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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 MGA - Halogen Head Lights

Am interested in fitting halogen head lights to my car for improved night driving. The A is my regular drive and am commuting around 100 miles each way on weekends and find the standard lights leave a little to be desired.So would appreciate learning from others experiences/mistakes before doing this change.
Shane

Absolutely recommended. Standard H4 units from many other cars fit perfectly.

There are all sorts of manufacturers, and I am sure that the lens quality varies hugely. I have Bosch, which are really good. Make sure if buying overseas that you get RHD lenses. Others may also recommend fitting a relay, I haven't and have never had any problems (but the wiring loom is as-new)
dominic clancy

No problems.
JohnB

I added them to my MGA and am pleased with the results. I did add relays for both low and high beams. I felt that the potential for voltage drop from all the bullet connectors, and the light switch was something I wanted to eliminate. It may be overkill, but the results can't be faulted.
Ed Bell

I have fitted Hella halogens to my 58A with a very noticable improvement if lighting down the road. Optics are good, but I have read that Bosch and Cibie optics are better. Just put Cibies in my 72BGT daily driver and used them for the first time this morning on the way in to work (I go in early). Not a true test as the sky was light (but sun not yet up).

I elected to use relays, mostly for reducing the current throught the switch and thus prolonging its life. If you do use relays I suggest looking for Hella relays with the built in fuse socket.

FWIW

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Two words:
Sylvania Silverstar.....
Fantastic, on standard wiring.

Cheers,
GTF
G T Foster

Two more words:
Wagner BriteLite
Also fantastic on standard wiring.

I run the Wagner on mine and I am very pleased. I believe that the Sylvania are very much their equal from what I have read both here on this board and others. Buy either one you can find locally and I'm sure you will be not be wanting.

Chuck
Chuck Schaefer

Those lights may be "fantastic", but they'd be whole lot fantastiker with some wiring upgrades. I've measured a bunch of cars in all conditions and the voltage drop through the chain is amazing.

Typically the voltage across the bulb terminals is 3V less than the full system voltage at the bat/gen. I expect no more than 0.5V total drop with clean connections, relays, and decent pigtails. The pigtails alone are responsible for 0.3V when brand new, due to undersized wires - that is about a 8-20% difference in light output, depending on how bad the overall situation is.

Light output vs voltage from Daniel Stern:

10.5V : 510 lumens
11.0V : 597 lumens
11.5V : 695 lumens
12.0V : 803 lumens
12.5V : 923 lumens
12.8V : 1000 lumens <--Rated output voltage
13.0V : 1054 lumens
13.5V : 1198 lumens
14.0V : 1356 lumens <--Rated life voltage
14.5V : 1528 lumens

Fix wiring before lights!

FRM
FR Millmore

Shane,

If you can stay with the original (or get repro) 700 headlamps (H4 fitting), this month's (June 2007) "Practical Classics" magazine featured headlamp bulbs in their consumables product test.

"Best Buy" was the "Ring Ultra Xenon"

Claimed 60% more light than standard 55/60W bulb (maximum legal in UK). Dipped beam impressed the testers most with "intense, wide and very clean white output."

I just noticed a couple on eBay (item 140101486874). A pair cost about 36 Aus dollars inc shipping.

Neil
Neil McGurk

I added quartz-halogen lights (hi and low beam), driving lights and relays to my '72 MGBGT. FRM is correct - they're much "fantastiker". I'm completely pleased; and suspect they are the envy of all. Well, some maybe. At least a couple.

Phil
Phil Jones

This thread was discussed between 21/05/2007 and 23/05/2007

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