Driving lights for Fender

[Chenz]

I am just putting in a traxide lighting upgrade to my 200 Tdi fender and am looking to put in some new driving lights. I don't want to pay a fortune but also don't want the Supercrap Auto fall apart after one trip lights.

Any suggestions on a reasonably priced pair of lights would be appreciated. I am heading up The Cape in six weeks so I need a pair that can be submersed a few times.

[Sith]

Hey mate ,
I have upgraded mine to IPF light inserts , they come with a full wiring harness , 80/110 globes and glass lamps for $340
The difference ? INCREDIBLE !

I priced Hella and Narva , they were just stupidly priced and my auto elec told me the IPF will outshine the others .... he wasn't joking .

[Xul]

I'd go lightforce personally. You pay a tad more than some brands but I have seen first hand some of the testing they go through. It's not just the light you have to worry about, but the mounting system as well.

If you want a light to survive after driving over corrugations for hours Lightforce are your best bet. I personally use the 170 Strikers and they throw out heaps of light while being reasonably priced and well made.

[one_iota]

Your main lights will be improved significantly with the Traxide wiring upgrade as it will ensure that the volts find their way to the globes. I've done this mod on both the Disco and the Fender with measurable improvement.

This will be improved further with some higher output H4 Philips,Osram or Narva +50 or equivalent halogen globes. Remember that to be legal your main lights have to comply with the ADR specs which are 55/60W.

As for driving lights this becomes a Toyota vs Nissan vs Land Rover debate. I have Lightforce 170's and have been pleased with these... 10 years on and they are still good. I think the more recent versions are more able to be dunked in water whilst on and hot as they have breathers. The earlier version's reflectors discoloured through taking in water when hot.

With the Lightforce I have a cover on one that spreads the beam for good lateral lighting with the other focussed for pencil projection.

At the speeds that a Defender travels being able to see 1000 m up the road is not the prime objective....the quality and gradation of the light for low, high beam and driving light is. There is no point having brilliant high beam if when you go back to low beam your eyes can't adjust fast enough and you are left temporarily blind.

[Michael2]

I've got 2nd hand IPFs and Hella Rallyes that I've fitted with cheap HID kits. The Hella lights seem better, but that may be because [1] they're mounted higher, [2] they're round, not rectangular, [3] they use lower K globes 4,300K instead of 6,000K, [4] they're both spread beams, the IPFs are one of each.

Getting a good lens and retrofitting HIDs is worthwhile, and it means you don't need upgraded wiring to the lights, as they only use 35W.

[Sith]

Oh I forgot , I have Lightforce HID XGT on the bullbar ...
cause Im scared of the dark

[all4fun]

Where did you get the HID upgrad kit for the Hella's and how much? Thanks

[OffRoadRover]

Where did you get the hid kits upgrad kit for the Hella's and how much? Thanks

I think you can find some on the advertising side bar on google when searched or even some on eBay.

[Mudnut]

I have just gone through this myself, as I am moving from Melbourne to north of Cairns. With a mob of roo's living on my property, thought it was about time to upgrade my lighting to avoid any messy accidents. The Traxide wiring upgrade was a VAST!! IMPROVEMENT!! Low beams seem like my old high beams! High beams are brilliant. Much brighter cleaner light in both beams. Some of the improvement might have come since cleaning my headlight protectors, but certainly not all. Because I purchased the driving light wiring loom also, figured I'd get some spotties now too. Was shocked at the price of some brands, so off to fleabay I went. Found a pair of 4" HID spread lights from China, purchased them for $230AU delivered, and they arrived at my door 5 days later. Funny they look just like the ones you can purchase here at 4x the price. For that kind of money, I don't mind having them hanging off my bull bar. Have only tried them once at night, on a dark road. Brilliant blueish light illuminated the road, and sides.
Good luck in your search,

Ken

[VladTepes]

Beware though I've heard of people buyingt "HID kits" from China but they were only a blue halogen light....