LED & PL700

[Sarthe72]

Just a quickie. I want to upgrade the car to LED lights, but each time I look there are no bulbs available for the original headlights. Have I missed it and has someone made any as yet? I saw an early car which had been upgraded and was most impressed, especially with the dashboard lighting. Easy to read with these old eyes of mine!

[abowie]

I'm confused. People with E Types use their headlights??

[1954Etype]

Better car lighting have produced a complete PL headlight using LEDs I believe. It might be worth giving Gil a ring on 01789576102.

[Heuer]

The original P700 headlamps use a 410 fitment tungsten bulb rather than the later common H4 fitting. Unlikely you will find anyone making 410 LED's and even if you did putting an LED bulb into a PL700 headlamp will not produce a good light because the optics and focus are all wrong. The 410 bulbs are pretty useless if you want to drive the car at night and the repro PL700's with H4's have lousy optics because of the cheap build.

Best thing you can do is upgrade the headlamps with relay's and latest generation halogen bulbs (see the Upgrades Forum for details). Anyone who tries to sell you LED headlamps for an E-Type - unless they are Lucas Marchal or Osram companies with the necessary R&D - is selling snake oil!

[malcolm]

My S2 (1969) has standard basic headlights. Recently had to replace one with a new unit from SNG, which was a straight swap plug in. The new one matches old one in brightness so I know both are basic units. Have to say, the headlights have always seemed perfectly adequate, and I've done a lot of night driving. Were the S2 headlights much better than the S1?
What I did find was that the dash lights were useless, so replaced them with LEDs. Very pleased with them, not too bright, nice green glow, everything very clear now.

[Heuer]

Yes, the S2 headlamps have a deeper reflector than the S1's which are encumbered by the slanted housing (to clear the front tyres). You improve the lighting by increasing the volume of light rather than the intensity which is why modern cars have massive headlamp units with reflectors designed specifically for LED's. The only thing you can do with the E-Type is to increase the voltage to the bulbs hence the relay's. All information here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4919

[Sarthe72]

I'm confused. People with E Types use their headlights??

It would have been rather difficult to drive from St Tropez to Le Mans overnight in 1994 if I didn't have any I think, and nor from Le Mans to Rijeka leaving at 2am and arriving at 9pm there

And thanks Heuer; always the sage we can rely on.

[Herblay]

Better car lighting have produced a complete PL headlight using LEDs I believe. It might be worth giving Gil a ring on 01789576102.

I confirmed i’ve made that upgrade with superb results

[cactusman]

I have reproduction PL700 and the optics are fine.....can't comment on the specific LED bulbs mentioned above but generally (a) many with more than one LED element for each filament will perform poorly on dipped beam as the reflector is designed for a filament and (b) LED bulbs need to have sufficient cooling of the LED elements or they will rapidly fail. Most generic designs have a large heat sink behind the bulb unit which simply won't fit in the confined space on an e type headlamp bowl....and even if it does, I suspect the cooling will be sufficiently compromised so as to shorten the LED life....I have the relay conversion and Oxfam nightbreaker 60/55 watt halogen bulbs which are fine for the rare times I drive at night.

[Steve1967]

I have also used Gils products from Better Car Lighting and the quality is superb. Gil is immensely helpful and full of genuine advice and wisdom, not just trying to sell you stuff.

I am very happy with my headlights and in fact, every light bulb on my Healey and the E Type are LED.

No connection by the way, just a happy customer.

[Sarthe72]

Thanks people. I've dropped them a line and shall await their reply. I did find other conversions but only made in LHD configuration.

[Andyp_67E]

I see from this months Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine, June, Page 53, that better Car Lighting are offering a LED headlamp upgrade kit especially for the Series 1 E type, taking into account the curved glass headlamp covers and the limited space behind the bulb. I would be interested to know if anyone has tried one?

I am contemplating an upgrade to LED's of Sidelights, Brake Lights and Reversing Light bulbs. Not indicators as I like the ticking sound the existing flasher unit makes. its part of driving an old car and also not updating the instrument lights as I like their soft glow, call me odd. I may then consider a Headlamp upgrade.