Light guards on a Defender

**dmdigital** · 3rd February 2009, 06:28 PM

So what is everyone's preference for light guards?

On my Tdi I have the perspex Land Rover one's. They're damned annoying to clean behind and fiddly to take off (lot of dust and muddy water gets behind them). They also keep the lights very hot.

Did think of getting the perspex ones and trying to cut slots in them, but knowing my luck I'd get 90% of one done and the perspex would snap. Anyway they'd still be hard to clean behind.

So what are the alternatives???

Genuine metal Lamp guards
After market equivalent - Bearmach, Equipe4x4, Devon4x4....
Something else????

Tombie · 3rd February 2009, 06:44 PM

Yup...

Fit NONE!!

Ugly as sin.... If anything get some "light skins"

**dmdigital** · 3rd February 2009, 06:47 PM

Light Skins

Off to Google I go...

**dmdigital** · 3rd February 2009, 07:01 PM

OK sounds like you are referring to a 3M product, but I can't find a good reference to it except for a few postings on bike forums.

Do you have any more information? This does sound more like what I'm after.

**Sleepy** · 3rd February 2009, 07:09 PM

I used to have the perspex ones. Fitted some spacers so that they sit a few mm off - therefore allowing me to squirt water behind to clean. -haven't bothered with the new deefer. I figure if I lose a headlight - bad luck.

I would fit the wire/cage type protectors - if anything.

**JDNSW** · 3rd February 2009, 07:10 PM

Lack of them is a 100% guarantee of broken headlights if you drive round here, or most other places even slightly off the beaten track. Surprisingly, gravel roads are not the main problem (possibly because of lower traffic), most problems seem to come from narrow bitumen and roadworks.

I have the perspex Landrover ones, but I am not exactly happy with them for the reasons quoted. I have contemplated perspex or metal mesh ones on the bullbar, but have not actually done anything about it.

John

**Bundalene** · 3rd February 2009, 07:15 PM

Hi Derek, trouble is that where you are you need either some headlight protection or a good supply of headlghts

.

I just used a bit of mesh on the bar - doesn't look that good buy is very effective, doesn't get clogged up and you can still clean the lights.

Photo courtesy of Dullbird (thanks Lou)

Cheers, Erich

**Sleepy** · 3rd February 2009, 07:21 PM

I like that option Erich

Looks like a cheap and effective option - a few cable ties and some wire mesh - easy to clean and hardly noticable.

Bit of a thread drift but would it be worth going across the radiator as well to cach some of the crud/bugs before the radiator? (Maybe a smaller gauge)

**dmdigital** · 3rd February 2009, 08:42 PM

Of course getting the wire mesh is potentially a problem up here. Think I'll take some measurements and consider my options when I fly out in a couple of weeks for a few days leave.

I'm still intrigued about the "Light Skins" though

**ciapek** · 3rd February 2009, 09:03 PM

I had some light skins on a family car a few years back.
It's basically a sheet of decal. Clear, about 3mm thick, slightly soft to the feel. Made by 3M.
Alcohol clean the light's glass surface, apply decal, trim around with a knife to follow the shape of your light surface.

Pros, makes the light surface resilliant to moderate impact. Does not impede lights performance nor function. Very easy to fit.

Cons, relatively expensive as you have to buy a sheet, although the Deefer will get a few cutouts from said sheet so I guess it's not that bad.
Will age from the lights heat and gradually start to yellow become brittle and peel. Also may require some alcohol wipe downs from time to time, as the decal shrinks and moves from the heat the exposed glue will collect dirt.
Because the decal is thick, it will be a little difficult to mould a concave shape shape on the surface of the Defenders light reflector. Tip, prewarm and soften your rough cutout circle with a Hairdryer.

I landed mine from Autobarn, no idea if they still stock it.

Good Luck....

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