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 - Headlamp Question

Perhaps I'm just spoiled by driving an SUV or my 350Z, but I notice that when other cars are approaching at night on two lane roads that my 80LE's headlamps aren't bright enough to light up my lane very well when passing them. The lights Various catalogs show Xenon headlamps and such for Bs. The 350Z I drive has them and they are remarkable. Has anyone installed them in a B and did they significantly improve visibility? I'm 59 so my eyes are as good as they used to be especially at night and I worry that a deer or some animal will be standing in my lane some night just as I come out of one of these "blind" spots.
Rick Penland

Rick,
I and many others changed the light units for Cibie units. These have much better beam control and give a big improvement over the standard fitment.
Mike
Mike Howlett

Your eyes are probably 'stopping down' with the brightness of oncoming traffic, which takes longer to revert as one gets older. A classic case of an improvement for someone else that is at our expense, if not actually dangerous.

If you *do* fit uprated lights then be sure to fit relays and fuses as well. Uprated lights on standard wiring and switches will not be working at their best, and will probably cause the failure of the switches in not too distant a future. You might like to have a look at http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/wn_electricsframe.htm and click on 'Schematics', 'Lighting' and 'Uprated Headlamps ...'. There are other sites around recommending and describing the modification.
Paul Hunt 2

Thanks for your replies. Thankfully, the B is a fair weather driver and I seldom drive it at night. But I will look into replacing the headlamps with something brighter. And thanks for bringing up the electrical load considerations. I didn't put that in my post, but thought it might have an effect.
Rick Penland

Check out http://www.advanceautowire.com look at the intruction manual for installing headlight relays (http://www.advanceautowire.com/headlight.pdf). A lot of times just using relays and not putting the load of the headlights through the headlight switch will make your headlights brighter. Make sure all contacts are clean and secure to prevent resistance. Use dielectrice grease on connections to prevent corrosion that causes resistance and poor contact.
Kimberly

This thread was discussed on 24/10/2006

MG MGB Technical index

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