Technical Halogen Lights

[gusgurner]

Cheers Matt

I was out in mine the other night and if possible would like to improve the lights but this is a job for the future. Main thing is I passed the MOT retest but will have to improve the lights for next time. Mine is left hand drive and i have had some problems aiming the lights which i could do with getting more to the right when I adjust this they are then too low. But at the moment I'm hardly going to dazzle anyone!!

Its a bit cold and wet here at present but guess its not snowy and icy like in blighty.

Happy motoring and thanks for the post.

Cheers

Gus

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Gus;
Some years ago I worked for a Mercedes-Benz garage which was regularly visited by the inhabitants of the local US Airforce base. Quite a common problem was that they had bought (often cheap) Mercs whilst doing a term of duty in Europe. These cars had, of course, headlamps that dipped to the LEFT which meant that in this country they blinded the poor muppets coming the other way. Our solution was to blank off small, moulded-in, sections of the head-lamp lens with black tape. This had the effect of making the headlamp only dip DOWN, but still with full power. Not the perfect answer, but a darn site more sociable! The perfect answer is of course to fit UK spec headlamps--and if you can find a source, let everyone know--and become a hero

 

[Bambino]

Fiat 500 Ricambi (Holland) had RHD headlights some time ago but withdrew them because of issues with quality.

They currently list two similar looking lights under separate order numbers and different prices but don't say whether one is RHD or not. They also list a separate reflector as a LHD unit which maybe suggests that they have RHD ones as well.

http://www.fiat500ricambi.com/fiat500

It might be worth emailing them.

Chris

 

[gusgurner]

Hi

Just checked the invoice and it stated clearly LHD lenses I have made such stupid mistakes in hast in the past so totally understandable. They are the two bolt variety so up down and left and right but when screwing one one way and the other the other to move it more to the right its too far down but will try again.

Cheers

Gus

 

[Bambino]

Got a reply -

We are sorry.
No longer available, as it was a very poor quality.

Met vriendelijke groet, With kind regards, Cordiali saluti,

Frank Derksen
FD Ricambi BV

Looks like it's LHD or none at the moment.

Chris

 

[MattGibson]

I have to admit I'm not really sure what the differences are between the construction of LHD and RHD headlights are, but is it possible to fit lenses from RHD lights to LHD units? Is that one way to go? I need to replace the lens in one of my headlights and I've found someone who can supply the lens, but not the whole unit. Anyone tried this before?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Nope, it's beam pattern. Fitting the wrong headlamp unit is illegal, dangerous, and inconsiderate to other road users and will fail MOT. You'll be doing the equivalent of driving abroad without beam blockers fitted to your headlamps.

 

[MattGibson]

Thanks for the quick reply. What inside the headlamp creates the beam pattern?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Depends, I suspect the 500 is a refractor lens like most cars of its age, so it'll be the glass lens on the front

 

[Bambino]

See here - https://www.fiatforum.com/500-classic/296820-headlights.html

It's all in the pattern inscribed on the glass. I too am searching in vain for an equivalent RHD headlight.

Chris

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Folks;
Try the web-site:- www.fiat500classic.co.uk they have aselection of headlamp parts and, as they are a UK based company, I would have thought that the headlamps would be UK compatible. I have been in communication with Nathan (on a different subject) and he seemed most helpful--worth a try