| Just a quick question, has anyone here have any experience with the BSP euro lights or similar models (Fixed lights with a clear cover intead of the pop up headlights), I know KG works do some thing similar as well? Will these be suitable for a right hand drive car? Any opinions on look etc? (11/99) |
| I am after help with my lights, I have decided to convert my lights to the quad lights as those available from BSP. My question is about the legality of these lights in the UK, I have noticed that on a few of the US sites that they quote that the lights are not street legal, I have, however seen a few of the UK cars that have this conversion already. Has anyone out there already fit these lights before and have any comments/recommendations on ease of installation and use etc. (11/99) |
| I have the KG Works conversion - I don't know if they are legal or not - the alignment is OK. But, I understand that Mike Satur is considering producing a set - which I would expect to be legal. (11/99) |
| Just want to ask peoples opinions on headlight conversions that are currently being talked about. I too am looking at getting rid of those huge bug eyes on the front of the car (sorry, but they just annoy me!). I have come to the decision between the low profile brinstorm lights that I am sure most of you know and the new brainstorm fixed euro light kit. I just can't decide but am going towards the euro lights, just because they are so unique! For all those of you out there who modify anything that stands still long enough, what would you go for?? (11/99) |
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On Kevin Hamilton's website there is a picture of the 5 cars (2 Mk2 & 3 Mk1s) that went on the WLR trip to Wales with the headlights on, glaring at the camera. Although the picture is a bit small, you can see Steve Gibsons BSP Low-Profile headlights with the headlights switched on and compare them to the other cars in the picture (mine is the one in the middle :-). http://www.kevham.fsnet.co.uk/wales2.html (11/99) |
| Stevie's light are the dogs ballads and frankly whip the standard Mk1 lights quite seriously. In fact, so much so that Steve has to pay an annual 'street cred' licence just for the privilege of wearing such awesome optical accessories. I would even go so far as to say that I would MUCH rather have his lights than mine (and that's coming from a Mk2 driver - though he can keep the door handles ;-)) (11/99) |
| For those of you who were interested in the euro lights, check out BSP at http://www.miata.org - the euro lights have their own section and pics. (11/99) |
| Do the quad lights still pop up like normal lights, or are they always up? I remember that red Eunos that was in Revs - all the photos were with the lights up but not always lit up as well. (12/99) |
| Try this link - it implies that they do. http://home.t-online.de/home/i.l.motorsporte/home.htm (12/99) |
| The reason mine are up is thus: The air at the supercharger filter is 1 or 2 degrees above ambient with them up. There is a good gap under the passsenger side twin lamps for air to travel in. With them closed the temperature was 12 or 13 deg. C above ambient. How do I know? I measured it with a thermosensor. ...and they look good, of course. ;) And, yes, they pass MOT. (12/99) |
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I finally got round to fitting the Brainstorm low profile headlight kit yesterday. (I bought the kit back in October!!) Some of it was a bit fiddly, and in one or two areas the instructions could have been a little clearer (there seems to be a small mistake near the end too), but they were generally good, with useful warnings to prevent you (hopefully) from doing any damage! I seem to remember that people have said something about being able to see some of the light from the sides shining back into the car, but I've not had any such problems. They look great from the outside (well I knew they would, 'cos I've seen other people's), but with the doors not raising as high you get a better view in front, plus the fact that the lights are sooooooo bright and clear! I'm going to enjoy night driving rather more from now on. (1/00) |
| Apart from Brainstorm Products (BSP) low profiles are there any other companies that produce the low profile lamps? (4/00) |
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Plus there's a company called NipponR in the new issue of STHT Club mag advertising headlight conversions for the Mk1 and Mk2. Dunno where these are being sourced from. Also contact Speedlab. They can source for you, for a price, the fairly outlandish kits doing the rounds in Japan. TDI supposedly have a comprehensive catalogue. (4/00) |
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I got the BSP low profile twin headlight conversion fitted this weekend and it looks fantastic! Those screws that Mazda kindly sprayed over when building the car which hold the old lights in place, took up the majority of the fitting time, having to be drilled out and cut off! Anyway, there were no alignment details in the instructions and as the light seems to be currently set to blinding people at 500m, I need to align them properly. Anyone got the correct UK alignment settings/guidlines and where the full beam is in relation to the high beam light etc. Do these things require professional alignment at an MOT station or can I do it acuratley enough? (5/00) |
