So on our 66 giadineria it has carello headlamps, 3 adjusting screws. Push and rotate the whole housing pops out of the car. this one is a EV co version so I put in some LED bulbs, and dumped the crappy old burned out bulbs. Well they suck, a lot. I cannot get em aimed low enough, the pattren is wierd. I know it's probably the LED bulbs, but what options are out there? I don't wanna use halogens. No inspection to pass here in the states either, but I gotta use lights that work lol. When they are I stalled also, the carello is readable bit they are slightly tilted. The flutes are not vertical exactly, they are a few degrees off.

Am I missing something with these? Other than the fact the bulbs may be not right for the housing. These have the separate base that holds the bulb, then the assembly goes on the back of the headlight, not H4 style at all.

You likely sturggle to get any led bulbs that make a 100% correct light patten
There's a reason no major manufacturers make retrofit led bulbs to go in old style headlights Al
And there aren't legal to retrofit in the UK and other countries

Due to there layout, you will NOT get a good light pattern when you retro-fit LED 'bulbs' in original pattern lights---the patterns on the glasses are not compatible with the LED 'bulb'. In the UK, technically, it is an MOT failure if LED head-lamp 'bulbs' are fitted inside original pattern lights, because, as you have discovered, you cannot get a proper light pattern. I have an article in my 'library' for the fitment of (if I remember correctly) of Triumph Stag lights into a 500, complete with Halogen bulbs.

Fair enough, that's what I kinda figured. So what are my headlight options for something other than the standard halogen bulbs for the 3 bolt adjuster headlights?

In order to get a headlamp light beam, the light source (e.g. bulb filament) has to be situated at the focal point of the lamp reflector. The dip (low) beam is achieved by using a small cover over one of the bulb filaments - this results in light only being directed onto the upper part of the reflector, this light is then directed downwards and the fluting on the lamp glass refines and directs the light into what we see as the beam pattern on a wall/screen etc.


You could try moving the led in and out with it switched on and see if there is one position of the led in relation to the reflector that gives an acceptable beam pattern. Blacking out the lower half of the reflector might? allow you to get a dipped (low) beam pattern using the existing glass lens. But as the hobbler and chris3234 have said it's probably not going to work. Even led type flashlights tend to give a very 'woolly' beam pattern.....

It looks like your only viable option (as you say) is to try to find alternative low power consuming light units that can be made to fit your car. What is the diameter of your existing lamps (5 3/4, 6, 7 inch?)


AL.

In my experience, repro Carellos have a poorly formed prism structure and aren't always properly aligned to the horizontal. It's also possible that repro front bodywork panels could have misaligned holes.

fiat500 said:

In my experience, repro Carellos have a poorly formed prism structure and aren't always properly aligned to the horizontal. It's also possible that repro front bodywork panels could have misaligned holes.

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Shock..

i hope you are not intimating that repro parts are not very good...

fiat500 said:

In my experience, repro Carellos have a poorly formed prism structure and aren't always properly aligned to the horizontal. It's also possible that repro front bodywork panels could have misaligned holes.

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I mentioned the misaligned holes in my thread just the other day. My left headlight is tilted clockwise about 1cm.

1500500 said:

I mentioned the misaligned holes in my thread just the other day. My left headlight is tilted clockwise about 1cm.

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Not sure about later cars.. I'm sure that 66 giadineria, may have the same headlight mounting as N/D's
in that the headlight is located within the rear mounting rim by a small lug on the outside of the headlight and retained by the clips and alloy outer rim.......
if the headlight isn't positioned correctly when inserted and twisted...
you can file this lug off and using a soldering Iron, solder and file a new lug in a slightly different position...

I have used other reflectors to rebuild N lights due to the reflector being too corroded to use... these do not have the lug on the reflector, so had to do this... (Ns don't have the sidelight in the headlight)
and they don't have the attachment lugs like F/L/Rs so we can buy new reflectors destined for Lambrettas or similar..
So it may be possible to use other 130mm reflectors..

So the headlamps required are 130mm.

I'm just wondering what size lamps are used on the Citroen 2CV/Dyane - they're quite small. Anyone know Citroens?

What about the BMW Isetta or other microcars? Heinkel Scooter?

What about headlamps/worklamps fitted to older farm tractors?


AL.

LED had to go, it just doesnt work in this housing. They are rotated slightly too, not straight when locked in the housing like you said 1500150, they are just over 5" not like the 5.75's I can go buy off the shelf at the parts hut. I dunno if they are newer or original carello headlights, im leaning towards later, and Ill say it, aftermarket parts, lots of em suck, no question. Waste of materials if you ask me.

Anyway, I gotta check see if they have a spring tab, maybe I can use later headlight housings that will accept an H4 tpe bulb and dump the old bulb in base setup. Its really bad. If not we will have to do some research on 130mm headlights and see what we can fab up to fit in there. As far as body work, doesnt seem as if anyting has been repalced as far as body panels. And yes these headlamps have the clips that hold them in the rings. Either way the pattern is so poor with the LEDs doesnt matter wherre you aim them, they do nothing.

