Upgrading lighting

[Aleco]

Does anyone have a good circuit diagram for upgrading dolly front lights?
Just a simple line diagram would be great along with parts needed such as relays etc.
I'm more than happy to make my own loom.
I'm planning on using Cibie headlights and halogen lamps.
Although getting hold of Cibies seems quite hard at the moment

[RichardHyde]

With a little bit of fettling, BMW E30 ‘smiley’ headlights fit into the Dolomite headlight panel. I haven’t done any comparisons, but I suspect 1990s BMW units will be much better…Both are 5 3/4 inch diameter, but you’ll need to cut away quite a lot of plastic to fit them eg the original lugs and fittings.

[Richard the old one]

The August- September 2020, Issue 198 of Dolly Mixture contains an article that I produced on how I fitted relays in the headlight circuits of my 1500HL dolomites without cutting any wires. I fitted the relays on the bulkhead above the battery see the attached photo's.

[sprint95m]

With a little bit of fettling, BMW E30 ‘smiley’ headlights fit into the Dolomite headlight panel. I haven’t done any comparisons, but I suspect 1990s BMW units will be much better…Both are 5 3/4 inch diameter, but you’ll need to cut away quite a lot of plastic to fit them eg the original lugs and fittings.

Hardly a scientific comparison
but I have twice been given lifts in BMWs of that era, a 5 series and a 3 series and,
not to put too fine a point on it, they had rubbish lighting,
not a patch on the Jaguar XJ40 lights my Dolomite was using.



Ian

[SprintV8]

I’m going also for the Jaguar Cibies across all four.
Relaid off course.

I’ve also got a couple of Zenon Projector units that I’m hoping to fit into a 5 3/4 lights.
That should be more than enough light.

[Aleco]

Thanks all for info.

Do you have a part number for the Jag lights? Does it require any fettling to make them work?

[GinettaG15]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3296811 ... QfQjtlEgxU

a complite kit to get the full 12V to your Headlights.

this said, first check if your orginal lights are well grounded and all connectors in good nick without corrosion.

than a good quality of Bulb from Phillips or Hella (no fancy cheapish blue-light bulbs from china) and you should be fine.

[JerryTR5]

Isn't halogen or HID a bit last century?
Surely you should be looking at LED which will not require relays or wiring changes.
Jerry

[GinettaG15]

LED and HID require self leveling and washing system to meet the "official" standards.

and nothing is more dangerous (and egoistic, imo) than people fitting LED or HID to improve THEIR lights and in the same time don´t care about blinding OTHER motorists!!! sorry, such things make me angry!!!

a well wired / well maintained H4 light with a modern (and legal) bulb, is more than sufficiant for our cars!!!

[marshman]

LED and HID require self leveling and washing system to meet the "official" standards.

and nothing is more dangerous (and egoistic, imo) than people fitting LED or HID to improve THEIR lights and in the same time don´t care about blinding OTHER motorists!!! sorry, such things make me angry!!!

a well wired / well maintained H4 light with a modern (and legal) bulb, is more than sufficiant for our cars!!!

Well said !

[cliftyhanger]

But a LED (or even HID?) is perfectly legal in our cars. If the bulb is correctly made, it should mimic a std incandescent typw exactly, so be no worse in terms of dazzling oncoming traffic.
In fact, my daughter is getting me a pair of Osram H4 LEDS for christmas. No stupid claims about a bazillion lumens, and should be similar to one of their "nightbreakers" but at a fraction of the current. We shall see how I get on.

[Slowmo]

Not road legal I’m afraid, even if the beam pattern is the same.

They are not E marked, and Osram state that they are not legal for road use.

Peter

[sprint95m]

I’m going also for the Jaguar Cibies across all four.

The Jaguar XJ40 units from a 1993 car I used were made by Lucas.
The outer units are available new from SC Parts I think but the inners are not.
I didn’t see a Cibie option?


Thanks
Ian

[cliftyhanger]

Not road legal I’m afraid, even if the beam pattern is the same.

They are not E marked, and Osram state that they are not legal for road use.

Peter

You are correct, not E marked, and therefore not legal for 1986 on cars. Which is 99% of cars on the road.
However,
The MOT rules have been clarified from 22.3.21 to allow the use of LED conversions that pass the beam pattern tests for headlights for Class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicles (car, private bus and light commercial vehicle) first used before 1 April 1986 and all class1 and 2 motorcycles of any age.
So if they pass an MoT on instruction for the Ministry (or whatever they are called now) does that make them legal? I believe it does. The important thing for such cars is the beam pattern.

[Slowmo]

I stand enlightened!
Peter