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I'd recommend anyone who hasn't got access to alignment equipment to pay the small sum your local MOT centre will charge and have them do it. Only cost me a 10 to have mine done with the Mk2 conversion despite full instructions provided on how to adjust. Guess they came with instructions on how to set for UK dip rather than US/continental , ie dip to left not right. (5/00) |
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I found a rough and ready guide for single headlamp (i.e. one
each side) in an AA car maintenance book: Dunno if this is any help - especially with twin headlamps in each pod, but doing this for each of the two should be an approximation. The guide does say that some lights (esp "modern cars with a fanned pattern on dipped beam") must be adjusted on dipped beam - so that the "point of the V" is 2 inches below the line intersections instead. (5/00) |
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As this is being discussed, I had my low profiles fitted last saturday. We did an aproximate alignment at the time but in the dark I was getting abuse from drivers coming the other way. So, yesterday I went to my local MOT place to get them properly aligned and to check if every thing was legal. To my suprise, I was told that the lights were spot on (well done Jay) and were legal even though I was giving greif to other drivers! The lights conform to a slightly different light pattern in the MOT as they are of a US design. I got him to lower the lights to the maximum dip to still be legal and I hope this helps - yet to be seen! Anyone else with the kit had the same problem? On the subject of bulbs, you really do not need to upgrade the ones with current the low profile kit - thay are VERY bright and anything above this really is needless unless you like melting the headlight unit! (5/00) |
| I have written to various people (not sure whether it included the list) about the slight difficulty I had with my BSP ones and the MOT. One garage I asked said he wouldn't pass them because he couldn't get the right image, so I went to another who said he wasn't entirely happy with them, but decided to pass them. I got the impression that if I didn't know him already and use his garage for my other car, he may have been more strict and failed them. (On the other hand, I may be reading more into what he said than he meant.) (5/00) |
| I've hit a problem with the installation of the twin lights. The lights pivot on brass bushings and the kit re-uses the bushings from the stock lights. However, the bushings will not fit into the holes which are fractionally too small. This is a major pain as I dont have any tools for making the holes bigger. Any help or advice would be appreciated. (7/00) |
| What about some small needle files from a DIY shop to slowly enlarge the holes. Brass should open up quite easily, but I haven't looked to see exactly what bit you're on about. Sure the holes are not just full of dirt?? (7/00) |
| As I recall, the instructions say the bushings are a tight fit. Like all bushings, they really do need to be pressed. Alternatively put the bushings in a freezer and wth frame on front of a heater. Failing that take them to a workshop with a press. Don't enlarge the holes!!! (at least not without porperly measuring and comparing with a "tolerance of fits" chart) (7/00) |
| Its not the brass which needs opening up - its the powder coated steel bracket into which the bushings fit. I've established that I can shim off the powder coating with the correct sized reamer (possibly 1/2 inch). However, since I'm only looking at losing a few microns of coating, I'm going to try some emery paper wrapped round a socket. Failing that, I'm going to go off in the huff and cry ;-) (7/00) |
| Yeah, my previous post was a bit thoughtless. I've had a look at what you described and can't really help other than to say speak to someone who's done it before, before making the holes bigger. (7/00) |
| Found this through Elles' site : http://www.woodhouse.freeisp.co.uk/mx5page.htm (7/00) |
| Just thought I'd take chance to advise anyone that has the BSP ( Brainstorm ) Twin Headlights that it is recommended that a small bead of clear silicone sealant around the edge of each lamp to protect against water ingress that has been seen on a very few units. (12/00) |
| Can anyone please help me with my low profiles? I noticed just before xmas that on the left hand set of lights, one light had water in it and the other had a large crack aross the lens. Does anyone know where I can get replcement units from other than going back to brainstorm. I have a feeling that changed the design to incorporate off the shelf parts, so where can I find them? (1/01) |
| Run a bead of clear sealant around the edge of the lamp unit to ensure the seale between the reflector and lens is watertight - as recommended by Brainstorm. (1/01) |