The 'E' Type Forum

Hello all,

I have a LHD ‘67 series 1 E-Type roadster with covered headlights. One of the dipped beams has failed although both main beams still work. I guess I need to change a bulb or if the headlight is a sealed unit then change the whole thing.

My question is how do I get at the headlamps?

I’m told that the chromes are very fiddle to fit and seal so I should access the lights form the back of the bonnet, but from what I can see they’re not accessible from the back.

I know there must be a solution somewhere on the net but I’ve been googling all afternoon and can’t find anything.

Thanks so much for any advice!

Andrew

Remove the outer glass cover by releasing the retaining screws....care as if it has been on a while the rubber will be stuck to the body. Break the glass cover and it is £££.

Now unscrew the three self tapers that hold the chrome ring around the glass of the light unit.

The whole light unit will now drop out of the fitting. Unplug the wire to the bulb and you can now take the light away

The bulb can be released and replaced....use a good quality Philips or Osram 60/55 watt bulb.

Refitting is the reverse. Refitting the chrome ring and self tappers is fiddly. Replacing the outer glass needs cars as a slip with the screwdriver will damage the paint...use a little copper grease on the screws too..

A fiddly job but not difficult.

It gets even better. If you only loosen the three chrome ring self tappers by about 2 turns, you can rotate the chrome ring by about 5 -8 mm, then it comes off. The holes are keyhole - shaped to allow this.

Carsten

In theory but mine gets caught magnetic screwdriver

Thanks so much for the very prompt replies but what you’re describing doesn’t sound like the lights on my car. I have the covered lights, for which the glass is secured with a chrome bevel held on by 6 screws...

Sorry, ignore my last reply. I think we are talking about the same thing. Just to double check one more time, however, is it not possible to remove the lights from inside the bonnet thus avoiding touching the chrome at all?

Sorry, no. You have to go in from above but removing the chrome rings.

Regard

This is very helpful advice, thank you. I do have a follow up question if I may?

Only the dip beam on one side (left) is not working. Both main beams are working. It seems (from looking at the part I have fitted: JLM 9609) that there is only one bulb for both dip and main beam. In this case, it can’t the bulb which is blown, since the main beam still works.

Is my thinking correct and if so, any ideas as to why only one of my dip beams is not working? I’d like to establish that it’s definitely the bulb before I do any unnecessary work talking off the chrome and glass.

Thanks again!

The bulb has two filaments, one for dipped and one for main beam. As you use dipped more often, it is quite likely that it has "worn out". The two filaments are completely separate, just like a combined stop/tail light bulb.

John

Makes total sense. Chromes off then... wish me luck!

When it comes to refitting the chromes suggest you use Copperslip on the screw threads as you will be regularly taking the lenses off to clean the bowls. Water and dirt get in and there is little you can do to stop it happening.

Once you have the bulbs in place you really should check the headlamp alignment as per Jaguar instructions before refitting the lenses.