New headlights needed. Halogen?

[James k]

Hi,
One of my headlights has blown so needs replacing (luckily not urgently due to the time of year). They're currently sealed beams but it seems to be hard/expensive to get hold of replacements so I'm thinking of changing them to halogen. Can anyone recommend a conversion kit that is as close of possible to the original sealed beams in appearance? I want them to have glass lenses and no sidelights. Ideally I'd like the small 'bumps' around the edge of the lens but that's just a small detail.

Thanks,
James

[panky]

These are the ones I fitted and they fit straight on, work very well and look the part. They do have a side light but simple to remove and cover the hole with silver tape.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-Halogen-Hea ... 5b02f7bd82

[Trickydicky]

Hi James,
Try taking a trip to your local auto parts shop, ask for mini 7" halogen headlights. Made by Wipac you can get them with or without sidelamps. Most likley cheaper than the usual suspects for parts.

[simmitc]

Regardless of the time of year, you do need to fix a faulty headlamp. Without it your car is not roadworthy and legal; which could render you liable for prosecution and invalidate your insurance. OK, that's extremely unlikely, but it is a possibility. Sealed beam units are readily and cheaply available - try club spares. If you do swap to halogens, then Wipac Quadoptics are the best (in my opinion) , and you must do the swap as a pair, not one at a time.

[James k]

Regardless of the time of year, you do need to fix a faulty headlamp. Without it your car is not roadworthy and legal; which could render you liable for prosecution and invalidate your insurance. OK, that's extremely unlikely, but it is a possibility.

Very true, and I will change the bulb ASAP. I only drive the car during the day at the moment though so, without doing a random check of my headlights, no-one could know that one isn't working. That's all I meant when I mentioned the time of year. I only noticed when I tested my lights yesterday. But yes, I'll change it as soon as I know what to get.

I'll find out how much a new sealed beam is and if there isn't much price difference, I'll get the halogens. Should I change both sealed beams at once if I go down that route or will it be okay with just one new unit?

Thanks

[bmcecosse]

Why would it be necessary to change both headlamps to Quadoptics (what's 'quad' about them? ) at the same time. I agree it makes sense - but is it NECESSARY ? If you get the Mini ones with sidelights, you can use the old sidelights as DRL s !!!

[mike.perry]

What if you were caught out in heavy rain or other conditions of reduced visibility? You would need two working headlights.
Just buy a pair of Wipac Quadoptics, they are a straight swap for sealed beams

[Amorrisman]

Are these Wipacs sealed beams?

[mike.perry]

No they take H4 halogen bulbs

[simmitc]

Both headlights must conform to the same light emission. If you had one sealed bean and one Halogen, then they would look different with different beam patterns and brightness. That is an instant MOT failure. So, yes, you must change them as a pair. You can, of course, swap like for like one at a time, just so long as a pairing is maintained.

[bmcecosse]

I wasn't aware of that -it makes sense of course. Have you a ref to the the MOT manual that explains this ?

[IslipMinor]

Roy, The MOT Inspection Manual Section 1.7, sub-section 3 refers:

3. Check that the vehicle is securely fitted with
obligatory headlamps, as follows:

• a matched pair of main beam headlamps,
and
• a matched pair of dipped-beam headlamps

Note: Main and dipped-beam functions may be
provided by a single pair of headlamps.

[bmcecosse]

Thanks Richard - 'matched' - I guess open to interpretation there - so not one 7" and one 5 1/4" ....... Doesn't actually say the beams are to be 'matched' - but it's entirely sensible that they should be.

[Amorrisman]

Where might you find a whole copy of the MOT inspection manual? Is it openly available on the net?

[mike.perry]

Nothing like a bit of bedtime reading!!

[IslipMinor]

Directly from the DOT website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... 7-vehicles

Nothing dodgy like the MM manual!!

[James k]

Right, I've ordered a pair of halogen headlights. I got the ones that Panky recommended but I managed to find them cheaper Hopefully they arrive quickly and fitting goes smoothly. Thanks for the help.

[panky]

You did well to find them any cheaper they are the domed ones and not flat glass
Edit
Just found some for £21.70 with free post

[Amorrisman]

Could you link please Panky?
C

[panky]

Be Quick, it's the last pair.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-DOMED-LENS- ... 5731.m3795

Here's more, don't worry about what car it says, they are the same lights.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-DOMED-LENS- ... 1870552043