F123C said:

So the headlamps required are 130mm.

I'm just wondering what size lamps are used on the Citroen 2CV/Dyane - they're quite small. Anyone know Citroens?

What about the BMW Isetta or other microcars? Heinkel Scooter?

What about headlamps/worklamps fitted to older farm tractors?


AL.

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I've been through the catalogues.... Hella make some lamps that fit.....
they are however over 200€ a pair....


so i went down the motorbike/scooter route as they have small headlights and are easily obtainable... however, bikes and scooter don't have any deflection prisms built into the glass... so basically can't be used as they simply shine straight ahead...
later cars can't use the reflectors either due to the mounting and adjustment of the headlights,,,
but if (in the UK or oz etc) you have RHD early cars then replacing the reflectors is a possibility... due to the rarity of RHD lenses..

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I have a copy of an article where the writer fitted 5-3/4in lights from a Triumph Stag onto his 500 in order to up-grade his headlamps. I have found this article---if you would like a copy, contact me direct with your address and I will copy the article for you.

Bigvtwin996 said:

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so i went down the motorbike/scooter route as they have small headlights and are easily obtainable... however, bikes and scooter don't have any deflection prisms built into the glass... so basically can't be used as they simply shine straight ahead...
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But older motorcycle headlamps do have a dip (low) beam. Idk if they would pass e.g. an MOT inspection, maybe someone here knows?

However the beam pattern does not have the clearly defined /light/dark cutoff which means that the visual range is only average on the side exposed to oncoming traffic (the RH side in countries that drive on the LH and vice versa) and the distance lit up on the left (i.e along the verge/roadside) is not as great as on Euro spec lamps.

This clearly defined light/dark cutoff is seen when a RHD car is parked with dipped headlamps shining onto e.g. a wall - the light pattern shows a horizontal cutoff from right to centre and then tilts up to the left side - the horizontal line shows the light is prevented from shining up into oncoming drivers eyes /is limited in how far it shines along the road and the tilt-up towards the left corresponds with the increased distance of the left side of the road that is illuminated when dip beam is selected. This cutoff pattern typically disappears when main (full) beams are selected.

The above applies to Euro (and British!) spec. headlamps. U.S. specifications might be different. If lamps are being changed on a vehicle that will be subject to a vehicle inspection e.g. IVA, SVA, MOT etc. it would be advisable to ensure that the lamps chosen have the correct approval mark on the lens and essential that they dip to the correct side. Glass lensed headlamps usually have an arrow to show the direction in which dip beam points.

I did notice that the OP said his converted vehicle won't be subject to an official inspection, so presumably he just has to find some lamps that work and don't dazzle other drivers.

AL.

Bigvtwin996 said:

I've been through the catalogues.... Hella make some lamps that fit.....
they are however over 200€ a pair....


so i went down the motorbike/scooter route as they have small headlights and are easily obtainable... however, bikes and scooter don't have any deflection prisms built into the glass... so basically can't be used as they simply shine straight ahead...
later cars can't use the reflectors either due to the mounting and adjustment of the headlights,,,
but if (in the UK or oz etc) you have RHD early cars then replacing the reflectors is a possibility... due to the rarity of RHD lenses..

Click to expand...

Please tell me what catalogs so i can have a look see. The $$ isnt so much of an issue, its making sure it has usable headlights. Im not a fan of using the motorbike scooter lights as the beam wouldn't be right either. They were made for vehicle that turn the lamp, so I dont know if the light that floods to the side would work well at all

Hobbler, I would do the bigger lamps, but I just cant see how they would look right, the way the body is designed, the light bucket, I dont know how the aesthetics would look. Also Im in the states, any way the article can be scanned and emailed?

Well I just ordered some stock 35watt bulbs. I doubt this will be driven much at night, either way the headlights have to work. As long as they do their job decently we will call it a win.

Sorry to say, my computer skills are somewhat limited! I do realise that you are in the US of A "autocomman", so if you e-mail me direct, with your address, I will copy the article and pop it into the post for [email protected]
Meanwhile, look at e-bay, number:--221075853102. This company (Bolt on Bits) is selling LHD 5-3/4 in headlamp units with side-light provision. In conjunction with the article, this might just suit your requirements.
Tom (aka, The Hobbler)

I appreciate it hobbler, but at this point we are lookin to finish the car up. If the stock bulbs work properly in the original headlights we are gonna call it a day. I can get the 5 3/4 housing here all day long, thats not an issue, its fitting them. But in this case long as the stockers do the job, were all done.

Got stock bulbs in and was able to get a good pattern from one headlight and a decent pattern from the other. Aimed em at night when I had the car for a day, Im happy with the results. Defiantly satisfactory.

Mark