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rustyboxx

Member Since: 08 Oct 2012
Location: Poole
Posts: 548

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Montalcino Red

Home-made LED halo headlights

I bought a set of LED halo headlights from Bolt on Bits for my old 90 and was quite pleased with them as the gave the truck a bit of bling and looked pretty good. I know it's a matter if taste but DRL's as an integral component of the headlight look a bit more factory in my opinion.

Anyway, I thought I'd do the same for my 110. I couldn't find what I wanted from BoB and to be honest I didn't fancy paying another £100 or so for a pair of halos. I looked at other types but they weren't what I wanted either. So, a bit of searching on eBay to find the right type of LED strips and a set of crystal headlamps from Simon at MPS (top man) and I had the components for the project.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

So the next question was how to get the LEDs in the headlights? Only two options, use the existing hole for the bulb or stick the headlamps in the oven to bake and then try to separate the two halves. I opted for the first option and fed the LEDs through the hole after feeding the wire through the existing small hole in the headlamp bowl.

Click image to enlarge

As it happens, the length of the LED strip is more or less the same as the internal circumference of the headlamp lens, I trimmed around 3mm of the end of the soft plastic that houses the LEDs making sure to leave the internal copper rails with sufficient insulation. Next step was to align the point at which the two ends meet with the small hole at the top of the headlamp bowl to keep the wire nice and tidy. Now it's a bit fiddly trying to work through the bulb hole but with a bit of patience the LED strip can be pushed into place. I used the handle of a wooden spoon as this shouldn't scratch the reflector. Once the strip was in place it was just a case of making the two ends sit nearly together. There was a slight overlap but this is a good thing as it is possible to use a bit of pressure to squeeze the end in to make a press fit. I didn't use any adhesive to keep the strips in place as once there are in the final position they cannot move as they are wedged in tight. This is also handy if they need to be replaced at any time, no adhesive to remove

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

So that's it really, all done in around 30 minutes. All that remains is to put a bit of tape over the cable exit hole, wire them up and fit the headlamps. I'm very pleased with the result and just how easy it was. The best bit is that it cost less than half what BoB charged for the same thing

I'll post up a pic of them lit up once I've fitted them to the 110. 2015 90 XS CSW TDCi - Beautiful
2007 110 XS DCPU - An itch that needed scratching
2005 90 Td5 XS CSW - Utterly brilliant
2001 Discovery 2 ES Auto - A phase I went through
1996 90 Tdi CSW - Uber reliable
1989 90 2.5 Petrol Hardtop - My first proper Landy
1985 Range Rover Vogue V8 -Troublesome

9th Jan 2014 1:59pm

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey

Nice neat Job, very impressive

It'll look pretty good I'm sure.

Some (IMHO) Audi's and Korean cars have gone mad with DRL/LED configurations...some of them look more like mobile Christmas trees than cars

However I think the ones in the new Range Rovers look good

Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

9th Jan 2014 2:20pm

Tiger

Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Wales
Posts: 2265

Like it

Lets see a photo fitted

9th Jan 2014 2:54pm

Brite Light LEDs

Member Since: 09 Jan 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5

Looks great

9th Jan 2014 11:16pm

rustandoil

Member Since: 08 Sep 2012
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 735

2005 Defender 110 Td5 XS DCPU Bonatti Grey

Nice job

Somehow i kept thinking "ship in a bottle"

10th Jan 2014 6:14am

Dave T

Member Since: 07 Jun 2013
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 487

any pictures of fitted item? 2015 RRS Autobiography SDV6
1994 Def 90 300tdi

10th Jan 2014 7:31am

rustyboxx

Member Since: 08 Oct 2012
Location: Poole
Posts: 548

Hopefully, I'll get them fitted tomorrow and post up pics then. 2015 90 XS CSW TDCi - Beautiful
2007 110 XS DCPU - An itch that needed scratching
2005 90 Td5 XS CSW - Utterly brilliant
2001 Discovery 2 ES Auto - A phase I went through
1996 90 Tdi CSW - Uber reliable
1989 90 2.5 Petrol Hardtop - My first proper Landy
1985 Range Rover Vogue V8 -Troublesome

10th Jan 2014 7:38am

rustyboxx

Member Since: 08 Oct 2012
Location: Poole
Posts: 548

Got round to fitting the headlights today along with a pair of Osram Nightbreaker 110% bulbs. Much better than the standard LR fitment

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

I'm chuffed with the LEDs and think they match the LED sidelights quite well. 2015 90 XS CSW TDCi - Beautiful
2007 110 XS DCPU - An itch that needed scratching
2005 90 Td5 XS CSW - Utterly brilliant
2001 Discovery 2 ES Auto - A phase I went through
1996 90 Tdi CSW - Uber reliable
1989 90 2.5 Petrol Hardtop - My first proper Landy
1985 Range Rover Vogue V8 -Troublesome

12th Jan 2014 5:37pm

GUM97

Member Since: 05 Feb 2012
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3555

1997 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Stornoway Grey

They look top notch

An engine to TDi for!
"Land Rover- Proudly turning drivers into mechanics since 1948"

12th Jan 2014 5:48pm

rustandoil

Member Since: 08 Sep 2012
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 735

That looks fantastic

too bling for my Defender, but will use on my Mini

12th Jan 2014 6:37pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20278

Very nice mate, well thought of and works well.

That offer of popping by still stands you know.

âï¸âï¸God Bless the USA ðŸ‡¬ðŸ‡§ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸ âï¸âï¸

12th Jan 2014 6:50pm

Dave T

Member Since: 07 Jun 2013
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 487

Do you have a link to the eBay LEDs 2015 RRS Autobiography SDV6
1994 Def 90 300tdi

12th Jan 2014 8:41pm

rustyboxx

Member Since: 08 Oct 2012
Location: Poole
Posts: 548

Just checked eBay and there's loads of listings, go for a UK seller though. If you search for '48 white led strip' that should pull up all the relevant items. Alternatively, the seller I bought mine from is mota-kraft. Usual caveat applies, I'm not endorsing nor am I connected in any way with the seller.

2015 90 XS CSW TDCi - Beautiful
2007 110 XS DCPU - An itch that needed scratching
2005 90 Td5 XS CSW - Utterly brilliant
2001 Discovery 2 ES Auto - A phase I went through
1996 90 Tdi CSW - Uber reliable
1989 90 2.5 Petrol Hardtop - My first proper Landy
1985 Range Rover Vogue V8 -Troublesome

12th Jan 2014 9:44pm

steveyorks

Member Since: 08 Apr 2013
Location: west yorkshire
Posts: 175

1993 Defender 90 200 Tdi CSW Barolo Black

Are you a gynecologist by trade by any chance?

13th Feb 2014 8:01pm

Mean Green

Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: South Ayrshire
Posts: 280

Where did you get the side lights and indicators? BoB??

13th Feb 2014 9:13pm

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