Replacing number plate lights

The TF should have failed the last MOT as one of its number plate lights was out. Luckily the tester turned a blind eye and made me to promise to fix it.

This should be a simple job to do.

Simply unscrew the 2 cross head screws that hold the clear plastic cover on





Lever out the clear cover and you will see the festoon lamp



The lamp itself just pulls out of the holder.



Replace with a new lamp.

Refit cover ensuring that the gasket is seated properly and replace the 2 screws holding the lens in place.

Nothing could be simpler.......Unless it is an MG.

Unfortunately, what you will probably find is 2 rusted lumps that should be the screw heads as MG used its famous high quality screws.



What does this mean for you? It means that a screwdriver will not move them as the cross point will just round off.

Sooo, what you need now is a drill.

Drill until the heads just fall off or can be gently levered off.



Do not drill too deep. If you get it just right, then you will be left with a stub long enough to grip with a pair of long nosed mole grips, or similar.



Once the lense is removed you should be able to get just enough grip to unscrew the rusted screw.

Now change the festoon lamp and use 2 new screws to fix the lense back in place.

I wasn’t that lucky, so I bought 2 new units. Won them off ebay for around £23.50 inc p&p.



To remove the 2 light units



You need to remove the number plate as it fouls the inside edges of the lights.

If you are lucky, you should now be able to use a large bladed screwdriver to push under the nearside lip and push each unit towards the driver’s side and lever it away from the bumper.

If you have been successful, the light will be hanging by its cable. Do this to both units, open the boot, disconnect the cable connectors and push the grommets and the cables through the holes.



Refit the new light units by feeding the cables up through the holes and locating the units into the driver’s side first and then pushing the unit up until the nearside clicks into place.

Reconnect the cables and refit the grommets.


I chose to remove the bumper.

http://www.mgfforum.com/en/forum/22-cjjs-guides/192-rear-bumper-how-to-remove

Now you can get access to the 2 light units.



And push them out as described.



It takes a bit of force so just be careful you don’t damage the bumper or paintwork.

Now push in the new light units.



And refit the bumper.

I replaced the screws in the light units with stainless steel self tappers, so hopefully next time I won’t have this problem.

I also bought 2 LED festoon lamps off e-bay



and fitted them. They give a better white light and should last longer.



Remember, if fitting LED lamps they only work one way round, so if they don’t work, take them out, turn them around and refit them.

Also the led bits need to be turned in the direction you want the light to go. If you fit them upside down they won’t light the number plate very well.

Nice one, Clive. Good old MGR quality!:rofl:

Although some people might think removing the bumper to replace a couple of bulbs is a little excessive!:lol:

david aiketgate wrote: Nice one, Clive. Good old MGR quality!:rofl:

Although some people might think removing the bumper to replace a couple of bulbs is a little excessive!:lol:

Then they be quitters I tell thee. Ga arrrr. :dry:

clive what just out of intrest what size are the led festoon lamps

Look here for the specs

http://www.consumabulbs.com/files/bdet.php?id=51

But these are the ones I bought

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130476714714&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Cheers for that - I do like fitting LEDs in the number plate lights, looks so much more modern.

Darn it! - just when my 'to do' list was getting shorter :lol:

Might be worth adding a tiny blob of silicone to the bulb / connection once it is seated correctly to stop it possibly 'spinning' and not focussing its light properly?

Great post, thank you ~ was giong to suggest s.s screws, till i got to the end!!!!!

I would have taken the bumper off too, saves slipping when prising the lights out and putting a deep gouge in the paint :evil: LED Festoons look good too :woohoo:

Laz1957 wrote: Darn it! - just when my 'to do' list was getting shorter :lol:

There is NO END to the list for an MG!! that is why MG stands for "Money Grabber" :woohoo:

I read this because I'm going to fit an electric boot release kit and fancied having a hidden boot release between the plate lights in case of keys locked in the boot scenario. Think I'll revert to plan A, bumper off now makes it more attractive or maybe just a skeleton key in my wallet.

How about a reed switch hidden in, say a mirror? A magnet stuck to a bit of the tinware can then be used as the spare key when required.