Headlamp Conversion Horror -HELP!

monkeyboybongo · Post by **monkeyboybongo** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:55 pm

Just about to buy a lovely bongo. I'm in the forces and soon will be posted over to Germany. I need to register the bongo and to do so it must pass a lighting test. I've been told temporary transfers/lenses are no good and need a permanent fix.

Having drawn a blank so far (called majority of breakers/adverts) on this website, I need help! I was told by one guy that a 3 series bmw headlamp could be used with a bit of modification? Any truth in that?

Any other mazdas out there that I could do a unit swap with? Ideas/advice wanted please....getting desparate and low on time!

Looking forward to responses

MBB

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:28 pm

I think this has been discussed many times - there doesn't appear to be an easy solution to your problem. We have members in other countries who have failed to get the car registered.
Good luck

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 6:53 pm

Do you mean a light conversion like this?

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... php?t=7832

I like it, i think it would be quite expensive to have done though....

monkeyboybongo · Post by **monkeyboybongo** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:53 pm

Thats more like it, however, not sounding ungrateful, how practical (thinking of cost here) is it? I am a bit of a novice when it comes to mechanics and would need it doing el pronto. Can I do the same with an older 3 series do you reckon?

Anybody else heard of any other mods?

First time I've posted and many thanks for your responses and info....its a great help! Keep em coming!

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:05 pm

From the many, many previous posts on this exact topic the consensus was that it is totally impracticable to do a legal permanent deviation of the headlamp beam direction.

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:14 pm

Sorry, but you're probably b*gg*red on anything costing less than half a whole Bongo, I suspect.

Can you no longer have a UK registered car if you are UK forces in Germany?

monkeyboybongo · Post by **monkeyboybongo** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:16 am

So whats the advice? Let a set of headlamps stop me from buying the bongo?

I aint going to let this beat me so, it might not be pretty but I don't want to give up just yet.

If I get a work around I will keep you posted.....any positive ideas welcomed.

Theres got to be somebody out there who has some good ideas.

harpo42 · Post by **harpo42** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:41 pm

By no means an expert, but always have loads of ideas.

What about using something like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEAD-LIGHTS-WITH- ... dZViewItem

or this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BATES-HEADLIGHTS- ... dZViewItem

Just a suggestion.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:18 pm

Hmm,a cheaper alternative, though by no means easy, is to create a template of the headlight glass of a bongo, ( a scrap of sheet plastic for example).

Then take a compass (not the navigation type, the type you screw a pencil into the end of) and make two circles in the template (side by side) leaving about a half inch gap to the sides,and from each intended lamp.

Then take a look on e-bay for a suitable second hand "quad light conversion kit" which look like they may have suitable sized headlights incorporated into the light housing.

Its just possible that you could create a housing from glassfibre,and a fusion of the rear housings of the quad light conversion. Then try to fuse the whole thing together. It won't be easy,but it is possible.

I remember converting a morrette quad headlamp kit intended for a sapphire cosworth,to fit a ford transit.

http://images.google.co.uk/images?sourc ... a=N&tab=wi

(Take a look at the blue transit, with the bonnet raised)
(although the kit only needed minor modification)

I suspect a hella kit for a seat ibiza may fit,as the headlights are a similar size and profile.

The headlights for a mazda MPV are the same as the bongo,but those too are a japanese only model.

Good luck with your quest, i'm sure you'll come up with something...

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:22 pm

I'm rushing so havent looked at the links in this thread, but do the headlamps have to be in the original location, or can you work around it by - for example - mounting two suitable lamps on a bull bar so as to provide illumination that is legal in terms of height above ground, distance apart, distance from each side of vehicle, beam deflection etc. Once you've passed the registration thingie then - lets face it - maybe you can put deflector units on the original headlamps and put them back to work.

Of course, I could be way off track with all this but thought it was worth a mention just in case.

And quite right dude, persistence pays

Mike

smartmonkey · Post by **smartmonkey** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:54 am

I think Mike and BDC are on the right track. It is difficult to make a modification that looks factory but getting legal shouldn't be much of a problem. There are loads of TuV approved aftermarket lights available that will pass the German tests (they allready have otherwise they wouldn't be for sale). You have lots of space available by removing the headlights so it cant be too hard to get a match. I would look for some of the motorcycle or quad stuff thats available, they have loads of small units that could go in a headlamp recess.

I guess the German tester will be looking for the correct beam pattern on an un-modified (approved) headlight. If it's anything like the UK test you can do what you like once you have the bit of paper.

harpo42 · Post by **harpo42** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:51 pm

On a similar thread to this some while ago there was also an issue regarding the rear door being on the wrong side for countries that drive on the right. Is this also an issue? Would be a complete waste of time getting the headlamps to work only to find out about the door.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 3:14 pm

Hi
Don’t say I told you, but you just need to hop back to England for a long weekend once a year and get a “proper” MOT, and keep the car on English plates, and use English insurance. If you pop over the border once every 3 to 6 months, you should not need to import it. I believe that EEC regulations state that the car should be out of the country for 3 months before you bring it back in , but it depends how eagle- eyed the border guards are. You use the car for business, and ferrying people around across borders in respect of tourism (DON’T YOU!!) so it would be inconvenient to import it. We registered over here with no hiccups, but some people we have spoken to have kept their English registrations going for horrendous periods, and in England we have had French neighbours who kept their car on French plates for a couple of years.
Try the easy route first before getting the axe to the Bongo, or as Mike suggests, disable the headlights and plonk a couple of dipping spots in front of them using the original wiring.
T.T.F.N.
Helen

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:20 pm

Good thinking Helen&Tony!... And there was me getting all ahead of myself

tis ineed a good idea is that...

monkeyboybongo · Post by **monkeyboybongo** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:56 pm

Nipping back to the uk for the MOT aint an option I'm afraid. I need to register the car as "BFG" which is Brtish Froces Germany, to do that (and to get rationed fuel at 40% pump price) I need to do that lighting test.

I've spoken to a few people and a mechanic suggested VW Scirocco headlamps are about the same size. I little bit of giggery pokery with brakets etc and maybe a fix.Anybody know of other similar shaped lights before I go out armed with a tape measure to the scrappers?

I'll keep you posted how it goes. I travel out this week!

Headlamp Conversion Horror -HELP!

Headlamp Conversion Horror -HELP!

headlight problems