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MG MGA - Night Driving

Just went in the 'A' to listen to a very interesting talk on the Vulcan bomber - thanks to Colin Manley. Returned in the dark. I have to admit that being retired I am a bit out of practice driving at night. What a nightmare are those high intensity headlamps on a low sitting car such as the MGA. I had to tilt the internal mirror fully down to avoid the glare, rendering the mirror useless. Is there a clip-on dimmer for our internal mirror?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve, I could not agree more with you. Even in my "reqular" car those new lights are brutal. In some cases, I think, not even legal...esp the Blue ones. I sometimes have trouble even with on-coming traffic and I have fairly good night vison. You'd think someone would make one. The B at least has a "flip up" capability. I'll be interested to hear.
GTF
G T Foster

Steve,

my last MGA was a coupe which I drove as my daily driver through the 1970s.

I clearly remember having the same problem with glare from the rear view mirror and I bought an after-market clip on gadget to help with this.
It was a blue tinted piece of clear flat plastic with spring loaded hinges and you could flip it up or down over the mirror as required.

I recall that it worked fine and now I wish I had not let it go with the car.

It was probably made by Halfords or Paddy Hopkirk or similar and I bet there are still some out there somewhere on the back shelves of some of the older motorists discount shops.
I really would like to get another one like it.

If there is nothing on ebay I may have a go at making one over the winter.

I dont know how to do the same job on the door mirrors as I have the same problem with them too. Maybe convex surface mirrors would help here.

(My coupe had wing mirrors which were so far away from where I sat that they didnt really reflect enough light my way to cause a problem)

On the subject of the Vulcan, its home is near me at Doncaster airport using airport transfers tunbridge wells and I have been trying to get to see it there. The problem is that, so far, you could only get to see it as part of an organised group.
I think they now allow single persons to join a tour of the aircraft and so I hope to get in to see it in the spring.
It would make a great destination for a group of MGA drivers.
Or if you are up this way next year in the MGA Steve you are welcome to use us a stopover anytime.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn,
Yes, you can get hanger tours for Vulcan 558. They just group people together with allocated timings. I went to a talk last week at Ringway by the "Vulcan to The Sky Trust" and sat underneath a Concorde and while the first part was about the aircraft's restoration, the second part was given by Martin Withers, the Pilot of the Falkland Islands "Black Buck" bombing mission of Port Stanley runway to deny use of it as a forward base for potential bomber operations against the Task Force. Very interesting.

Steve,
How did you get on with your headlights - ready for the Nightbreaker bulbs yet?

regards
Colin
C Manley

Colyn & Colin

I went through pilot training with Martin Withers. Not seen him since January 1967.

The headlights were okay as I was down to sensible speeds due to the bright lights of other users. The car behind provided enough light for the two of us! Guildford by pass was a 3 mile nightmare at about 2mph in the rush hour. 40 minutes to get to you earlier in the day. 1 hour 20 mins getting back.

I think I have 16 year old quartz halogen bulbs. I will go and have a look.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I just received a kit for converting the car to HID lights to be able to see a bit more.... Will get around to fitting these in the spring, there is a midget in the way at the moment!
dominic clancy

Colin

I have just had a look to see what bulbs I have. Not had the rims off and units out in 15 years so almost had to refer to the manual! I have Eagleye halogen bulbs. I did a quick search and they seem to have a decent write-up. Am I likely to get much improvement going your route?

