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MG MGB Technical - Prolonging life of halogen headlamps?

I am about to install my third set of halogen headlamps and would like to try to stop rust getting hold of the reflectors as it has done with the last two pairs. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Many thanks,
Steve
Steve Postins

Wow! Scary! I put halogens on my car in about 1996 and so far so good. I changed the rubber sealing rings at the same time and also painted bitumous undersaeal on the inside of the wings and the outside of the backing cones that protect the headlights. I also painted waxoyl around the mounting flanges which wil have formed a seal.
Stan Best

Yep I had this on the first pair I fitted, do as Stan said and give the back a real good coat of under seal etc. after fitting, works well but make replacing a bulb messy, worth it though!

Matt
Matthew Crabb

Thanks guys, I'll do just that.
Steve Postins

If they are Wipac lamps, my opinion is that they are rubbish quality and will always go rusty. The pair I bought rusted in under 2 years. Buy Cibie lamps and it won't happen again.
Mike Howlett

Yes, Wipac I'm afraid. I've found I get between eighteen months and two years out of them. I'll keep an eye out for some Cibies.
Steve Postins

I have had Hella lamps on my A for many years now and no corrosion problems. Admittedly there is not a lot of rain here in San Diego. Ash maybe, but no rain.

FWIW

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Mr Best,
Which brand has done you so well all those years?
Steve Postins

Steve, buy them here
http://www.cars-gb.com/cibie.htm

Mike
Mike Howlett

I just checked and they are Wipac, I remember they were not expensive but they have been very good. Attached is the agreed value insurance pic I took last week of that end of the car.


Stan Best

Thanks guys,
I'm not going scare everyone by posting a picture of mine, even if it is Halloween!
Steve Postins

I've replaced mine a couple of times in the past. I noticed that corrosion of the reflector seems to start mostly at the edge, where the reflector joins the glass front. Before installing a new headlamp, I applied some Waxoyl (very carefully) to the inside of the unit where the glass meets the reflector, using a fine artists' paintbrush. Then a liberal application of Waxoyl to all unseen areas of the reflector.
Brian Shaw

I'm pretty sure I have the same ones on my V8 that came with the car 13 years and 75k miles ago. Most of those miles were all-weather and the car was parked outside. Can't recall doing anything to those re waxoyling. Maybe those are originals and just goes to show that replacements don't have the quality.
Paul Hunt 2

This thread was discussed between 28/10/2007 and 03/11/2007

MG MGB Technical index

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