Headlight Conversion

[(minisniper)]

Hiya
I'm thinking about converting my headlights from the sealed beams to the halogen type. I have looked around and found there are various kits to buy but I'm abit confused as which is best .

So I would be interested to hear your opinions of what you've got including fitting and how satisfied you were.

Minisniper

[Admin/Founder 2]

Wipac Quadoptic without a doubt
Its what Boris has theres cheaper ones on the market but Wipac Quadoptic were Original Equipment on later Minis that had halogen lights as standard

Gets yourself to a show they are cheaper there are were £29 the set at Malvern Mini Show back in March

Huggz
Jodie

[Holly]

a couple of ine have the standard Wipac ones and a couple have the Angeleye type. I personally haven't really noticed any difference between the 2 types but anything has to be better than the candle powered sealed beam ones

[asahartz]

I have Wipacs on two of my cars. £35 the complete set (Minispares ISTR), and so easy to fit that son Adam (17) did it in half an hour.

[kalkat]

Fitting Halogen lamps is a must nowadays. One thing worth pointing out though is it's a good idea to run them from a relay.

That is when you turn on the Headlamp switch, it turns on a relay that then turns on the lamps (and another relay for the flash/fullbeam). This is especially important in older cars as the various components of the leccy system may well be a 'bit tired' and you wouldn't want a fire now - would you?

Emma

[(minisniper)]

Hiya Emma
Thank you for your reply and no I wouldn't want a fire Can I contact you nearer the time about how and where to connect the relays etc. I thought it was just take the old headlights out and plug the new ones in ;D ;D

[kalkat]

You can simply swap the headlamp units. The relays are a safety measure that's all.

When I did mine in Vanessa ( V reg Clubby) I had to replace one of the lighting stalks due to the dip/full switch failing. This could have been caused by a number of things, but I chose to take the power handling away from what are after all 30 year old switches.

It's not difficult to do, and can in fact be an aid to fault diagnosis later on. It's also interesting to note that most 'modern' cars switch headlamps ets. through relays.

I'll write up summat to explain how to do this, hopefully it'll be ready for when you need it

Emma

[(minisniper)]

Thank again Emma
I will look forward to your write up and diagrams if possible? I always work better with pictures lol

[asahartz]

I won't disagree with Kalkat that relays are a good idea (my MOT tester told me about a Mini that caught fire on his ramp because the spots had been wired straight into the headlamp circuit!).

But rest assured that the halogens take no more current than the existing sealed beams, so as long as the wiring's sound they can just swap-in.

The headlamp circuit of the Mini (actually most circuits do!) does tend to suffer with poor connections, especially the bullet connector unions just in front of the dizzy under the bonnet slam.

[kalkat]

Yes 'Asa' ....but as you can't see the corrsion, 'tis better safe then sorry.

What Asa says is true, but so's what I say regarding fixing problems ........ I should know

Emma

[Pink-Shifty]

Fitting the halogens is dead easy, I did the ones on Boris at Malvern, Took about 20mins.

The only real alteration required is on the side light, and thats easy enough, you just need a pair of crimping pliers.

If you do need any tools drop me a PM and I'll be happy to lend em you.

[asahartz]

Nov 5, 2009 18:45:58 GMT kalkat said:

Yes 'Asa' ....but as you can't see the corrsion, 'tis better safe then sorry.

What Asa says is true, but so's what I say regarding fixing problems ........ I should know

Emma

S'alright - I know my electrics, I used to be a sparky!

To be honest, most Minis show their wiring deterioration externally too; the engine bay is pretty exposed and hostile so the insulation often cracks.

Fortunately it's relatively simple wiring and reasonably accessible. Supplies are easily available from Vehicle Wiring Products (luckily for me, close to work!)

[(minisniper)]

I am going to be ordering my headlights in the next few days and I was now wondering if someone could tell me in a detail how do I line up my new headlights when I have fitted them

[Admin/Founder 2]

There are verticle and horizontal beam alignment adjuster screws but as long as you leave them well alone when you remove the old lights so long as the originals were in line in theory you should get away with it and the new ones should still be lined up correctly

Shifty did mine and left the adjusters alone and Boris sailed through his Beam Alignment test on his MOT no Probs

Ill look out my Quadoptics leaflet later and scan it for you

[(minisniper)]

Nov 4, 2009 22:13:10 GMT kalkat said:

Fitting Halogen lamps is a must nowadays. One thing worth pointing out though is it's a good idea to run them from a relay.

That is when you turn on the Headlamp switch, it turns on a relay that then turns on the lamps (and another relay for the flash/fullbeam). This is especially important in older cars as the various components of the leccy system may well be a 'bit tired' and you wouldn't want a fire now - would you?

Emma

Where do I need to fit the relay? and does anyone have a diagram or a step by step guide that I could use.

[Admin/Founder 2]

As promised



there are other pages but not english im afraid
and there only the same anyhoos

Hope they help a little though?

Huggz
Jodie

[(minisniper)]

Hiya Jodie
Thank you for that
I'm sure it will come in useful when I get around to fitting them

[(minisniper)]

Hiya guys
Emma has suggested to me that I need to fit a relay when I get my new headlights but I don't know where so can anyone tell me or show me a diagram/picture of where to put it.

Thanks in advance

[kalkat]

My method was to interrupt the wiring en-route to the headlamps. You can find this in the loom in the rear left hand corner under the bonnet. You will need : two relays (one for dipped and one for full beam) some crimp Lucar connectors prefferably insulated ones, insulating tape, some suitably rated wire, a couple of fuseholders (or another fusebox) and tools to do the job.

For my nrxt trick ..... I'll write up the procedure - back in a bit

Emma

[(minisniper)]

Hiya Emma
Thank you for your reply and letting me know what I need. I will look forward to the write up

[asahartz]

While I was refitting the headlamps to Skye at the weekend I uncovered a nasty bodge.

I had already noticed while taking them off that the person who fitted them had insulated the sidelight connections with... parcel tape! Obviously that had to come off, so a sharp blade was used.

Underneath I found the wires had been twisted together, then fastened with a tie-wrap!!!! Never seen anything quite like it.

Anyone who has bought the Wipac conversion kit will know that it comes with a set of crimp-on bullet connectors for the purpose. Someone either couldn't be bothered, or couldn't work out how to use them.

They've now been connected properly with some of my stock spade terminals - and insulators!

[kalkat]

Hmmmmm.....parceltape it's amazing what you find under the POS effect!

Apologies for the delay Minisniper, I've had a few problems here I'll write up the procedure in the 'How To' section over the next couple of days.


Emma

[(minisniper)]

Hiya Emma
I have ordered my headlamps today so will be fitting them in the next few days, can you tell me where do I put the relays? I'm not sure where to put them