dipping rear view mirror with map light

arthuy

arthuy

Well-Known Member
Has anyone got an original chrome Lucas dipping rear view mirror with the map reading light?

I managed to pick a scruffy one up months ago and I am refurbishing it. The problem is that parts that hold the bulb in place are damaged and there is no obvious switch. I suppose in a p6 would have been wired to the dash switch.

I will be able to sort something out but would love to know how it was originally.

Cheers
Colin
 
Hi Colin.

It is wired into the dash int light switch and the courtesy door light switches as it illuminates the dash.
I fitted a chrome one to my car as I have a webasto,and the rear mounted std int light just wasnt up to the job being so far back!
There is no switch on it,just the 2 wires for power!

Dave
 
The idea behind it as far as I can tell was to shine down onto the centrally mounted ignition switch on series1 models when the front door is open at least that's what mine does, it works off position 1 on the dash switch & the front door pin switches only, position 2 puts the rear lamp on aswell & the rear pin switches operate the rear lamp only unlike the later series 1 & series 2 with the central dome light which works off all 4 doors

Regards Colin
 
Hello Colin,
I fitted one in my Three Thousand Five, LRV501G, after a good clean, polish, re-wire and re-spray of the crackle black bits.
I used the "Wrinkle Finish" black spray from FROST Restorers Equipment and can thoroughly recommend it, so easy to use and a perfect "factory finish"
Regards, John
 
Hello again, Colin,
how is the weather up there?
Diana and I and her brother and his wife are heading to Edinburgh on Sunday for 4 nights in a posh hotel!
(If we can get there!)
Regards, John.
 
Hi John,

Good to hear from you, I had thought about emailing you as I through old posts and read about your mirror collection.

I took a chance on the mirror months ago. It was in tatty condition and got it for £4. the lugs for the bulb were missing but otherwise complete.

I did think that it was wired up to the dash switch. I was trying to workout how the unit was wired up on other cars of the period that used the lucas dipping mirror but have only seen them without the map light. I am fitting it to my p5 and the interior lights are operated by the door opening or individual switches on the four lamps above the doors.

Did the lamps have a lense?

You better bring gloves it is cold out there just now, was through the other week tinkering with a friends p6 (keep your eyes peeled for a Richelieu 2200sc). There is a cracking little Italian just off George st below street level the food is very nice and go in to the Royal Bank of Scotland HQ St Andrews sq, the banking hall is amazing to see and in the current climate it could be a pound shop soon. seriously they love folk going in and will tell you about it, shame they don't give out free samples though :(

Colin
 
The lens in the end of the mirror stem is rather tricky. It is unique to the Rover and comprises a plastic lens cover with side lugs which fit up into the stem. It carries the bulb holder and the lugs double up as contacts onto the electrics in the stem, so without it you are in real trouble. They are the vulnerable bit too, I suspect that people tended to leave a door open, and then the heat from the bulb would cook the plastic of the lens, first to brown and then to crisp, so they are very rare in good nick. Always feasible to creat a DIY one, but too fiddly for me!

Chris
 
Colin / Chris,
I must have been fortunate to find a good one then, as it was all complete!
I wired mine to the interior / maplight switch and through the door switches, if my memory serves me correctly (perhaps Dom, if he reads this, could confirm?)

Colin, thanks for "local" advice re: Edinburgh!

Regards, John.
 
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