Lancia Beta Forum

My Spyder always seems to have lighting issues flagged up in the MOT. I don't drive it when lights would be needed anyway - but it obviously needs to be legal. https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history (https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history) and the reg. is FLG 22X for anyone who's interested in looking.

So - I'm thinking about replacing the headlights and wondered if anyone has done that recently to a FL model? I'd be interested to know what people have gone for.

Thanks,
Justin.

Just a suggestion but it might be worth identifying the headlight as the issue before you replace it. Last thing you want is to spend time and money only to end up in same place. MOT shows main beam and historically dipped beam. I'd start by checking you have a good earth, 12V on each supply and go from there before spending money

Hi John. Thanks for the reply.
It's the aiming issue rather than the intermittency that I'm more concerned about. There was a problem with the light stalk causing most of the problems - but the guys at my friendly MOT station have been kind of letting me off regarding the aiming of the beams - because they know I don't drive at night. I don't think that they are a matched set of lights - and I'm suspicious that over time, the odd unit has been replaced incorrectly. Plus, they've been on the car since I bought it in around 1990. Overdue for an upgrade I think.

I've just been through the process of replacing all of my headlights on my resto - have a look at the second page on this thread

http://www.betaboyz.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4318.20 (http://www.betaboyz.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4318.20)

Looking at the MOT history for your car, I'm assuming you've already taken off and attacked the spider earthing points as the usual culprit?

Hi

Looking at the MOT history, it mentions unmatched pair, but assume that has been sorted?

Are these sealed beam units or replaceable bulb ones? If sealed beam then definitely replace both. Also check for voltage at the main and full beam lights to make sure you are getting greater than  12 volts when alternator running or around 12 volts on just battery. If you have an issue you need to chase if it is an earth or supply problem. Not sure if the FL has relays on all the lights, worth checking.

As to replacements see Chris’s thread, there are various replacement lenses out there and not that expensive and all use Halogen bulbs normally, so should be ok for normal night use as well.

Peter

Hi - yes, I did the earthing roses and cleaned all of the connectors and terminals when I took everything off for the mini renovation (2016/7). Which is probably the time when I didn't refit the lights correctly.
(http://6.jpg)
The K&N was already fitted when I bought it.

Hi Peter.
They are units that allow the bulbs to be changed - and there's a click for high beam, so definitely a relay for that side of things.
The unmatched pair situation remains - and this is the main reason as to why I'm thinking of replacing all of them with a known good set.

Cheers,
Justin.

I have a Beta ie and a Beta vx, the ie has Siem lamps whereas the vx has Carello, but while they both use the same backing plate , manufactured by Siem, the lamp fittings are different and not interchangable.The chrome rings are not interchangable either , the Carrello ring is an integral part of the lamp fixing whereas the Siem ring seems to be only decorative.
I have some corrosion on the rings and discoloration of the lower part of the reflectors which has encouraged me to look at this ,it may be possable to drill extra holes in the tabs of the after market rings and use them with the Carrello lamps ? or in the case of the Siem units cut off the tabs as the ring just pushes and is only a decoration.
I have searched for new replacement rings without sucess, the nearest I came to sucess was an x19 ring , which may be the same as the Beta ,asking 100 Sterling !!!!
The aftermarket rings are sizewise a good fit, I maybe forced to endevour to make them work !!

Check you do not have LHD units mixed in. On earthing run NEW wires to the spiders AND run new wires from each spider back to battery earth. The earth connection of the spiders is frequently terrible and many of the earth wires have rotted along their length (corrosion between the strands).

I do know where you can get matched sets of OE RHD headlights the other side of Corona. PM me

Eric 

The Beta has 5 3/4 inch diameter headlight but the X1/9 is 7 inches. That's going to be a struggle to make it work...

Hello this is what i did......Thanks Rich