Thread: Best low beam headlight? Crystal vs LED vs?

Sorry mate I can't help you but watching with great interest.

As an aside I did inquire recently from my Landy independent work shop about replacing my original Rangie Classic factory headlights - H4 7 Inch - with new ones the same but not LR factory brand. The quoted price of $800.00 a pair plus fitting turned me away from that idea very smartly.

We put a set of Narva clear polycarbonate 7" halogen lamps into SWMBO's wrangler after a similar incident. They are a significant improvement on the factory glass halogen units and don't get stone chips either. About $80 on special at Repco...

Regards,
Tote

Originally Posted by Plutei

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1. Would I need to update the wiring if I opt for LED? ...


4. Has anyone been unhappy with LED replacements? Particularly Truck-Lite I'm curious about as JWS is beyond my price range

Hi Plutei,

I replaced my IPF QH headlights with the Truck-Lite LED units.

The Trucklite I got have a universal / military spread, that means they spread out and low on both sides on low beam and can be used in RHD or LHD jurisdictions. I'm not sure if the latest version is RHD biased.

I have probably aimed them a little low, as I wasn't sure whether they'd dazzle like HIDs. The light is good (High Beam is better) and even on high beam it doesn't seem to dazzle other drivers. So I better adjust them up a little.

The benefit of the HIDs is that the light switch won't get hot carrying a large current and eventually fail, which is common for factory Defenders. The Truck-Lites were not a disappointment after the IPFs with upgraded wiring, so I don't think they'll be a disappointment after factory lights.

A short (19") light bar complements the High Beam nicely, and there really isn't need for much more up front lighting at the speed the Defender travels at; so less lights over your radiator.

The biggest improvement you can make to low beam, regardless of what type of light, is to fit relays so the lights are operating on full voltage. For low beam, it is unlikely that fitting any lights above the legal light output is worth the problem of fitting headlight washers and wipers and levelling as is required (this applies to all HID lamps and probably many other lights as well).

As you comment, the better spread of light is the important bit. It is hard to get clear information on this aspect of any replacement lights, but I was recommended and got some years ago Cibie halogens, which were an improvement on the originals, but I like the look of 'crystal' lights, although there is no inherent reason for their performing better. And I really would like to be able to justify LED lights, but I at present I don't think they are worth the premium cost at present.

John

Hi, I've had the Trucklite LED's in my 90 and had them taken out when I traded up to my 2016 110. I was really very happy with them and loved the improvement. I thought they had been aimed a bit low at first but after a while considered they were spot on. I'll have them installed into my 110 when I have a couple of jobs for Les Richmond to do for me

Thanks all. Where and for how much did you source the trucklites? I think I'll go with either the narva free forms or the trucklites but it comes down to the price I can get the LEDs for.

The standard glass H4 semi sealed headlamps are quite good....yes I believe so, after fitting a set of Philips Xtreme globes and relay.
HID in H4 is very poor as the globe focus is poor on the reflector.

Hi Plutei, I bought the pair of them from Westar Truck Centre in Derrimut Victoria for $751 (pair) which included GST