Thread: H4 LED light globes?

Planning to do it soon. Glad to hear it works.

Can you clarify "a big improvement" please.
Are you getting better distance or spread on high beam?
Is low beam usable when you dip down with an oncoming vehicle?
What are they like after driving with the lights on for a few hours?

I find brighter isn't always better as the fatigue factor after 4-5 hours comes into play.
I'd consider this if its a improvement over the standard globes with a decent relay and wire kit fitted.

I have found a much better spread on low beam than what I had before. Also appear to have much better distance albeit I haven't used them in the country yet. That will be next weekend.

Middle of last year I had a relay put in and the auto electrican upgraded the bulbs. These were brighter but one low beam blew. When I changed them I was a little disappointed to find the bulbs were Repco cheapies!

anyway, I found these extreme vision were the brightest ones I could find in the halogen Range and I am really happy.

What I was wondering though is whether it would be worth trying the LED ones next time. They are a lot more expensive but still a big saving on changing over the whole headlight. Also I have to say I prefer the traditional headlight look of the Defender.

Originally Posted by EastFreo

Has anyone tried the Philips or IPF LED h4 light globes in their Defenders?

i just upgraded my bulbs to the Philips extreme vision which are a big improvement.

Just replacing the globes always seems such a controversial topic - but I can understand the search for such. I did the wire loom and relay upgrade together with Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited 60/55W. Sure there is much improved lighting - but when I switch on the Hella HID accessory lights - everything is just swathed in "arc"-like white. There also seems every year to be an even "more improved" version of the H4 standard halogen bulbs - especially in the Phillips & Osram ranges. And then of course the "rally" or "off-road" 100W or 110W or even 130W...for which the upgraded loom and relays really come into play. Personally I feel the reflector, lens and bulb should be an originally manufactured unit - especially for head lamps. Found this site very good for replacing both OEM or LED bulbs/globes - their Defender only goes to 2006-2007 - but seems to be fine for newer models:

Bulbs, wipers for your LAND ROVER DEFENDER ESTATE 2006-2007 (56)

Also here - lots of info - and some "icy" comments:

Driving Light Upgrade

And then the whole new debate/issue whether halogen gives better better "colour rendering" than HID or LED...

In ZA - on one forum - a member installed H4 LED replacement bulbs/-globes - only to later revert back to his OEM Halogens.

There also seems to be a quality difference amongst LED globes/-bulbs - with very much a "you get what you pay for" ...

Please post here if you do go this route - and what your findings are.

Is it true that LEDs are not special for distance, but shine for closer vision?

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Is it true that LEDs are not special for distance, but shine for closer vision?

The problem with current generation replacement LED globes is that the light emitting chips have a much larger area than a glowing filament. Also they tend to be on a different alignment to a filament. That means that any ordinary lamp housing not specifically designed for LEDs will simply not work as originally designed. A broad light source can't be focused into a tight beam by a standard reflector.

There seem to be just a few excellent design LED lamp fittings on the market but they are many times the price of the Chinese cheapies flooding the market.

Im also running the Philips Extreme Plus bulbs with standard loom and do find and improvement over whatever was in there. Expensive but worth it.
Im also running the same in another car that uses Cibie Oscar headlights. The Cibie have a better spread to me than the Wipacs on my Defender.
Regarding Colour temp and rendering. I work in the Photography and Film industry . Halogen is way better than LED for colour depth and the colour temp being warmer is better for fatigue than the HID or blue bulbs. Blue light while looking brighter has too much glare and dosnt penetrate moisture in the air like the warmer light. For this reason im running the Philips with about 5000 deg kelvin Col Temp and a set of Super Oscar Halogen Driving lights. Not Spots. Very comfortable to drive behind. Most of my use in in the Snowy Mountains at no more than 110 kph. So while i love LEDs for torches and floods a "quality" halogen is the ultimate for headlights.

The Phillips Extreme Vision 120% are the best I have had and will be going back to them next. From what I have seen you can get Plus 100, 120 and 130. They are expensive in Australia as are most high end bulbs. Lots cheaper on the internet. Found the 130s for $42 including delivery to Australia.
Bought Narva 120s when one of the Phillips failed after more than 6 years. Wont be doing that again. Fitted the Narva 120s when the Narva 90s came up on sale and bought them for another car but did not end up using. Well Narva 120s lasted around 6-8 months then a Low Beam blew. So changed to 90s that I had in the shed, Low Beam blew in first set in just over 3 months as I had 2 packets replaced with another from second pack. Lasted 2 months low beam blew. And again today replaced another just after 2 months. They got a non to complimentary email today. Worst globes I have ever used, light is OK but durability is garbage.
Still have 1 good Phillips 120 and now over 8 years old, tested while fitting replacement Narva today.
And the Narvas are not cheap from memory the Narva 120 retail at around $90 (think I got on special for around $70), the 90 plus retail around $60-70 (I think I got 2 sets on special for a 2 for 1 offer).
Yet the Narva Spot light globes have been in for over 10 years. Go figure.
Craig