Is this the spec of your Nightbreaker?: Ebay 290646822302

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve - Glad you brought this one up. I hate these modern headlights with a passion, the blue ones even more so..! I don't feel inclined to fit high intensity lights at all, it would just offend more drivers!
Surely they are illegal and I'm amazed at how many cars here in the UK have misaligned headlights especially now the MOT test is more exacting on beam testing.
The dipping mirror idea would be a very good idea, (yes we did used to get these as a clip-on) but I find driving the "A" with the hood down in the dark dreadful, not only because of oncoming 'high intensities', but following cars not only dazzle in the mirrors but also the whole beautifully chromed windscreen frame kind of lights up and makes trying to see through even a new clean screen pretty difficult. So the dipped mirror won't help me. My solution has been to use these pale yellow glasses / clip-ons which are recommended for driving in misty or foggy conditions. I find these take the sting out of them horrid 'blue things' very well and reduce all the chrome and mirror reflections in one go. You can still easily dip the central rear view mirror too. I also find convex wing mirrors are a must compared to the flat type.
...and there's another thing. These DRLs dazzle even in the sun! Can't people actually see out there nowadays?
Rant over, Pete
P N Tipping

The Magnette came with a dipping rear view mirror as standard. A rather curious design which has a small catch on the bottom which physically moves the mirror to point downwards. Held in place with an internal magnet I think.

Works a treat and would be a period modification to an MGA.

Paddy
Paddy Reardon

Just like this. http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/accessories/at103l.htm

At a price!
R A Evans

Steve

When I used the coupe daily I used a 'Halfords' suction mirror high on the windscreen as I had the spare wheel permanently bolted to the boot lid so I had realistic luggage capacity. They are still around I think.

Paul
P M Dean

Hi Steve, The bulbs look similar, but not the packaging. Mine came in a clear plastic Osram labelled package, not, what looks like, some 3rd party packaging.

regards
Colin
Colin Manley

Interesting link to Barney's page. Had a quick look through Ebay and there are few dipping mirrors around including one of those in Barney's site. Not in such good condition as his displayed example but a comparative snip at £50 ($80). 231107355501

Considering the Nightbreaker bulbs, but as I rarely drive the car at night I don't think I will go down Dominic's route.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Pete,
I am going to give you some free professional advice if thats ok ( probably be the last chance I get as I am almost retired!) :-)

I would advise you not to wear the yellow/orange coloured lenses at night.
They used to be marketed as night-driving glasses but are now only recommended for driving in daylight when visibility is poor. In fog for instance.

The orange/yellow tint is called a contrast filter, it enhances contrast, or in other words, it makes brighter objects appear to be brighter and darker objects appear to be darker.

The thinking behind this is that it possibly could cause you not to see a dark coloured parked car or someone dressed in dark clothing for example.

They are really good in fog or for skiing on a grey day for instance where the improved contrast really helps.

But back to MGAs, I think we would be better off with some sort of flip up tinted panel over the mirror. These only affect the mirrors and not your general vision.

I have seen a similar item on ebay that has both orange and blue tinted flip up panels. It looks like it is designed to clip onto a sun visor but it may be possible to modify it to fit our rear view mirror.

I may buy one and see what I can do with it. It was only £7.99 and so it is worth a try.

Colyn
c firth

I have just spotted a new entry in MGA GURU about a dipping Lucas rear view mirror.

Apparently they are quite rare (this is the only one Barney has ever seen) and it sold in £2012 for £340 on ebay! Wow.

Colyn



c firth

Colyn, Thanks for your professional thoughts here and I hear what you say. As I mentioned they are a pale yellow. I have a pair of Suntigers which are for daylight contrast, you may know of these; they are a relatively dark orange and agree they would be useless in the dark. These pale yellow 'lenses' hardly seem to do anything but they do take out the almost painful sting of these dreadful lights. I think if there was anybody in the road with those lights coming at you you wouldn't see them anyway. The highway code used to say and may still do that one should slow down or come to a halt if dazzled by oncoming lights. Don't think you'd get far today...
Pete
P N Tipping

The day-night mirrors were a standard fitting to most of the TF1500's. The glass is slightly wedge shaped so when you flip it down you only see a reflected 'ghost' of the car headlights behind, which means that you can keep an eye on the traffic behind without getting blinded. I use my one quite often at night. My old Toyota Camry has the same device in a more modern design. When the 'silvered' backing on my TF mirror started to peel, I had the glass re-silvered.

