The 'E' Type Forum

I am looking to buy the SNG Barrett LED H4 heading light conversion kit. Part no SBS9202/1

1. Has anybody done this conversion
2. Are they a big improvement
3. They look as if they are a plug in and play part into the existing headlamp. Is this correct or is there more to it.
4. Do they fit a positive earth car.

My E Type is a1962 S1 positive earth car.

Any help appreciated

Tony

LEDs are directional. At best, the wiring will all have to be backwards. That means that if the sidelights and main beam share a common earth, then it won't remotely be compatible.

kind regards
Marek

Tony...what do SNGB say?....Steve

Have a read of these comments on LED headlights from Gil who has produced his own version. He owns an E Type and can advise you how these fit on pos and neg earth cars and explain the beam they produce.

https://www.bettercarlighting.co.uk/

Geoff

Hi Steve,

I did speak to a guy from SNG but he was not sure if it would be suitable for positive earth cars, hence me making the post . However SNG have back and stated

Quote

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your enquiry, please see details below:--

These are suitable for positive and negative earth cars. They are quite a tight in the buckets but will fit with careful location of the ballast pack. We have a set in our Series 1 4.2 they are a big improvement over existing bulbs
end quote.

Had anyone else fitted these and how well do they improve the headlights?

Are they legal? Or do they just introduce yet another car that dazzles everybody travelling towards them?

Regards

Yes pre 1st April 1986 car can have LED headlamps...they must however be able to pass MOT headlamp test....the link that Geoff posted gives details...Steve

You could also look at this topic: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4919
It explains how the headlamps give far better light by using relays. You will need a VPN to see the photos.

Geoff

Just an update: I took Gfhug’s ( Geoff) advice and rang Gill at Bettercarlighting and was impressed with his knowledge and range of products for the E Type. Their product is a bit more expensive but does not have the issues with fitting a large ballast inside the headlamp bucket which is limited with space.

So having made the purchase I will let you know how it all goes. It is a plug in and play improvement without having to alter or cut any of the existing wiring and is fully reversible.
I will update you with the results.
They do a lot of other upgrades for the e type lighting ie. Side lights, dash light reversing light, rear lighting etc, etc. All fully reversible without altering the cars appearance .

Worth a look at his products as the lighting is abysmal on the E Type.

Tony

I have had Gil’s BetterCarLighting stuff all over my E Type for a year now, and it is a massive improvement.

The actual flashing unit for the brake-light (incorporated within the reversing light) is great idea but didn’t work, and he didn’t know how it should be wired up anyway, which surprised me, but they cost pennies off Ebay and the result is a real plus, however illegal it may be.

His audio-clicker relay, to give an aural effect to the indicators, which would otherwise be silent once used with LEDs, is just a mechanical solenoid that bangs against the inside of its plastic box. It’s hilariously Heath-Robinson but works very well and is - to me, a vital safety device to stop one driving along unaware that one is indicating. It is LOUD so it works at high speed too.

The hazard-warning switch supplied was a Mickey-Mouse joke, and fell apart almost immediately, as was the switch label that split as soon as the nut was tightened.

The label was a pastiche plastic version of the period alloy « cravate » type we adore, but ridiculously fragile in the context.

He subsequently supplied a better switch BUT it doesn’t have the illuminated-with-side-lights facility of the initial MM one.

My plan is to transform the cigar-lighter so it becomes Hazard Warnings - anyone else done that ?

This Gil guy knows his stuff, and means well, but isn’t experienced enough in the horny-handed depths of classic-car reality, so be prepared to improve some of the details.

Despite these reservations, I am about to equip my 1978 Mini Van from A to Z with LEDs, and I will buy it all from him.

+1 for Gil….I have been running his LED upgrades in my E Type for 4 years and they are excellent…and have installed a full upgrade collection for my XK120 as well…..true the switches are awful…but I am buying his technical expertise….changing switches for what is more appropriate is simple enough….

I've dealt with Gil and bought his a LED kits for all the dash and panel lights, including the fantastic blue instrument lights he developed for Jaguar Classic. He is a great guy to deal with, as everybody says. At the time, there was a dichotomy of views on LED headlights and I decided against them at that time. I may reconsider in time.

Regards

Gils a great guy and knows his stuff. However, I am not convinced about the LED headlights. I am happy to be corrected but my understanding is that if the voltage falls below a certain parameter, the lights go out, not dim, out.

This is the reason we prefer to fit the relay mod and I have to say that after thousands of miles driving with them, the headlights work really well.

Before going full out for an LED conversion try Osram H4 Night breaker bulbs.....they are far better than other H4s iv used in various cars....assuming you currently have H4 lamps.....Steve

Interesting topic!

My car is still equipped with the original, old fashioned bulbs.
Can I simply install these Osram bulbs without any changes required?

Regards from the Netherlands, all roads covered with snow, the E type still in winter sleep

Ruurd

Ruurd...just edited my post above....only usable if you currently have H4 lamps....Steve

I've just fitted LEDs from classic car LEDs to mine as I rebuild it. I've also done the conversion in my beetle a few years back and it makes a massive difference to visibility.

The bulbs come with a mount that fits the original H4 fitting, and a tail with ballast that plugs into the old original connector - plug and play. You have to carefully tuck the ballast and connector around the edge of the bowl to allow the assemblymto fit back together:




Can't test or show any beam pics yet as my bonnet isn't fitted!