Thread: Old Series Glass and Metal front lights on Defender 110

Hello All,

Being new to a Defender 110 would the reproduction glass and metal front lights for a Series Land Rover fit into the Defender's front panels? Are the lights roughly all the same diameter between say a Series 2A and the Defender 110?

When I was working on Snowy's parking lights and indicators the plastic around the bulb holders disintegrated. Back in 2012 I had brought some modern replacement generic all plastic lights - front and rear - for a couple of Series IIIs - only to find that their bases were either cracked or broken. The boxes they arrived in were in perfect condition so the lights had not been crushed in the freight. I had to place a new order and the retailer supplied a different also unnamed brand. I think the retailer was sold a batch of dud lights from the manufacturer.

Having learnt from this lesson I figure for now I might go the opposite direction in time and revert to the original combination of metal bases and glass lenses. It is only four lights for the front. Snowy's tray has the bog standard Narva rectangular combination lights fitted to it that are in good conditions - so they will be staying put.

Kind regards
Lionel

Hello All,

The Lucas clone L594 glass lens with metal bulb holder-bases for a front set of indicator and parking light units arrived from the UK today. Plus, another order I placed on a set of OEM older L369 glass lenses that I bought in Australia arrived today. I saw the OEM L369 lenses on eBay. They were being sold as one of those 'Bid on' items, with no 'Buy now' price. I set a reasonable limit. I was the only bidder and got them for only $10 AUD for a pair of lenses - so that was a major win. The OEM L369 lenses came in their original boxes! The reason I bought the OEM lenses is to make-up some missing parts from a front set of original L369 lamp indicators that I took off of a Series wreck. One of the glass lenses was broken. This broken lens unit also had its base totally eaten away with rust. The other remaining unit was just dirty - but otherwise was in very good condition. The amazing thing was that when I went to take the bulb out of its holder the system operated like it was made only yesterday. The new lamp units I bought from the UK have a very similar feeling of being made of good quality materials when handling them - including removing and fitting the bulb. I am about to buy two new rubber boots and one new lamp holder from the Australian retailer so that I will have a complete front set of indicators for another project. Since the OEM L369 lenses came as a pair, I will have one for a spare.

I bought a set of new light background panels and the new L594 lights look exquisite on them. I am very happy with them so far. It is so good to feel the bulb pins lock securely within their metal housing - not the feel of the of cheap plastic crap bulb holders that allow the bulbs to eject after you attempt to fit the bulb. The test will be when the crimp tool for the Lucas style 4.7 mm bullet fittings arrive and I get to make original looking wire extensions. This will allow all the indicator, side repeater lamp and the parking light wiring to be made much more easily accessible from behind the headlight. I am not very fond of having to be a octopus contortionist like you have to be now when attempting to hook all the wiring together in the far darkest and depths of the mudguard.

The photos show a mix of the light units and the OEM L369 lamp lenses and the whole L594 units. All lenses are all the lights pictured are glorious glass that have colours that will not fade.

I bought the lamp units off a UK supplier with postage who sold them for less than half the price of an Australian supplier - for most likely the very same units. In an effort to replace the all plastic side repeater lights I bought a set of Jaguar ones that have a nice chrome bezel. All the new lights will be the best looking part of Snowy my 1993 Defender 110 tray-back ute.

Kind regards
Lionel