I would like to fit some sort of daytime running lights to my 1996 plus 4. It would be good to hear what TM people have to say about the rights and wrongs of doing this.
Strictly speaking it seems virtually impossible to comply with all legislation when modifying an old car that hasn’t got type approval for the change. However people are doing it, with decent results, making it work as it should and turning them off automatically or dimming them, etc., etc.
At least one Morgan dealer is offering a conversion – see Miscellany.
I can see that there are a number of ways of doing it to consider:
The simplest, and possibly best, way might be to fit the 7” replacement headlight units offered on e-bay and having ‘angel eyes’ halo rings. Look under things for Landrover Defender. About £40 and sold as a direct replacement for 7” Wipac or Lucas units. It says 'will pass MOT'.
Another way is to change the headlights to units with sidelights (mine do not have them) and modify the wing-mounted lights to take LEDs. I believe there is an EU requirement for 25sq cm of area that this might not meet - but I'm not sure.
Yet again, a similar approach could be fitting LEDs in the sidelight part of the headlight and leaving the wing-mounted lights unchanged might work too.
There are also spot/driving laps offered with integral angel eyes – but I don’t want spotlights at all.
I have seen a control box on offer to do some of the switching and dimming needed within the circuitry for running lights, so there are even more combinations possible. Relays are probably needed with any arrangement but that is fairly easy to do.
What does everyone think about the subject? We fit more powerful headlamp bulbs than were envisaged when the car was designed and carry out lots of small changes that don’t meet regulations. Is this much different? Has anyone experience of what the powers that be, including insurance companies, think about it?
Comments, information and opinions welcomed.
