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 MGB Technical - halogen headlights

i have a 65 mgb roadster with the original headlamps. with relays for both dim and headlight. am keen to change over to H4 HALOGEN HEADLAMPS.is it a straight forward exchange, or do i need to do any modifications to the wiring, or body. thanks for the help
vignes
vignes pillai

sorry , i forgot to ask , which headlamp is recommended, and do i get it with the pilot or no pilot
thanks
vignes pillai

There are sets of halogen lights directly interchangeable with the originals.
The pilot light is there for models whoch didn't have a separate sidelamp. The 65 model did have a separate sidelamp so you don't need a pilot light.
Paul Walbran

thanks PAUL. MOSS HAS wipac and lucas h4 asymmetric kits . what would you suggest.
thanks vignes
vignes pillai

I don't know what bulbs Moss supply as H4 but Philips X-treme-vision claim to give 100% more light compared to a standard 60/55w bulb.

I assume the original sealed beam wiring connector is compatible with H4 so the glass/reflector assembly should be a direct swap. However I have found minor dimensional differences to the originals which have needed a bit of fettling to get good fit in the inner rim and bowl.
Paul Hunt

I have to recommend Cibie H4 units. In my opinion they are much, much better than others, better beam control and better quality all round. Originally I bought Wipac units and not only was the beam scattered, but the reflectors were rusty within two years. I have bought three sets of Cibie lights now for three different classics and all are excellent. The ones on my MGB are better than the headlights on my nearly new VW. I have always bought them from here http://www.europaspares.com/cibie-h4-headlamps-7-inch.html

You don't need to alter the wiring at all if you use the standard 60/55 watt H4 bulbs, which I have found perfectly adequate.
Mike Howlett

Agree with Mike - Cibie over Wipac - mine rusted very quickly also and now replaced with Cibies.

Shame Cibie don't make the Biodes anymore they were superb and fetch a fortune on E bay for retro rally car looks.

R.
richard boobier

Yes, I saw a set of Cibie Biodes make £335 recently.

I'm sure I read somewhere that the current Lucas offerings have very poorly made lenses.

Dave O'Neill 2

Vignes,
You get a better shaped (and longer) beam from Cibie and Hella ( you also get what you pay for). The Osram H4s are also getting good revues.
Roger W

thanks everyone . will go get the cibie headlamps
vignes pillai

nice www mike - some great looking bling
G
Graham Moore

the cibie lights are not handed (right/left)
doesn't tha give a problem with beam patterns & mot? i thought most heads were crafted to have different left & right beam patterns.
G
Graham Moore

Graham, they are handed. If you go to the web site I posted above and look at the drop down menu for the lamps you will see that you can choose them with or without side light, and UK or Continental. The UK ones dip left, the Continental ones dip right.
Mike Howlett

AFAIK European RHD car headlights are not 'handed', they don't have the curb-side 'uplift' that ours do, therefore they can drive here without beam deflectors.

Also OOI Malaysia seems to drive on the same side as we do.
Paul Hunt

You don't need to buy from Moss. The headlamp reflector is the same as used on any number of Motorbikes and older Japanese cars, and will be available from any Motorbike dealer who handles anything bigger than mopeds. You will be able to find it in Malaysia, it's just a 7inch headlight with an H4 light fitting that you need.
dominic clancy

Is the beam pattern the same for motorbikes?

I remember putting a Lucas H4 car headlamp in my Yamaha RD250 many years ago and it was awful. When leaning into a corner, all I could see was LH kerb on a RH bend and vice-versa, nothing ahead.
Dave O'Neill 2

That was down to the quality of the reflector, the lights are the same. Left hand drive and right hand drive have different patterns - that's why lights have to be exchanged if you permanently register a car in a land which drives on the other side of the road (been there, done it!).
dominic clancy

This thread was discussed between 21/11/2014 and 26/11/2014

MG MGB Technical index

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