Technical Headlights

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Technical Headlights

Brinky

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My 500F is right hand drive, driven on the left hand side of the road but has left hand drive headights.
This means that when high beam is selected the beams go up and to the left.
Having trouble finding right hand drive lights. Is there any way of converting the lenses/bulbs.
Thanks in advance.
 
Hi,
You can modify the LHD lights to dip left quite easily. If you remove the headlight you will see that the globe locating notch is designed to point the bulb filament to the left and dip right.
If you file another notch on the other side then the bulb can be relocated to point right and therefore dip to the left.
Technically speaking you should also replace the lens with a RHD one so it focusses the beam correctly but relocating the globe is usually sufficient to avoid annoying anyone and pass a roadworthiness check.
Hope this helps!
 
Brinky,

I asked myself the same question a little while ago. From my reading, the RHD units are no longer available. I did find one mob in the UK that would convert new LHD units to RHD units, but they needed your RHD units to do this.

I compared my old RHD light with a new LHD light that I have and the only difference I can see it the pattern on the glass. I thought that if I could strip the glass from the old light I could put it back in the new light.

Old glass in held in place because the edge of the reflector has been folded over it. There is a small rubber gasket behind the glass. New glass looks like it is just held in by silicon or something similar.

I managed to successfully remove the glass from my two RHD lights without any damage. Just have to be patient and not be heavy handed. Being glass they clean up very well.

Have not tried to remove the glass from a new unit yet but I imagine it will be just a matter of slicing out the silicone. Won't know if the edges of the old and new glass similar enough to allow the old glass to be put back in until I actually try. In my own mind I think it will work and I suspect I will buy another new light one day and give it a go.

Just need someone else to confirm that the pattern on the glass is indeed the only difference.

Word of warning, the pattern on the inside of the old glass has some very sharp edges. (Don't ask me how I know.....)

SANY1566.JPG

Sorry about the quality, but you can see how
I have folded back the edge of the reflector.
You can see the rubber seal that sits in
behind the glass
 
Either that or you can just buy standard universal round lights that fit and stick on those ugly beam correctors.

From memory and in Australia at least, the front of these cars was raised so that the headlight beams would penetrate further and in the US the early cars were fitted with those very large 'fanalone' lights that made the little cars look like they had a thyroid problem ....

I guess my point is that high beam on these cars might not be the problem that it is on, say, a modern car with xenon lights, though what ever you do, you will still have to get through an inspection for registration.

Chris
 
I kept the old headlights thinking that I may be able to restore them much as Joe has suggested, though I've done nothing yet. At present my car is fitted with LHD lights - I just hope no one notices when it comes to the pre-registration roadworthy inspection.

I've attached two photos so you can see the difference. The LHD light is on the left and the RHD is the one on the right. The fogged look of the LHD one is due to the camera flash angle.

Chris
 

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Brinky,

I asked myself the same question a little while ago. From my reading, the RHD units are no longer available.

I can confirm the RHD lenses are no longer available. It's rather annoying as there are plenty of rhd cars left!
 
Hi, I need to do this myself and was wondering if anyone had looked into using another classic british car light housing with the same diameter?
 
Sealed beam units from cars like the Vitesse etc are often used with a bit of fettling and they are dirt cheap.
 
Hi,

Just seen this thread, ive just bought some new RHD headlights from fiat500ricambi in Holland, brand new, remanufactured glass, and new backs with sidelight.

Quality is good and saves messing about making your own or fitting lights from another car. Very good price aswell at €29.50 each

Craig
 
Thanks Craig, I know ricambi do one and Middle Barton have told me that they are getting them any time now so may be worth finding if a uk supplier is cheaper.
 
Hi, Would be good to get a UK supplier but i doubt they will be able to match the european prices. The UK places are normally 30-40% more expensive even with the postage from abroad.

Fingers crossed though

Craig
 
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