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 TD TF 1500 - LED Headlamps

I'm a real stickler for good lighting. I enjoy driving at night, especially here in the Adirondacks. So its time to up-date my head-lighting.

If it ever stops raining and we get some warmer weather, I will be getting the TF on the road, and one of the first things I will do, it to convert to negative ground.

So, does anybody have any experience with any of the current state-of-the-art LED headlights? Seems like there's an enormous amount of choice.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qu.
Gord Clark

Be careful. Our headlamps were designed to focus with tungsten filament bulbs, though they also work well with quartz halogen, but LEDs are a completely different thing. With LEDs you get plenty of light from very little current, but an incoherent beam if the housing and reflector are not designed for them. Despite this, many have installed them with variable results. The best and most reliable bulbs appear to be from Philips, but they are costly. Not done it myself as I am very happy with the halogen bulbs, with relays, and have an alternator.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I have LED headlights (and Fog lights) in my 51 and 53 TD. In fact every light in the cars are LEDs except the dash warning lights. The latest models are bright as usual but also easy to focus the normal way. For me the normal way is against the garage door with tape as aiming areas. The beam in these bulbs isn't incoherent (if I understand Dave's use of the word). Because of the way they focus light I wouldn't use them in Lucas Tri-Pod lights. I bought mine from here.

http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/led-headlamp-bulbs-shop.php

And here are tips for installation and use.

http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/tips-for-fitting-our-led-headlamp-bulbs.php

Tim

Timothy Burchfield

Tim. You may well have hit upon a good source, but there are others out that aren't very suitable at all (from what I have read and been told).
Dave H
Dave Hill

I just installed the LED headlights on sale from LBC. The units are dual polarity so they work both in my Pos. earth TD and in my Neg. earth MGA. I also installed LED tail lights in both cars and front parking and turn signal lights in the MGA.

I have yet to drive either car at night but based upon shining the lights on the garage wall they put out a copious quantity of light.

I did have one issue with the Pos. earth dual filament bulbs in the TD tail lights. The units are about 1/16" too long and prevent the lens from being able to seat in the rubber surround. Not being a purist, I solved this by replacing the TD flat lenses with Spriget conical lenses (thanks to a suggestion from this BBS).

Overall, I'm pleased so far.

Jud
J. K. Chapin

Lew Palmer makes front and rear LED turn signal lights that fit and work beautifully. Even dual color front turn signals lights.
www.brittrix.com Just a customer not financially involved.

Tim

Timothy Burchfield

Thanks for the plug, Tim. Actually, we are redesigning the 1130 front fender lights as we speak. I realized that when the amber turn signal is activated, the white marker light needs to be extinguished. So a bit more electronic trickery is needed. So these are a few more weeks away.
However, I do 22 different LED lamp conversions covering over 350 different British vehicles, but not LED headlamps (yet).
Lew Palmer

Another problem, is the space at the back of the bucket. In addition to the electronic circuitry, some of the latest LEDs also have a fan and a ballast at the rear (bottom) which is often wired outside the bucket.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Gotd, you don't need any of that additional circuitry. The bulbs I bought are plug and play. You can use the original wiring as well.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Thanks Tim; no, I'm fully aware of that. I was merely stating that there is (already) electronic circuitry built into the (base of) the bulb.

In any event, I'm ordering the same bulbs from LBCC.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Thanks Gord. I wasn't aware that LBCC sold those bulbs.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Tim B,

Are you using the original BPF P36D bulbs?

I saw mention of the hi-beam light being illuminated when you add them.

I was holding off on replacing the headlamps until the "issues" are resolved.

Anybody have a source for BPF P36D headlights that work well?

Thanks.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Peter, I'm using the BPF LEDs sold here.
http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/led-headlamp-bulbs-shop.php I've had them in the 51 TD for over a year and they work fine. No issues at all. Not sure if that is what you are asking though.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Tim,

Is the beam a similar shape to the originals?

I have bought my LEDs from Classic Car LEDs in UK, I don’t think he has headlight bulbs for the BPF yet. The others were perfect.

Did you have any issue with high beam warning light illuminating with both beams?

Thanks.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Peter the 51 TD doesn't have a high beam warning light so I don't know if there is an issue. My 53 hasn't been wired up yet. The LED beam is much brighter than the original bulbs. The only thing you need to watch out for is that they are aimed low enough to not dazzle oncoming traffic. I adjusted the LED headlights as I would the conventional ones, on the garage door. I haven't had any oncoming drivers flash their brights at me yet. Of course you need a LED flashed unit or the LEDs won't work correctly.You are probably aware of the small amount of current needed to run the LED lights vs incandescent lights but here is a video I did showing the difference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2hcl85n3fA

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Peter, in previous post "flashed unit" should be "flasher unit".

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

This thread was discussed between 04/05/2019 and 06/05/2019

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.