Headlamp Reflectors

[Cas]

Hi, new owner of my elan..had her about 6 months, unfortunately already out of action due to gear selector cable going but should be back by the weekend!

Any ideas for a supplier of the light reflectors? Mine no longer really reflect!

(Not used to the site yet so apologies for any duplication!)

[Sy V]

Welcome Cas - I'll save you the Cam Angle Sensor humour for now.

Electrical systems | Lamps
INNER HEADLAMP, MAIN BEAM A100M6090F EACH 45.10
Electrical systems | Lamps
OUTER HEADLAMP UNIT (RHD) SJ100M0003 EACH 56.35

From SJ Sportscars.


http://www.sjsportscars.co.uk/home.asp

You may find cheaper, but they're a start.

[Cas]

Thanks very much....easy job or professional needed?

[Sy V]

Dead easy (well, like a lot of Elan jobs, what I think is easy others don't like doing at all, and vice versa, there are jobs that others can do in their sleep which I wouldn't tackle for all the tea in China). Three screws per light unit and a bit of adjustment afterwards. Hardest part can be reconnecting the bulbs inside the pods with the lights in situ (rest the units on their face inside the pod), connect wires (check loom for chaffing) put one hand through the pod aperture and the other from the inboard side near the bonnet prop under the pod. Then refit units inside pod with the three screws from the front.

[Cas]

Thanks Sy doesn't sound too horrendous so will give it a go myself!

[Sy V]

Cas

If you look at the front of the pods (when raised) you'll see that the screws/bolts are in pairs - one of each pair is for fitment the other is adjustment (can't remember off the top of my head which ones are recessed).

[muley]

Thanks Sy doesn't sound too horrendous so will give it a go myself!

*cough* 11 out of the 12 4mm screws holding the lights in place on my Elan were rusted in solidly and had to be drilled out!! Hope yours come out more easily. The recessed ones are the adjustment ones - you'll see what I mean with the pods up...

Good luck

Jim B

[Exbury]

http://www.holden.co.uk/hvc-home.htm

is the website where I got my headlamp. The Lotus original headlamp glass protrudes further than the replacement, so I had to pack the gap with string or rubber strip. Also had to grind off one locating lug on the headlamp(expected this anyway- it happens on a lot of multi-fit replacment lenses). Unfortunately the headlamp I got (think it was the Saturnus ones) have slightly convex glass, regular Elan lamps are flat. However they did cost me only £21 each so a bit of a saving. They also passed the MOT without an issue and I replaced both even though one was ok.

It might be worth phoning up (they didn't respond well to emails) and asking if any of their budget 5&3/4" headlamps have flat lenses.

When you have a look at their list of headlamps choose the category Light Units 5 3/4" as they have other more expensive ones.

However for £45 it might be better just to choose the Lotus ones for peace of mind, although my replacement ones are Halogen as well.

Rusty screws, mine came out of the headlamps ok, use a good screwdriver and some penetrating liquid on the screw threads if you can. I had to replace a couple of screws on the retaining ring as these were rusted and damaged on removal.