Xenons

[stickandrudderman]

Today I retro-fitted xenon bulbs to a customers 113.
I used a H4 kit and had to use the base of the old P45 bulbs to make an adaptor so that the new bulbs would fit. A little tricky but the results are impressive.

[hauser]

I've upgraded my lighting with halogen bulbs.  However the fog light bulb doesn't have a halogen replacement for it.  Can you put a H3 on a fog light base?  How about clearance lights?  Could an LED be fabricated as well? 

[paulr]

I too have the H4's and they're great. I bought LED's for the back lights and they're OK, not great as they are much cooler so the light is more magenta than the tungsten variety.

One place I did squeeze an LED ( torpedo ) in was in the gear selector. It's better than the tungsten one because it doesn't go black and get dimmer. I wrapped a small piece of cinematic "straw" gel around it to warm it up. LEE filters do a sample book of all the lighting gels available. You can experiment with strengths.

One thing about LED's is that you need MUCH more wattage than you think.

[114015]

Dear Stick,

Today I retro-fitted xenon bulbs to a customers 113.
I used a H4 kit and had to use the base of the old P45 bulbs to make an adaptor so that the new bulbs would fit. A little tricky but the results are impressive.

Do I understand this correctly? You retrofitted Xenon bulbs into Euro headlight units? Not ordinary H4 (which is the common recommendation) or H7 but Xenons? And that works?

Wow! I'll imagine the light output must be brilliant.

However, aren't Xenon bulbs (like H7) supposed to have the glass lens in front of the bulb? Please how did you solve that problem? Please, would you mind to describe the conversion in a little more detail?

Furthermore, it has always been my understanding that H7 and especially Xenon headlight units make a self-levelling headlamp system absolutely mandatory - which I understand is more or less impossible with an antique common SL European headlight unit. Or, is it ...?

And last but not least ... how will this affect MOT (the British equivalent to the German TUEV)?

Questions over questions ... but this is an extremely interesting conversion that I have always dreamt of in order to convert the low-beam headlamp to current modern standards.

Thanks in advance for all your input.

Extremely curious Achim

[stickandrudderman]

You read right. Xenon conversion.
I'm afraid i can't comment on the legal issues regarding automatic level compensation; I took the car for the MOT before I fitted the conversion!!
It was installed at the customer's request.
Installation requires a little ingenuity, you have to dismantle the old P45 bulb and then modify it's base to act as an adaptor to take the H4 Xenon bulb. You also have to modify the xenon base slightly so that the original retainer will fit over it and hold it all in place.

Incidentally, I've also recently discovered a way of reconditioning reflectors, even severely pitted ones.

[jameshoward]

You read right. Xenon conversion.
I'm afraid i can't comment on the legal issues regarding automatic level compensation; I took the car for the MOT before I fitted the conversion!!
It was installed at the customer's request.
Installation requires a little ingenuity, you have to dismantle the old P45 bulb and then modify it's base to act as an adaptor to take the H4 Xenon bulb. You also have to modify the xenon base slightly so that the original retainer will fit over it and hold it all in place.

Incidentally, I've also recently discovered a way of reconditioning reflectors, even severely pitted ones.

This does sound very interesting indeed. Can you provide some photos please. Can you also explain in more detail your last comment about reflectors, as mine have pitting and I'd like to hear your top tips to see if I can bring them back to life.

Thanks,

JH

[tel76]

Hello Achim,
Have a look on US Fleabay item #230468367782, Conversion Euro Headlights Xenon  $119.
Maybe of some help.

[graphic66]

I have had the Hella H4 headlights in my car for years now. I use the 100/80 watt bulbs. these are the brightest headlights I have ever used. I never get flashed either because of the Z beam pattern. It is the best  money you can spend on your car, especially in deer country. Those high wattage H4's really light upthe edges of the road.

[RickM]

However, aren't Xenon bulbs (like H7) supposed to have the glass lens in front of the bulb? Please how did you solve that problem? Please, would you mind to describe the conversion in a little more detail?

I believe a lens designed for the xenon light pattern is optimal as well. There are quite a few custom/retrofit applications that people are apparently happy with.

Stickandrudderman: Can you elaborate on the reflector fix?

[mdsalemi]

Rick,

There are some new paint processes out there that emulate chrome flashing.  I posted about one of them before; it is called the Cosmichrome process.

Alternatively what some places do for antique reflector restoration is silver plate.

http://www.vintage-headlamp-restoration.com/VHR.pdf

I just polished a silver bowl in my home and have no idea how they protect the silver from tarnish.

Do a search for any of the topics and you'll find more information than you can possibley digest.