http://www.wipac-aftermarket.com/uk/acatalog/Headlamps.html

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/headlights/cibie-7-inch-e-approved-headlight-conversions
Willem van der Veer

New H4 headlamp kits are available at most classic car outlets around £25-30 pair quick replacement for the sealed beams
Paul
P D Camp

Kevin,

I hope you'll find some suitable units. You asked if you would have to realign and the answer is probably yes.

That said it isn't hard to do with the lights shining on a wall (or go to a professinal with the proper light adjustment tools)
Willem van der Veer

My experience with the H4 lamps has been a bit mixed. There's loads of light but it just floods everywhere and no longer gives an identifiable spot. I wondered whether it was due to the position of the lamp no longer being at the focus of the reflector. The lamp is held in position by a circular flange soldered to its base and it might be possible to reposition it but it's a lot of trouble with doubtful results.
J H Cole

The quality of the light depends hugely on the design of the diffuser. Here the major brands like Bosch are much better than the cheapo non-names. It also hepls to use a brand-name bulb to make sure that the dimensional elemts are correct, if the filament is not whe the reflector expects it to be, then the light will be focused incorrectly
dominic clancy

Thanks for the advice everyone, a pair of lamps are on order but as always one job has lead to another as one of the head lamp buckets was worse for wear and I had the plastic of one of the connector blocks disintegrate in my hands so headlamp harness also on order.

Cheers Kevin
K Garner

I changed to H4 and couldn't achieve a proper pattern. Would have failed MOT test if the car needed one. Next trip to the parts shop I'll try another make. In the meantime: drive by daylight only.
Shane
Shanerj

If anyone has a need for a pair of Bosch LHD H4 units I have a pair going cheap
dominic clancy

Nearly there with the bulb change!! My headlights didn't have dust shields fitted so thought I would take the opportunity to fit these - please check the image below is this how they fit? There seems a lot of material beyond the adjuster ring touching the wing and I'm tempted to trim the rubber so that it ends just in front of the adjuster screws. I've read elsewhere that fitting the outer rim with the dust shield in place is a struggle and this appears to be the case with mine, the outer trim fits snuggly without the shields - any advice please....



Kevin


K Garner

This thread was discussed between 10/07/2013 and 15/07/2013

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