11 replies to this topic

[Poppet2]

Whilst driving on the motorway last week in the rain and on the part of the motorway with no lights, I realised how bad the lights are on a mini.
Some people have 2-4 extra lights on their grill, but are these only used for fog or rally driving?

[AVV IT]

The extra lamps can be used on the road, but only when you have main beam on, you need to wire them in such a way that they turn off when you switch to dipped beam, so they're not going to improve matters for motorway driving.

If however you still have the original sealed beam headlamps that were fitted to most minis as standard, then these really do provide really poor light. Many owners upgrade to a halogen headlamp conversion that use the standard HS4 headlamp bulbs. These are a massive improvement over sealed beams and make classic mini headlamps much more like those on modern cars. http://www.minispare...|Back to search

[dennismini93]

you can put halogens on if you have the earlier sealed beam headlights, also maybe you just need new bulbs? made a big difference to mine but dont buy them if you dont need them. the 2-4 lights in front of the grill can be spot and fogs, they can be used on the road but i would personally have them on a seperate switch just incase but i think most people wire them into full beam. iv only ever driven minis so although i think my lights are quite good iv never had anything else to compare to (i only have the main lights not the grill ones)

[dennismini93]

The extra lamps can be used on the road, but only when you have main beam on, you need to wire them in such a way that they turn off when you switch to dipped beam, so they're not going to improve matters for motorway driving.

If however you still have the original sealed beam headlamps that were fitted to most minis as standard, then these really do provide really poor light. Many owners upgrade to a halogen headlamp conversion that use the standard HS4 headlamp bulbs. These are a massive improvement over sealed beams and make classic mini headlamps much more like those on modern cars. http://www.minispare...|Back to search

beat me to it and a better explanation. i'll get my coat

['Chop']

You can safely put spotlights on the grille or front panel of your car, but they will only work when on main beam, so you'll have a marked difference between main and dip beams. Wire them up using a relay (you can get a wiring kit for this)

 

I usually fit the halogen conversion headlights so you can run the modern (ish) 60/55W setup.

 

I have used this kit, but with the more powerful 80/100W bulbs, although I uprated the wiring at the same time as well in casr the extra 'draw' from the bulbs affected the wiring..

 

[Dan]

i would personally have them on a seperate switch just incase but i think most people wire them into full beam.

Sorry, spot lights or driving lights have to be controlled by the dip switch. It's the law.

[Poppet2]

Thanks everyone, I shall definitely try the halogen bulbs.

[Carlos W]

Thanks everyone, I shall definitely try the halogen bulbs.

 

As Chop has mentioned above, I'd upgrade the wiring!

 

More powerful bulbs will draw more current, if you overload the wiring it may set fire to the loom, and destroy the car! 

 

There are threads on this on the forum, so rather than risk giving out poor advice do a little bit of research and look at splitting the 2 circuits into 4 with relays for dip and high beam on each side. An earth at each cluster will also improve reliability

[Poppet2]

Thanks everyone, I shall definitely try the halogen bulbs.

 
As Chop has mentioned above, I'd upgrade the wiring!
 
More powerful bulbs will draw more current, if you overload the wiring it may set fire to the loom, and destroy the car! 
 
There are threads on this on the forum, so rather than risk giving out poor advice do a little bit of research and look at splitting the 2 circuits into 4 with relays for dip and high beam on each side. An earth at each cluster will also improve reliability

OK.

[dennismini93]

 

i would personally have them on a seperate switch just incase but i think most people wire them into full beam.

Sorry, spot lights or driving lights have to be controlled by the dip switch. It's the law.

 

sorry i didnt realise. 

[AVV IT]

Thanks everyone, I shall definitely try the halogen bulbs.

Sorry I'm not sure if you realise, but if you have standard sealed beam headlights, then you'll need a headlamp conversion to fit the halogen bulbs into (like the one I linked to above), not just a set of halogen bulbs. Sealed beams don't actually have bulbs inside them that can be replaced, they're basically just big bulbs in themselves, and when a sealed beam head lamp blows, you throw it away and replace the entire headlamp.

[jaydee]

Recently i found in my shead a pair of period lucas 700 fitted with halo osrams, and i was very surprised when i've fitted them.

Although the bulbs are only a mere 40W, these lamps provide a much better beam than any wipac halogens i've tried. You actually have lights with them.

Another highly reccomendable conversion, is to fit cibie lamps with halo bulbs (philips x treme 100 are highly reccomendable) and to wire them through a relay switch. This conversion may turn out expensive but its very effective.

 

About extra lamps, fog light may be useful, while driving lights can be switched on with high beam only.

if you need wiring diagram to fit these, just ask.

 

And dont forget to make sure your new lamps are E marked.