10 replies to this topic

[adogcalledbear]

Does anyone know where I can find this central spotlight bracket? I've seen it on a couple of the Works cars and I think BMW's Works replica 363GYP also uses a black-painted version of it.

 

It's a fairly simple shape that could be fabricated (by someone more skillful than myself), but I just wondered if it's available off-the-shelf anywhere?

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Edited by adogcalledbear, 31 July 2017 - 10:31 AM.

[62S]

They are quite probably more involved than you would think. Catmint make them but seem to be out of stock at the moment

 

 

https://www.catmint....a83dqd6hcs3da21

 

 

[tiger99]

I had something vaguely similar but home made on my ancient MK 1 van in about 1971. I must have fabricated it from sheet and pop riveted it. It had a single halogen spot on it, Halfords finest, a bit of a novelty in those days, and it was VERY good. I think it screwed through the fixed grille of the van with 6mm roofing bolts and tap washers but it was a long time ago, before I knew much about proper engineering.

Unfortunately I recall that single spots are no longer legal on the road, even in conjunction with dipped headlights, so you may be best to keep its use for other than the Queen's Highway, or be careful that Plod is not about. The Motor Vehicle Lighting Regulations are available online, and you can also derive guidance about lighting matters from the MOT Testers Manual and the IVA manual.

There was once upon a time a vehicle having a line of 7 rectangular headlights across its width and as I recall the owner had to remove the centre bulb at MOT time. Maybe in your case just unscrew the spot and take it off? Just to avoid aggro. I don't see any reason not to fit one as you envisage, as it has legitimate uses.

I wired mine from a relay controlled by a switch from the main headlight (blue) circuit, which was improper. I should have fed the switch from the main beam (blue/white) so it went off when I dipped the lights, but as I used it mainly on the open road, with very little traffic, switching it off manually was not much of a disadvantage. In those days of dense traffic it would be best to have it on only with mains. Oh, and I should have added a fuse in the brown feed to the relay, but in those days most cars only had 2 fuses.

Have fun.

[adogcalledbear]

I thought this was a long shot but - yet again - the kind folks at the Mini Forum have come up trumps. Many thanks for the Catmint link 62S, I've never seen their site before but they have brilliant stuff. I've emailed them to see if they'll be making more anytime soon, but at the very least I now have a name for the mount and a couple of good photos that give me a guide to what it looks like.

 

And thank you tiger99 for the MOT advice. I'd heard this before and didn't know if it was true, but had assumed I'd have to remove the bulb or disconnect the lamp before MOT. Another pre-MOT item to add to the list.

[Swift_General]

If you're using a centre spotlight as a main beam headlight, pretty sure quite legal.

[minifreek1]

My nephews Mini has 3 spots on the front that come on with the main beam, he's never had any issues at MoT time....?

[Cooperman]

I thought that it was legal in the '60's, but the lighting regulations required additional lights to be fitted in pairs and that spotlights, to be used with main-beam heads, had to be a minimum of 16" from ground to lamp centre.

Fog lights, to be used in conditions of thick fog or falling snow, had to be within a certain distance from each edge of the car and again be installed as a pair.

I might be wrong and the regulations may have reverted to the earlier regulation.

However, one might think that plod have enough to worry about rather than bother with a minor C & U regulation which could, at worst, result in a small penalty and no points on the licence. No worse than a stick-on number plate.

Of course, if it is just for show, then it can be fitted without a bulb or have a padded cover over it.

[Swift_General]

Just checked. The following is an extract of the relevant regs:

PART II
Requirements relating to optional main-beam headlamps

Any number may be fitted and the only requirements prescribed by these Regulations in respect of any which are fitted are those specified in paragraphs 7, 10 and 12(a) of Part I and, in the case of a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1991, paragraph 5 of Part I.

Part 7 relates to colour, 10 switching, 12(a) ability to adjust beam and 5 approval marking. So nothing in there to prohibit a centre spotlight.

[adogcalledbear]

Gordon at Catmint just found a centre-mount bracket on his shelves, despite being listed as out of stock. Fantastic bit of luck! Many thanks for the tip 62S. Catmint have some really great bits and pieces so I'll definitely be going back there when the magic money tree next produces any fruit.

 

Swift_General, just curious, but what regulations are you quoting from there?

[Swift_General]

 
Swift_General, just curious, but what regulations are you quoting from there?

http://www.legislati.../1989/1796/made

[tiger99]

If it is allowed, that would be great. The one I had almost 50 years ago had a very narrow beam and so was very bright, right on the centre line of where the car was pointing, which I found very useful. And on a small car one can be squeezed in more easily than two, in the available part of the frontal area, without too much effect on the cooling air.

I will have another look at those regulations...