NA Headlights

[Manusdei]

Hi guys, I'm trying to get some more light out on the road for night driving.. I've already spent big on bulbs, and I'm thinking of trying a new set of reflectors. I'm on a tight budget though, and was wondering if any one had used these ones off ebay?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/89-97-Mazda- ... 2240wt_905

Or any other suggestions where i could get some good reflectors for not much coin?

Thanks in advance guys..

[93_Clubman]

Don't know if you saw this about upgrading the NA headlight wiring, but it sounds worthwhile:
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=52607&p=661174#p661174

[Manusdei]

Thanks for the reply, but i don't think the wiring would be the issue with only a 55/60w globes would it? I was also wondering if the projector lights from an RX7 would fit, from the series' with the pop up lights? (sorry, don't know much about the series numbers on RX7's lol) As these would have the advantage of actually being ADR approved? where as some of those fleabay lights probably wont..

[stowie_666]

the series' with the pop up lights?

That would be all of them. They're not much brighter though. Should fit with a bit of cutting and an adapter plate for the bolt holes at any rate.

[Manusdei]

Wasn't there a jap model with normal lights? :S

[stowie_666]

A lot of people seem to replace them with a normal style light, on the FDs at least.

I was looking a while ago at replacing mine with a set of these from a Rodeo
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270631083535 ... 1438.l2649
but never got around to working out the mounts. From my measuring any 5x7" lights should fit without too much drama.

[Mr Morlock]

There was a recent post on this subject. Standard Hella or similiar H4 inserts with H4 bulbs should be quite adequate. You should check to see if you are getting a voltage drop to the lights thru bad connections. For the size ie a 7in round headlamp the performance is optimum ie the perfect reflector. Modern lights get better performance with often larger reflectors but not higher wattage. Other systems such as projectors are simply not compatible with the NA design with pop up lamps. Virtually all cars were using round headllamps before the mid 80's.

[93_Clubman]

I'm trying to get some more light out on the road for night driving.. I've already spent big on bulbs...

Thanks for the reply, but i don't think the wiring would be the issue with only a 55/60w globes would it?

Apparently it will - OP's topic indicates for standard or overpowered globes: http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=95062

[Mr Morlock]

I was a bit lazy in not checking the link- and just had a look. Take it as a cast iron guarantee that a 7in round lamp is superior to a rectangular insert of the size in the e bay link. Rectangular inserts and sealed beams etc were always poor lamps and their only purpose seemed to be styling. In Australia the Falcon headlamp with free form arge reflector was a formidable light but this was because of the design and the fact that the car co accepted a large lamp. If you look at driving lights by far the most popular and effective are ones with round reflectors. You do not need high wattage to get a good light.

[Manusdei]

Yeah i did the same at first at just skimmed it, but had a read thru it yesterday. Sounds like a bit of a stuff around, but worth it. He later goes on to say that there is voltage drop as soon as the power hits the fuse box.. Might talk to the local auto sparkies and see if they've got some wiring i could test with, actually come to think of it, I've got some spare sub wiring with a decent length run, wonder if i could make some thing out of that.

Is there any other reflectors that would be worth upgrading to? even with more light out put, I still think the spread is pretty pathetic from the OEMs.. I honestly think my old Maza 6's fog lights had better spread, both in distance and width then my MX5s

[hks_kansei]

It might be obvious, so please excuse me.

Have you checked they are aimed correctly?


My limited experience is that the NA lights aren't that bad, they're comparable to the lights in my NB.

[Magpie]

Has anybody used this http://miataroadster.com/dapper_lighting/dapper_lighting_7_hid_headlamp_kits/dappercp6024/i-527217.aspx? The question would be where to get the power from seeing that the battery is in the boot? as indicated in the link to miata.net "directly from the alternator"?

[drkkos]

I suggest getting these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mazda-MX-5-M ... 563wt_1139 with some Phillips 100+ or Navara 100+ globes, i have them and they are great!

legal way of doing it, better then having HID (Hi I'm a D**khead) since NA headlights are terrible for HIDs and those projector ones you linked are shocking from what i have heard.

[Mr Morlock]

if there is a voltage drop there will be a simple reason - it will come down to bad connection somewhere in the circuit an auto elect will be able to find it.There is nothing wrong with NA wiring from a design point of view. You do not need high wattage bulbs. All OE bulbs are 60/55 or thereabouts- you do not need 100W. Back to the original lighting set up- its a good system for its age - with the best type of parabola and it can perform quite adequately. I do suggest you talk to a few auto elecs for confirmation.

[wassup]

I suggest getting these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mazda-MX-5-M ... 563wt_1139 with some Phillips 100+ or Navara 100+ globes, i have them and they are great!

legal way of doing it, better then having HID (Hi I'm a D**khead) since NA headlights are terrible for HIDs and those projector ones you linked are shocking from what i have heard.

I got the above with a set of Philips Xtreme power for my NA.

http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=49130

It was the first upgrade when I got the car. The light output is much better than stock and the headlight looks clean and modern. But, In the drivers seat you'll only notice a slight improvement. The OEMs are surprisingly good.