MK1 MX5 lights
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You're in luck as I only changed both of mine yesterday. 
Original Mk1 MX5's (as far as I know) have sealed beam units so you cannot just upgrade the bulbs as the unit is complete.
You have 2 choices & that is to either buy new sealed beam units or convert them to ones that take bulbs then upgrade the bulbs.
The original sealed beam units are the same ones as an Old Mini so not really up to much anyways.
What you need to do is buy 2 x 7" headlights that you can get from most car spares places, They come with bulbs but upgrade the bulbs while you're still in the shop.
Do you know how to do the head lights swap ? Main thing to note Before you do anything is to pop up the lights using the center console button then pull out the Green 30A fuse from the fuse box under the bonnet drivers side, This will de-activate them & leave them up so they wont come down on your fingers.
Getting the head lights out themselves once you have the plastic cover off (2 screws either side) is where you need caution. There are 3 Tiny little screws holding the black ring plate on, Soak them with WD40 Before even touching them & then get the Best philips screwdriver you have & apply pressure & undo it the first time you touch it, Be confident.
Owt else ?
Original Mk1 MX5's (as far as I know) have sealed beam units so you cannot just upgrade the bulbs as the unit is complete.
You have 2 choices & that is to either buy new sealed beam units or convert them to ones that take bulbs then upgrade the bulbs.
The original sealed beam units are the same ones as an Old Mini so not really up to much anyways.
What you need to do is buy 2 x 7" headlights that you can get from most car spares places, They come with bulbs but upgrade the bulbs while you're still in the shop.
Do you know how to do the head lights swap ? Main thing to note Before you do anything is to pop up the lights using the center console button then pull out the Green 30A fuse from the fuse box under the bonnet drivers side, This will de-activate them & leave them up so they wont come down on your fingers.
Getting the head lights out themselves once you have the plastic cover off (2 screws either side) is where you need caution. There are 3 Tiny little screws holding the black ring plate on, Soak them with WD40 Before even touching them & then get the Best philips screwdriver you have & apply pressure & undo it the first time you touch it, Be confident.
Owt else ?
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They will be made of tempered glass. Good luck if you want to try this
Are there any aftermarket freeform reflector type replacements available for the MX5? I know Raybrig made some for the MR2 of the same era, and they are a vast improvement.
You're in luck as I only changed both of mine yesterday.
Original Mk1 MX5's (as far as I know) have sealed beam units so you cannot just upgrade the bulbs as the unit is complete.
AFAIK it's only the imports that have sealed beam units.
Thanks for the correction.
So OP I would pop the plastic covers off & make sure they are bulbs then just upgrade the bulbs, If they are sealed then refer to my earlier post.
My Mk1 is an Import/Eunos.
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Thanks for the help guys, I see this could go one of two ways then! It's a uk car (boooooo!) so perhaps it simply will be a bulb upgrade, I will have a look when I finish work tonight.
What is a sealed beam unit then - surely it requires some kind of replaceable bulb - is it the case that they are not the usual H4 (or whatever) and thus cannot be replaced with the upgraded bulbs?
What is a sealed beam unit then - surely it requires some kind of replaceable bulb - is it the case that they are not the usual H4 (or whatever) and thus cannot be replaced with the upgraded bulbs?
Sealed beam units are like a massive bulb with 3 prongs on the back, They can only be replaced as a unit so no upgrade option at all.
The ones Tom has posted a link to would be perfect & stop any guess work. Whether you have sealed or not with Toms link you have the whole unit to replace the old ones & the option of upgrading the bulbs in the future.
The ones Tom has posted a link to would be perfect & stop any guess work. Whether you have sealed or not with Toms link you have the whole unit to replace the old ones & the option of upgrading the bulbs in the future.
