So I took Franko for his hopefully last MOT today.
Annoying really as apparently he no longer needs one after May, but I want to drive him before then.
Anyway he passed ok.
Although the same MOT guy who passed him last time commented on the headlamps and the lack of beam pattern.
Now last time he moaned about them and we changed the bulbs there and then and he passed them. But he advised maybe I should find some new ones for next time - next time? there wont be one...
My headlamps were the 500 RHD ones that are available from all known 500 suppliers.
As far as I am aware they are no others available.
Has anyone else had this issue? anyone else found a solution?

Franko500 said:

Has anyone else had this issue? anyone else found a solution?

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...as the other regular Peter occasionally mentions, it's worth finding and using the lenses off original Marelli headlamps as the quality and sharpness of the prisms in the glass is much better. Its quite easy to bond them to new reflectors using PU sealant or similar.
It's worth getting used to the technique as experience is showing me the reflectors don't last long.

MOT testers have moaned about Fiat 500 and 126 for as long as I can remember. Even in best working condition they are not bright enough to properly show on the test equipment. Thought I had solved it by fitting halogen bulbs then paid the price by melting a couple of column switch units as they can't handle the power and require a relay for the power switching.
I did successfully fit a small Lucas sealed beam unit , as fitted to the Triumph Vitesse, Stag etc, to the 500 housing and got a nice beam.
Looking through some of my spare parts last week I did discover that I have a brand new RHD Carello headlamp I did not realise I had, now looking for its mate

I had the same problem with my mot. My headlamps were brand new for u.k cars. The mot tester passed them after commenting that the low powered headlights on a 500 were unlikely to dazzle any oncoming vehicles, where as the headlights on a modern vehicle with perfectly aligned headlights were still capable of burning retinas out.

I haven't ventured out after dark in my 500, as the lack of police in my rural area of Devon, means that most drivers are likely to be well over the drink drive limit. A driver of a 44 tonne Tesco lorry was stopped and breathalysed a couple of days ago on the A38 in Devon. He'd driven down from Wales and was 5 times over the drink drive limit. The police found an empty bottle of vodka in his cab and this was in the daytime!

now would I say "told you so...."
save any RHD lenses you can find.. yes it's a pain in the arse to strip a headlight down.... and fit the original lens to newer backs...

I have found many identical sized lenses but most are simple straight beams with no prisms to point the beams to the left in the uk..
believe it or not some tractors use similar sized headlights...

Bigvtwin996 said:

now would I say "told you so...."

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I told you he told you so.
So...

Also fitted new RHD lamps but had no comments from MOT tester since the first three MOTs ago. Night driving is no great fun though. Better to take a good torch and tape it to the top of the dashboard

If the 500 headlamps are 5 3/4 inch (5.75in.) have you checked out Cibie lamps - afaik they give a good beam pattern. (Cibie spotlamps were 'de-rigeur' for Rallying and used to do headlamp upgrades for many cars, 'back in the day').

www.holden.co.uk -have several 5 3/4 in. lamps listed incl Cibie @ £58.

www.europaspares.co.uk -have several 5 3/4 in. lamps listed incl Cibie @ £62.

Some of the lamps listed are Main/Dip, with/without Sidelight, RHD i.e. dipping to left, some take Halogen bulbs. I don't know if they fit into 500 h/lamp bowls or allow 500 bezels/trim rings to be fitted. They also stock complete headlamp units incl. bowls, lamps and bezels.

This is not a recommendation, just a suggestion to check if what they have is suitable for a 500, so kindly proceed with caution.

AL.

F123C said:

If the 500 headlamps are 5 3/4 inch (5.75in.)

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unfortunately 500 lights are 120mm (5 3/4" is 145mm)

My solution was to fit powerful spotlights. It's ugly but works. I also fitted relays so that the headlamp feed can come directly from the battery.
https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=447544

I was also busted for "feeble" headlight at the CT (MOT) this year, and swapped the 45/40W bulbs for a pair of 75/70W. That made them happy, and me worried about the heat that might be generated, and wether the load is not too much for the wires / switches in sustained use. The point being that it passed.
(BOSMA R2 P45T 75/70W)

giardini said:

I was also busted for "feeble" headlight at the CT (MOT) this year, and swapped the 45/40W bulbs for a pair of 75/70W. That made them happy, and me worried about the heat that might be generated, and wether the load is not too much for the wires / switches in sustained use. The point being that it passed.
(BOSMA R2 P45T 75/70W)

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I think I will do this for the MOT and then revert back to the standard lamps..........