20 replies to this topic

[cheekynige]

Hi,

Can anyone give some advice on fitting 4 7" cibie oscar's to my 1992 cooper. It's had 4 rover spots on in the past but since it's facelift (welding/rust removal and paintjob) I'm looking to ditch these spots and get some nice oscars.

Will I need a lamp bar or is it possible to use brackets secured to the front body?

As it already had 4 spots wired up, complete with 2 relays, is it just a case of wiring the new ones in - is it going to blow anything?

Also, which combination of spots is best/preferable, should I opt for 2xdriving 2xspots or 4 spots, not really bothered about fogs.

Thanks,


nige

[Sprocket]

Depends on what you want from the lamps. To look good or to be functional. Quite frankly if your going to the expense of fitting decent lamps like Cibies then I would guess its for functionality. In which case the Minispares works replica lamp bar is a good choice. It does require extra holes drilling in the body and the grille corners cutting off. on the down side I find the center support bracket a little obstructive and exposed, but with a little engineering on some flat bar I am gonna make a better one that does not go over the bumper.

Which lamps are they? The Oscars or the Oscar +. The Oscars are a BIG lamp and very fat, sticking out the front of the car a great deal. The Oscar + have a flat back are more compact and look in proportion, these are the ones in the picture below.

Also if you realy are using these for functionality with decent bulbs than lamp stays are a must, to stop the light beam flapping all over the place at 500meters. Dont waste your money on the off the shelf items, just use a modified stainless steel jubalee clip :cheese:

Works Lamp Bracket <------- Cliky

[MINI7]

what ya doing with your rover spots???????

[Sprocket]

Oh yeh

I use two drive and two Sport lens patterns. I angle the two drive lamps slightly to the sides and have the two sports dead straight. Using 130watt bulbs with the sport lens with the pencil beam pattern, throws the light as far as the road is straight (Cibie recons 600meters)and when going round bends the 100 watt bulbs with the drive lens projects slightly round the corner with the wider beam pattern. also use 100/55 watt head light bulbs. Totaly ilegal :fear: :nugget: But I ensure the caps are kept on :cheese:

Its like day light

As for your wiring this will have to be checked to see if it can take the load, If your just using the 55watt bulds I wouldn't think there should be a problem, but anything more than this then I'd advise re wiring the whole lot and take the supply from the battery terminal on the starter solenoid. Oh and another thing make sure you fit a switch in the car to switch them off when you don't want to use them and make sure they can only come on when the main beam is on

[cheekynige]

I was considering the Oscars, not the plus - do you think they'll be a bit over powering for the front of a mini? Chose the oscar's for both functionality and looks, probably slightly more looks than functionality as I won't be doing any rally driving etc with them...

Is the works bar essential as I'm not keen on cutting back the grille or the bracket at the front.

Cheers

[Guess-Works.com]

I had a pair of Cibie Oscars on one of my minis a while ago... I would strongly suggest rewiring them as suggest above, and a possible upgrade to your alternator, if you intend running all 4 over 55 (tut tut) watt bulbs, as you'll be drawing well over 400 watts and possibly upto 600 watts with all the lights on which will be in the range of 35 - 50 amps...

I would also look for a bar which attaches not only to the valance at the bottom but also the slam panel, thus providing a solid base...

[Dev]

I was gonna fit 7" spots from huddersfield minispares but they never have them in. How much did you pay for these and how easy to fit?

also as they are bigger i'm guessing that they will obstruct airflow to the engine?? as my cold air feeds are behind the spots now. should i mesh the front of the bonnet?
Dev

[cheekynige]

I've not paid for them yet, however I've seen them on the internet for £55 not including bulbs (this is for the 7" oscar's, not the plus)...

http://www.extremeau...hp?section=1178

Not thought about the cold air feeds, anyone know if this will affect the engine?

Cheers,


nige

[Sprocket]

I was considering the Oscars, not the plus - do you think they'll be a bit over powering for the front of a mini? Chose the oscar's for both functionality and looks, probably slightly more looks than functionality as I won't be doing any rally driving etc with them...

Is the works bar essential as I'm not keen on cutting back the grille or the bracket at the front.

Cheers

For lamps the size of the Cibie Oscar range the only decent lamp brackets suitable to decently fix them in place, are, the original two up two down( To me look realy sh$t and stick out miles) or the works replica bracket. Those silly little brackets that Rover used, of which there are two different types are a waste of time more so when fitting four 7" lamps as the spacing is too close, the front panel that they are fixed to has a tendency to flex a conciderable amount even with lamp stays. The aftermarket items you can buy such as the chrome or stainless items are even worse and not even suitable for the small cosmetic lamps that most people fit so dont bother with them.

All the brackets still require the use of lamp stays irrespective of them fixing to the bonnet slam panel or not. This will stop the lamp beam fluttering which can get very irritating. I use a stainless jubilee clip/ banding attatched to the top of the lamp with the other end attatched to the bonnet slam panel. Functional, corrosion resistant, adjustable and low profile. Its an old rally car prep trick :cheese:

From experience I would advise the fitting of the works type.

There needs to be a comprimise somewhere along the way.

Just would be a shame to fit lamps like these and when in use the beam flaps all over the place

[Sprocket]

I would also look for a bar which attaches not only to the valance at the bottom but also the slam panel, thus providing a solid base...

Solid fixed brackets do not eliminate the movement of the lamp, thats the job of lamp stays :cheese:

[Sprocket]

I've not paid for them yet, however I've seen them on the internet for £55 not including bulbs (this is for the 7" oscar's, not the plus)...

http://www.extremeau...hp?section=1178

Not thought about the cold air feeds, anyone know if this will affect the engine?

Cheers,


nige

Noticed they got both the oscar and the oscar plus for the same price :erm:

[Dev]

which ones do you have on yours minisprocket?

i like them but not to keen on fitting them myself.

Dev

[Sprocket]

which ones do you have on yours minisprocket?

i like them but not to keen on fitting them myself.

Dev

Cibie Oscar +, two drive and two sport beam pattern with the works replica brackets and stainless lamp stays :cheese:

[Dev]

how much they set you back?

mini sport wanted 80 notes per lamp!

Dev

[Sprocket]

how much they set you back?

mini sport wanted 80 notes per lamp!

Dev

Yeh, its about right Check the link above though as they seem to be 55 each. Dont forget the bulbs are extra, and depending on what wattage can be anything from a couple of quid up to £12 each as well. Also worth getting the lock nuts to protect your investment. :cheese: