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MG MGA - Head light upgrade options

It is time to choose headlights for my MGA and am at a loss as to what to chose. I purchased Bosch H4 lights for my MGB and don't like them. They are bright enough but have a narrow focus, the sides of the road are not well lit.
These choices are readily available, Moss's sealed beam halogen, the Wipac halgen with H4 bulbs & Hella Halogen.
I would appreciate hearing from folks who have experiance with these or any other headlights. I am getting old and no longer possess good night vision.
Cheers
Morris
M. E. WADDS

Sometimes the modern mass produced replacement part is a reasonable choice. Check your local discount department store automotove department. Try GE or Sylvania halogen H4 sealed beams, generally under $10 each. For the price it's as least worth a try. I've been using them for many years.

They throw about the same total amount of light as the higher price specialty lamps. Many states have a limit on headlamp lamp power, so higher output bulbs may be ilegal anyway. 60 or 65 watts on high beam may be the practical limit for on-road use.

The difference is, the common commercial lamps are not quite so sharply focused. While throwing most of the light far forward for good distance visibility they also spill a little light to the shoulders nearby and just enough upward to illuminate a street sign (if you're close enough).

One lamp to definitely avoid is the current batch of reproduction "Lucas branded" (but not Lucas) Tripod lamps. These come from two or three different sources, and some are much worse than others, good for show bot not much good for lighting. The ones from Moss may be the least of all evils, but even then they post a note to let you know they are not good quality and recommend something else for road use.
Barney Gaylord

I wish I could lay my hands on a set of Cibie "Z" beam lights. I had a set in the distant past and the light pattern was incredible. Fantastic control of the light with the use of the optics, especially on low beam. Sharp cutoff to stop blinding on-coming traffic but lots of light thrown up the side of the road. Sadly, I'd have to swap an MGA to be able to afford a set.

At least most of the modern Halogen 7" Premium headlights seem to put out more light than many of the modern, aerodynamic lights that seem to prefer styling & aerodynamics over lighting efficiency. I've found many of the "moderns" downright dangerous!

I'd suggest going for one of the Premium halogen units from, for example, Sylvania and install them using relays to keep the load through your light switches to a minimum.




Derek Nicholson

I should have Googled Cibie Z Beam before my last post.

http://www.dimebank.com/Light-up.html

I'm not sure if these:-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MORGAN-PLUS-4-4-4-mgtf-CIBIE-Replica-HEADLAMP-KT_W0QQitemZ250069322844QQihZ015QQcategoryZ34207QQcmdZViewItem

would be any better/different from these:-

http://www.classicgarage.com/7rounheadwit.html

or how either would compare with the genuine Cibie Z Beam.



Derek Nicholson

Hello Morris,

I have Wipacs on my B, their performance is poor, especially on a road you don't know well. Just about to replace them with Cibie units, available from "CARS" at about £22 each. Have heard very good reports about them.

Clark.
clark

Morris,

Didn't check where you were.......hopefully you will have a more local Cibie supplier, should you decide on them!
Clark

The Hella are quite good, American sealed beam halogen not very to horrid. Some say the Sylvania Silverstar are good, but I haven't tried any of their lamps, though the bulbs they supply are very good in the wretched 6004 Ford/Mazda lamps - can't fix the bad lamp design though. Cibie best of all in most variants. You want euro spec LHD units, and they do light up the verges! If you haven't driven with these, it may take a bit of time to get used to the sharp cutoff, but once you do you won't be changing back. Anything with H4 bulbs can be fitted with +30% light output bulbs which draw only standard 60/55W current. These with relays and all wiring correct are excellent for anything short of all out competition.

Contact Daniel Stern at tech@candlepower.ca He has everything available and has tested them for real world actual performance. I found him extremely knowledgeable, great to deal with, and prices and delivery excellent.

FRM
FR Millmore

When I switched over from my old headlamps to Sylvania halogen the difference was AMAZING. I was going to buy the Hella lamps with replaceable bulbs but I'm so happy with these Sylvanias (and they are so cheap) that I'll keep them instead. Nice bright beam with sharp cutoff, not as good as a new BMW or Benz with quartz whatevertheycallthem lights, but still very good.
Jim P

Thanks to everyone for the information and experiances.
A perfect example of why this BBS is so valuable.
I will pick up a set of sylvania or GE halogens. If I don't like them I havn't wasted much $ in the grand scheme of the restoration.
Now that the fenders & doors are on I am working feverously to finish up the horn installation so I can install the grill & want the headlights in place so that the MGA looks finished. When I pull the cover off I want to see something that looks finished.
April is the target date for completion so I can work the bugs out before heading over to the GT32 in Whistler in July.
Thanks again
Morris
M. E. WADDS

Morris,
Make sure you get the Sylvania Siverstars. Absolutely "brilliant" in every sense of the word. I could not believe the difference.

GTF
G T Foster

Morris, If you can't find the Sylvania Silverstars or GE units, I have been running Wagner BriteLites for tha last 6 years. I find them to be excellent. They are DOT approved and definitely better than the lights on my Buick Century and PT Cruiser.

Chuck
Chuck Schaefer

Two years ago I got tired of poor lighting and contacted Daniel Stern (see above post from FR Millmore). He's an automotive lighting specialist. I installed the Cibie H4 headlamps, the 60/55W Narva Rangepower High Output Plus bulbs, and completely rewired the headlight system to include his recommended (twin output)relays.Each relay is wired directly to the battery using 12 gauge wire. The ground for each lamp is also wired directly to the battery, so voltage drop is minimal. Needless to say, I now have a**-kickin' headlights. It cost me about $150, but I believe it was worth it.

Tyler
Tyler

This thread was discussed between 11/01/2007 and 12/01/2007

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