Paint recommendations

[UKPhilTR7]

In the process of changing my bulbs to LED’s, I noticed that some of the bulb units are not as good as what they should be. The silver coating is dull and on some of them, I have white fur.

So I was going to try and recondition some of them. I can clean them down, but was wondering what recommendations you would give to to put the highly reflective silver coating back on the bulb holder units? I would think it would be a paint.

[supercass]

As far as I can recall the units when new would not have been described as highly reflective. I used self adhesive mirror foil on mine but I have since seen evidence that suggests that the best colour for the purpose is actually white. supercass

[Spike]

Are you using coloured bulb or white bulbs? You'll need to use white bulbs with coloured lenses.

Beans has done a good blog post at http://tr7beans.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/ ... ights.html, I've just done this to mine and it has made the world of difference. I think cleaning the lenses made the most difference for me as the shells were quite shiny.

regards

Graham

[FI Spyder]

After cleaning surfaces getting any fuzzy off I spray paint them with chrome paint.

[John_C]

Are we talking about dashboard lights here? If we're talking about external lights then LED bulbs are illegal in the UK unless the complete unit is being changed and the whole caboodle has been manufactured to work together.

[supercass]

My understanding is that led bulbs per se are not illegal but that the bulbs used have to bear a valid EU approval mark and to date I know of no after market led bulbs that do. If you change the complete unit the same would apply in respect of EU approval. If you choose to go ahead then the recommendation is that you use bulbs the same colour as the lenses. Using a white led behind a coloured lens gives poor output. supercass

[Spike]

If you think the rear lights are still a bit dim you could try and double them up.

Stumbled across this quite a while ago https://www.scribd.com/document/4964369 ... conversion

Done this to double up the break lights and it seems quite good. I think because the double filament bulb sticks out a bit more (I think) it does seem to be a bit brighter as well.

[saabfast]

I had dull reflectors on a Herald rear lights about 45 years ago. Being a poor student at the time I gave them a coat of white paint (probably Dulux out of Dads garage at the time) as noted above. It actually made an amazing difference.

[UKPhilTR7]

I have had a look and to save the trouble, I think I may just buy some new ones. They are not too much and I can recondition my old ones for spares. Just need to make sure that I get the connections right now. However, I think the chrome paint option may be the way to go. I like the idea of the mirror wrap, but due to the pits and dips in the external side light housing.

Are we talking about dashboard lights here? If we're talking about external lights then LED bulbs are illegal in the UK unless the complete unit is being changed and the whole caboodle has been manufactured to work together.

I am in the process of replacing my dash bulbs and must admit that I am very happy with the result so far.

Stop right there just a second Mr postman….lol
Illegal – I never know that. This will put a stop to my plans to replace all my bulbs with LED’s apart from the main front lights. I was going to replace the following exterior bulbs; front side, front and back running, front and back indicators, rear reverse, tail, stop and tail. Selecting the colour bulbs that go with the lenses.

From that I have seen, you can fit exterior LED bulb replacements but they have to have the E mark/type, to make them legal in the UK. If you fit LED side lights, they may pass the MOT as long as they do not look too ‘blue” and only look white to the examiner. However, if they have not got the “E” marking on them and you get stopped by the police, they will get you in trouble.

How have the other guys on here got around this, by only getting ones with the “E” type?

[John_C]

There is more to it than just the 'E' mark. Unless your car was built with LED bulbs in the first place (and therefore had reflectors and lenses to suit them) then you should forget it. That goes for anyone with a TR7 in the UK. Rob Marshall did all the research for this and published the results in several magazines. We put a piece on the editorial page in the last TR Driver as we knew of a couple of members going down the LED bulb route and Wayne published a big article in the latest TR Action.

[supercass]

AfaIk and I stand to be corrected, if an led bulb had the relevant EU approval marks then you could use them as they would meet or exceed the required specifications for tungsten or halogen bulbs. To the best of my knowledge this is academic as there aren't any led bulbs with the relevant approval mark. I suspect that with the rapid and dramatic improvements in led lighting there are many led bulbs that meet or exceed the standard but that gaining approval is a costly process. I think it may happen in due course. I understand Osram were attempting to gain approval for a range of after market led bulbs. supercass

[FI Spyder]

Thank goodness I live in "The true north strong and free" were there is no MOT, no regulations, just the occasional road side safety check, usually for commercial trucks (brakes, wipers and lights operational), I've only been through one (took less than 5 minutes) in 55 years of driving.

[UKPhilTR7]

Oh yes there are a fair few hoops to jump through and in that respect the true north does sound inviting.

I decided to buy new side light housing in the end. The old ones were going to be just a little bit too much work. All I have to do now is break the wired to connect the side indicators. Something I must admit that I am not looking forward to as they are new wires but hey ho.

I have already brought led side lights and tail lights. Will see how they look and go from there.