Thread: LED Headlights for Defender/County/RRC etc

Originally Posted by rijidij

Looks like these LEDs are an option on 2015 Defender Special Editions

The ones Land Rover is using are Noldens. Quite pricey. Lowest I can see for what appear to be real one is $600 US on eBay for a pair.

7" LED Headlight
Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review! - Expedition Portal!

Here's a good comparison pic from another forum.........upgraded halogens compared to Nolden Bi-Led headlights.

Cheers, Murray

Can't argue with those photo's. Pat

Are LED headlights legal in Australia? I had it in the back of mind that LED driving lights were legal, but not headlights, but I could easily be wrong.


I couldn't find anything about LED headlights on the Queensland Department of Transport site, but I did find a statement saying HID headlights are illegal.


Can I replace my vehicle’s headlight with High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps?

Retro-fitting High Intensity Gas-Discharge (HID) headlight assemblies to vehicles not originally offered with the technology is generally not permissible as they do not comply with the Australian Design Rules in the following ways:

• No headlight self-levelling device is fitted
• No self-cleaning function is fitted
• The design of the headlamp reflector is not compatible with the bulb (the light is not focused correctly)

Point #3 is the killer. Too much stray light escaping into oncoming driver's eyes, not to mention lighting up the inside of the car in front... and their mirrors. Virtually impossible to modify.

Point #2 is a furphy, just a band-aid to lessen the symptoms,,, Crazing/yellowing plastic headlight 'glass' does as much damage, if not more.

Point #1 is the Big Clue... self-levelling... Why ? - Because they are SO incredibly bright.... way beyond what is needed... that any mis-alignment is going to be dangerous/lethal to some innocent party.

Add to the above the uncomfortable fact that a HID (and LEDs I'v seen,,,) has a spectral distribution that has greater dazzling/distracting impact when you're on the wrong end of it, than equally 'bright' incandescent globes.

I'm referring only to LOW beam....

Case in point would be LED torches. You pay double or triple for a 'warm' white or 'neutral' white than the common 'white'. Lumen-count is invariably less, yet it penetrates and gives more usable detail, especially around foliage.
I had some 'warm white' 3,500 K HID bulbs, and they were better for "seeing" than the same wattage 5,600 K.

Originally Posted by superquag

Point #3 is the killer.

You can buy housings designed for HID bulbs that fit in 7" housings.

The housing may accept the bulb, but the reflector is not necessarily designed to manage the light source correctly, says he with HID in his Super Oscars

Very good write up Murray

Theres a lot out there now, some of course don't meet AU/EU specifications.

The DRL'S are also a good idea. and 100% legal.