Matthew.
M Magilton

Just got my Osram Nightbreaker bulbs. Made in Germany, rather than China for a change. Osram bulb on the right in the photo. The left hand Eagleye Quartz halogen bulb is 1990s technology.

Steve


Steve Gyles

I agree with all your comments re blinding light in your rear view mirror . Here is what I do.
I realign my mirror so that it reflects back into the eyes of the driver behind me. It doesn't take long before he either backs way off or rockets past me.
Did I mention that I have a mean streak.
Bill Mason

Bill
I do this too - same evil streak obviously. Have you got any tips on getting the beam right back in their eyeballs !!!?
Pete
P N Tipping

HA! I've done the same thing to those bastards behind me!
M. D.

I wish I had known about the dipping mirror I had one in my blue coupe


g c pugh

I am trying to find out (slowly) what Lucas period dipping mirror will fit the MGA without modification. The MGA mirror retaining holes are 42mm apart. So far I found that the Lucas 584 has 38mm spaced holes. Anyone know any of the others such as the 585?

Steve
Steve Gyles

You may have to look further afield. Both Wingard and Tudor produced prismatic interior mirrors. The Wingard mounting stem was adjustable for length; the Tudor had a slotted-hole base mount. I suspect the prismatic mirror heads may have been basically identical between Lucas, Wingard and Tudor,only the mountings differing.

My first Coupe (a Mark II) had a Wingard mirror, but attached to the top screen rail - so I have no idea whether the fixed-space base screw mounting would have matched the MGA cowl.

Alex
A W Risk

For the record, the Lucas 585 mentioned in Barney's article has the hole centres 31.75mm apart. The MGA is drilled for 42mm.

I would be interested to find out of the MGA stem is interchangeable with the 584 and/or the 585.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I notice those nasty blue headlights a lot on expensive German cars and 4by4's. I think they are to show how terribly important the drivers are.
H L Davy

Steve,

Yes, the stem is interchangeable - I have done it on my A.

Mark
M Wellard

Thanks Mark.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I have brought this one back from the archives because I managed to get hold of a Lucas 584 dipping mirror. I got it for £47. The body and mirror were in excellent condition but I had the chrome bevel re-plated. This cost £35 from Derby Plating. As Mark said above, the stem is interchangeable with the MGA stem.

It is now installed. It's bigger than the MGA mirror. The locking plate does not interfere with mirror adjustment, although the cut-out on the plate is designed for a roof-mounted stem. Pity the plate cannot be rotated 180 degrees. It looks a bit odd with the cut-out at the top. If you turn the whole mirror body through 180 you have the dipping selector at the top with the 'LUCAS' wording upside down.

Tested it last night. Works ok. Just looked on the web. A NOS Lucas 584 1958 vintage mirror is advertised for £320!!

Steve


Steve Gyles

Well done Steve looks like you've cracked the MGA rear view then. I just wonder shouldn't we be fighting for a return to lighting which for the oncoming motorist used to be just acceptable. Lights used to have to conform to a UK standard, it seems any old lens shape and light scatter is apparently acceptable to the powers that be nowadays. As a race we still have the same MkI eyeballs, how can these 'German' lights get away with it. If I'm being dazzled I just put the eurobox main beam on everytime; my MGA will very rarely be seen out at night. You'll see some of my thoughts above. I got a set of 'H4 Night Breakers' suggested but haven't mustered up the courage to prize a pair of very tight rims off yet... But do two wrongs make a right?
Pete
P N Tipping

I've read all these comments with great interest as it confirms all my own fears of driving my MGA at night. Recently I drove from Winchester to Lymington in the dark with the hood up on a misty evening and it was not pleasant - at times quite scarey. My own headlamps are perfectly adequate for the speeds I do (From memory - Halogen). Who needs these antisocial searchlights?
David
David Marklew

This thread was discussed between 03/12/2013 and 16/05/2014

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