Headlight restoration

[John T]

I am looking for advice on how to refurbish the reflectors on my SIEM headlights for a Beta Sedan. These lgihts have the one rectangular glass lens covering the two separate reflecotrs. The silver is a bit flaky especially on the low beam unit and the car failed a roadworthy inspection because of this. After cutting awy the external sealant I have removed the glass and got the reflectors out of the plastic housing, but I can't see how to uncrimp the metal bulb holder. It seems to have at least three layers of metal that are crimped together with the crimping tangs being crimped underneath other bits of metal so you can't get at them,

As a secondary question - The advice from local electroplatesr is that it will be best to silver plate the reflecotr and that chrome plating over nickel will give a very diffuse light that may not pass the roadworthy inspection. Is this true? the cost is about the same either way (discounting the firm that specialises in repairng Rolls and Bentley headlights and which wants to charge about three times as much as the others - no doubt it will be a good job).

Any thoughts would be welcome.

[alan cooper]

before you go any further if i was you i would try to search out a new old stock pair of lights, I am fairly sure that somebody if not in australia certainly in the UK will have something

[jim craib]

Hi

Yes I agree with Allan on this one it sounds like the early Beta spec lights. I did a conversion when I had a similar problem with my SIEM headlights on my 1979 Beta Coupe 1300. My father and I used a set of 5" Ford Sealed beams ( I got them for free as I was working for a Ford Main dealer at the time they were surplus stock!) using the old headlight reflector as a carrier. Not sure if it would work on the Beta when both main and dip beams are behind the same glass though. If you want anymore gen drop me an email we sent a report of what we did to The Lancia Motor Club club magazine.

Regards
Jim Craib

[michael]

Hope your checking this forum.....this auction expires in 45 minutes !!

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10 euros at present for one beta saloon front light.....new !!