DGnition, coil from box under bench, space saver tyre that says michelin on the side and a "best selling" chassis

cause im a moron who is too lazy to find out how the car works or cares as long as its shiiny on the outside and has too much cash to burn on shit like sports steering wheels

No need to compare, some like the sister others the mother. Both systems works well if the rest of the engine is looked after with ‘’correct’’ service. Many think that electronic ignition is a quick fix for an engine running bad but it can not fix problems elsewhere.

Russ, where can I buy some of those special tyres that are rounder than the others?

well i know what chassis and tyres im buying so no problem there

i think i may have to make my mind up, and just stick with points, and learn how to do them!

and ill get that ignition coil, seems to be well thought about!

I do believe he's already pointed you towards those.

Well said, that chap!

There is a bit of a learning curve with points, but it's easily mastered and far more easily so if you watch someone else do it first. After that it's just practice, and rapidly you'll find that you get much better as you go along. But it's also a skill which is easy to lose, so for many the idea of "fit DG/123 and then keep a points box in the boot for quick reversion" is shaky as you'll have likely forgotten how to fit them and won't have the right tools anyway. Getting the fan off regularly is a must anyway to check the fan belt, oil cooler and for oil leaks. It also prevents the fan from seizing onto the crankshaft.

There's also the sheer satisfaction of being able to master such a simple skill and it not only gives you the confidence to tackle other jobs but also the confidence to take your car wherever you want. DG/123 don't like water very much but with points you can ford deep puddles with impunity and if water does get in just open the top of the points box and let things dry out perhaps with the aid of a quick squirt of WD40 (being used as it's inventors intended). Another not to be overlooked factor is the kudos you gain from being one of the increasingly rare classic car owners who can still tackle points and timing.

There are some theoretical benefits, but I haven't noticed any practical difference. My car still runs standard ignition and when it was freshly serviced returned a little over 60mpg on a run down to the Spanish border (avoiding toll roads) even though it's got the heavyweight additions of adventure bars, BX seats and my ample frame. If you want to maximise fuel economy then regular servicing is the key, as well as ensuring that the crankcase breather system is working correctly. The main reason that some 2cv racing teams use DG/123 is simply due to the fact that they're quicker to replace when they go wrong and need no setting up. Even if DG/123 do offer a small improvement in fuel consumption the £100+ price difference between them and the original set up will take a long time to recover unless you do huge mileages.

If you're still determined to remove the points then fit Lumenition: it's really solid, gives a huge spark and is less electronically complex as it still uses the mechanical centrifugal ignition advance. The electronics are also mounted well away from all the crap that can get chucked at a points box. Roy Eastwood (ECAS) recently told me that's what he still fits to his own cars. My only criticism of Lumenition is that it's certainly very expensive and lacks the variable dwell of 123 (which prevents the coil from frying if the engine is switched on but not running or when idling for long periods) but the standard ignition has the same issue as well.

A far cheaper option is to fit either Boyer Bransden's or Matt Smith's points assisted ignition which makes the original points last far longer (I believe Uncle Ken has found that points last in excess of 60k miles with assisted ignition) and provides a stronger spark than points alone.

As it happens, I now have a virtually new and unused DG ignition which I'll be fitting soon, but only because I got it effectively for free and because the techie gadget junkie in me needs satisfying. Otherwise I'd be fitting a set of Smiffy Sparks as Ian Seabrook did after unhappy experiences with DG and/or 123.

Obviously I'm mainly in the "keep it as Pierre Boulanger intended" camp, but I appreciate that for those who simply don't want to get oily the modern alternatives may be a sensible choice. The only one I'd advise against are the 123-alike units sold by Mehari Club Cassis, easily identifiable by their logo engraved onto the mounting flange. They look like 123 because they ARE 123, but they are really old stock from one of the very earliest batches which Albertronic manufactured when they were still trying to get their product established and when the product still had some significant quality and design issues. The agreement was that MCC were totally responsible for after sales care; it was MCC who insisted on the engraved design as they didn't want to be faced with claims for 123 units supplied elsewhere. Albertronic often provides goodwill repairs long after their warranty has expired, but they won't touch the MCC branded items and once they established their own reputation ceased supplying "branded" versions a very long while ago.

It's not variable dwell that does that - it's a "Oh, look, no spark for a bit, I'll switch off until there is one" feature in the electronics. I wouldn't swear to it, but I'm pretty sure that the Lumie does do it.

I've put Lumie on several cars in the past with no probs - my first Mehari, the beige Dyane, the 4x4 (before it was on a Visa engine), and the Acad. OTOH, Ellie's car is still on points - and probably staying that way, although I've got an early 123 sat on the shelf, which I won in a raffle years ago - I haven't decided what to do with it... I'll probably fit it and, if it does sulk, see if Albertronics are still happy to exchange very old stock. If not, it owes me nothing. The van, likewise.

well i spoke to my friend about an hour ago and hes happy to help me do the points, he said to get new points and a new condenser, and hell show me what to do how to set it etc

i dont mind getting oily, infact i tend to eat my dinner with oily hands these days

thanks for your advice,

i would rather stick with points as i want to keep my car as original as i can (if its possible!)

I know it's been done before, but maybe we need to organise another points and timing demonstration at one of the meetings this year.

that would be helpful, theres always one person like me who doesnt know

im going to do them soon though,