31 replies to this topic

[roblightbody]

It seems to me that there is currently a big gap in the market.

 

A complete road-legal H4 / 7" LED headlight unit, that looks completely standard (warm white output and a normal sidelight bulb).  This would give the benefit of brighter output, lower energy use, but without altering the appearance of the car at all.  I can't stand the ones with the ring of light around the edge because it completely changes the front end look of the car.

 

Or has someone already done this?

 

As I understand it, the Mini's headlight unit also fits lots of other classic cars, so it would surely be worthwhile someone doing this?

 

Edited to add a couple of American options which look ideal - but aren't approved here (I presume) - (1) OE7 – Dapper Lighting and Holley RetroBright LFRB135 Holley RetroBright LED Headlight - Classic White (3000K)

Edited by roblightbody, 20 November 2021 - 04:27 PM.

[nicklouse]

Not found one yet.

[IronmanG]

I would be interested but not at that price

[PoolGuy]

The Holley one that you mention isn’t available in RHD yet. A shame as it’d be perfect.

[Spider]

I looked about 18 months back and couldn't find anything that looked right and was road legal for RHD Cars.

Those you have found sure look the goods, but as you've mentioned, not legal.

 

I have to agree, those ones with the daylight running ring are just wrong on a classic - or any car for that matter.

[Tornado99]

Is it legal in UK to retro fit led lamps into original reflectors? I've swapped out the oem 40 watt glow worms for H4 LEDs from Steveston Motor Co which are a softer white than most LED emitters, though not like the much warmer originals. I needed to use an adaptor ring from ClassicCar LEDs to fit H4's to the Lucas reflectors. Also changed pilots to LED (from CC LEDs in UK). Quite happy with the results.

[IronmanG]

Is it legal in UK to retro fit led lamps into original reflectors? I've swapped out the oem 40 watt glow worms for H4 LEDs from Steveston Motor Co which are a softer white than most LED emitters, though not like the much warmer originals. I needed to use an adaptor ring from ClassicCar LEDs to fit H4's to the Lucas reflectors. Also changed pilots to LED (from CC LEDs in UK). Quite happy with the results.

Do you have links for the exact ones you used because the ones I found were very pricey

[Tornado99]

Steveston's units are branded "Apollo" :
https://stevestonmot.../apollo-h4bulbs
I paid $79 CDN in person for the pair. Quite reasonable.

Here is one of their videos on these bulbs:
https://youtu.be/Xns76e-yZGY

I sourced all other leds on the car from CC LEDs in the UK, including the H4 adaptor rings (less than $3 I think).

[sonscar]

Legal?yes?no maybe.Depends on the year of your car(pre1986?)Steve..

[Tornado99]

Is there a way to get a hand onto the rear of the headlamp shells without having to release them out of the buckets? My LEDs have an adjustment rotator that helps for proper beam shaping, but that seems impossible to get at without first taking whole lamp out of buckets, tweak, replace, check beam, repeat as needed.

[Spider]

Steveston's units are branded "Apollo" :
https://stevestonmot.../apollo-h4bulbs
I paid $79 CDN in person for the pair. Quite reasonable.

Here is one of their videos on these bulbs:
https://youtu.be/Xns76e-yZGY

I sourced all other leds on the car from CC LEDs in the UK, including the H4 adaptor rings (less than $3 I think).

 

In our local rules (Australia), these type of conversions (fitting an LED Lamp in to a H4 Reflector assy) are specifically mentioned and are illegal.
 

[Pops_Guild]

Is it legal in UK to retro fit led lamps into original reflectors? I've swapped out the oem 40 watt glow worms for H4 LEDs from Steveston Motor Co which are a softer white than most LED emitters, though not like the much warmer originals. I needed to use an adaptor ring from ClassicCar LEDs to fit H4's to the Lucas reflectors. Also changed pilots to LED (from CC LEDs in UK). Quite happy with the results.

As already mentioned, if you are in the UK and your mini is pre-1986 then you can replace the bulbs for LEDs without legal issues but 87 onwards it is illegal. The MOT tester will fail them.

I did have the Classic Car LED bulbs in my 1996 Mini, they were excellent but back to Osram Nightbreakers now.

[ThermalEvent]

Is it legal in UK to retro fit led lamps into original reflectors? I've swapped out the oem 40 watt glow worms for H4 LEDs from Steveston Motor Co which are a softer white than most LED emitters, though not like the much warmer originals. I needed to use an adaptor ring from ClassicCar LEDs to fit H4's to the Lucas reflectors. Also changed pilots to LED (from CC LEDs in UK). Quite happy with the results.

As already mentioned, if you are in the UK and your mini is pre-1986 then you can replace the bulbs for LEDs without legal issues but 87 onwards it is illegal. The MOT tester will fail them.

I did have the Classic Car LED bulbs in my 1996 Mini, they were excellent but back to Osram Nightbreakers now.

I'm almost certain it won't fail the MOT on later cars, yes its illegal but MOT testers won't disassemble your car to inspect for an 'E' marks on bulbs. The white colour could just be superduper white halogen/xenon bulbs?

I've got H4 LED's in P700's on the Mini, H1 LED's in a 2005 Honda and H7's in a 2007 Peugeot and all pass at different MOT stations.

As long as the beam pattern is correct I don't see it's an issue. If you want to be totally legal then fair enough but if the beam pattern is good and your visibility at night is improved surely from a safety perspective it's a no brainer?

I will add they do work best in projector headlights for beam pattern.

[roblightbody]

My original post was about the UK market, I should have made that clear, where for my 1990 mini the only legal LED option is to fit really ugly light units that look too modern for the car.

[PoolGuy]

I did have the Classic Car LED bulbs in my 1996 Mini, they were excellent but back to Osram Nightbreakers now.

 

 

 

My original post was about the UK market, I should have made that clear, where for my 1990 mini the only legal LED option is to fit really ugly light units that look too modern for the car.

I have the same bulbs as Pops was using, I can't imagine that an mot tester would even notice that they were led. But, if you're concerned about the legality it's better that you avoid them.

 

The Trucklite led isn't too offensive imo, and from a brief trip in my neighbours Defender, they're really rather good. https://www.bowerspa...adlightheadlamp

Edited by PoolGuy, 21 November 2021 - 09:51 AM.