 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Chequer plates and LED headlights |
 
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610   
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Some love it.....Some hate it....I'm on the former fence.
The sidesteps and sills have now gone, replaced with Safari Equipment R & T sliders. The bonnet was for easy access to the rack negating the requirement for a stepladder.  Click image to enlarge With careful drilling, 'wet assembly' and gaskets there is no reason why chequerplate fitting would cause corrosion. Where gaskets weren't supplied I made my own from butyl pondliner. Perhaps on earlier models with aluminium panels and stainless fastenings with dissimilar metals. Remember though it's a one way street if you fit it, costly if you decide to change your mind. Buy decent quality either OEM or Mammoth and you'll be fine. Welcome to the forum by the way...... If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!
Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! Last edited by K9F on 17th Feb 2015 4:35pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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17th Feb 2015 4:30pm |
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| TJ101 Member Since: 30 May 2007 Location: Taunton Somerset Posts: 3750  
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 Only Chassis, Bulkhead's, Door Bolts, Headlamp rings, Flap Brackets, etc etc !!!
The Wing tops, if genuine, will be the last thing to "rust" and worry about I always fit gen to mine,, before people use them as benches to put things on , ie tools, mugs etc California F1, 75th 110 "Kermit", 50th Ann V8, 90 V8 Hybrid, 55 Series 1 Main Brian James Trailer Dealer for South West UK |
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17th Feb 2015 4:34pm |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2295 
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You got there first TJ101
Land Rover...what tosh... 
Welcome jk84 If you want them have them, Stainless Fixings or Al Rivets help there is sometimes issues with dissimilar metals causing local corrosion but as TJ101 said these are low on the list of areas to worry about...read up on here the various corrosion prevention advice offered, when you have a spare few hours. New end of April... No 1 Security sort that in the 'morning' No 2 Under Body Corrosion Protection sort that in the 'afternoon' (whilst it's showroom clean under there) All the other stuff can follow when you have lived with it for a while... Good Luck and welcome aboard SKIP https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html |
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17th Feb 2015 4:58pm |
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| yostumpy Member Since: 01 Aug 2010 Location: n/kent Posts: 327 |
The only issue really, is ...well... in the name. ''Protection kit'', ''wing top protectors'' What are you protecting, and from what. You presumably will have a NEW vehicle, and you about to drill numerous holes in the wings and bonnet 'to protect them''
But I do have them on my ol' 300tdi, BECAUSE I frequently clamber on to the wings and climb on to the bonnet, to tie down stuff on the roof rack, and to reach stuff etc, so its protecting ME, as before I fitted it I very nearly came a cropper on the slipperry wet bonnet. BUT if you dont do that kind of stuff, don't fit it to protect your wingtops, they wont get damaged in the supermarket carpark.  |
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17th Feb 2015 7:43pm |
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| Pickles Member Since: 26 May 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3785  
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JK84, This is our first experience with Defenders, so we had lots to learn, & this forum has been/is invaluable.
When our 90 was being fitted with its chequer plate, particularly the wing top protectors, we were talking to the the Dealer Workshop Manager with over 30 yrs experience, He said that the protectors were a great accessory, they protected the soft aluminium wingtops from all sorts of abuse/ damage etc,...resting stuff on them/ spanners etc. When I'm cleaning Gracie, I find 'em great for putting polish bottles/rags on etc. The Dealer fitted mine, with gaskets etc, and I've never regretted fitting them. I like the fact that they are a genuine LR "Factory" accessory. Make sure you put up pics when you have your vehicle. Pickles. |
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17th Feb 2015 9:11pm |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720 
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Thank you gents for your responses and warm welcome, appreciated!
It all sounds encouraging, I'm inclined to go for them in the end as they seem to be the 'last' worry when it comes to corrosion. And they'll be useful especially in the winter as I spend a lot of time down in Austria, so both handy when fixing winter equipment to the cage and also on stone grit roads. Reading through K9F's post, I am actually tempted to leave them for later and have them done by upgrade specialists. On the other hand, Pickles seemed to have a good experience with the factory ones...decisions, decisions! But they are definitely going on. Having said that, good to know I should look at under body protection too, thanks X4SKP! Interesting you mentioned security as well - having had cars that were actually more expensive then my 110, this was last on my priority list, being a bit ignorant here. I looked through some blogs and found out Defenders seem to be popular steals - so need to look through some trackers and alarms as I'm getting emotionally attached and it hasn't even arrived yet! Question for TJ101 - I see you have xenon lights on yours - this is aftermarket part I guess? The dealer said there isn't a xenon upgrade at the moment although then we got to a bulb upgrade from halogen to xenon. Not sure what the quality will be and since I travel a lot in a winter weather and drive often at nights, I have always found quality xenon lights a big help. Thanks again and some pictures to follow as soon as it arrives in April! |
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17th Feb 2015 9:24pm |
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| TJ101 Member Since: 30 May 2007 Location: Taunton Somerset Posts: 3750
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Evening JK .. Welcome to the forum, some very experience and knowledgeable members on here
Your dealer is correct, at present  However LR are using a LED headlamps on some of the last "special editions"
I have J W Speaker Evo LED headlamps, There are a few different brands of after market headlamps about,, some better than others, and everyone has their own opinion of which is better and quote various figures  ! after trying them all, i am happy with the Speaker's
If you spend a fair time on main beam, HID aux lighting works best for me,, better range than Led aux lights California F1, 75th 110 "Kermit", 50th Ann V8, 90 V8 Hybrid, 55 Series 1 Main Brian James Trailer Dealer for South West UK |
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17th Feb 2015 9:45pm |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720
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Thanks TJ101, that's helpful - I didn't actually know that LEDs come as headlamps. Have just done a bit of research on the internet and seems that these are the only good alternative to Halogens - looks that aftermarket HIDs are not best quality and tend to blind other drivers on the road, especially without self leveling mechanism.
I just noticed that K9F's Defender has them too. I did actually see similar ones on the pictures of the new Adventure edition for 2015, so perhaps worth asking the dealer if that's something I can get. Alternatively, I will go for the J W Speaker ones you recommended - even if the range is lower than HIDs, I'm sure it's an enhancement to traditional halogens and if they don't annoy fellow drivers as much as aftermarket HIDs, then that's an added benefit too. |
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18th Feb 2015 11:40am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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The LED headlights fitted to the Adventure and the other specials are Nolden lights. You can of course get them from your local Land Rover dealer at a silly price and to the best of my knowledge not before June. If you are wanting, them before then and at a sensible price, ( with a special forum member discount) then we are the only people with RHD Nolden lights in stock.
As TJ101 says it is down to personal preference which are best, but having 2 Defenders, one with JWSpeakers and one with Noldens, I personally prefer the Noldens Regards Barbara |
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18th Feb 2015 12:17pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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JK the LR chequer plate wing tops are fitted at the dealership.
Before ordering them have a look at a set fitted on a Defender at your local dealership. I have not been impressed by some of the fitting I have seen by various dealers. Yes as Barbara has said Noldens are the LED lights being fitted to the last Defender editions. Do your own research, a few threads on here. 
Some figures for you. Nolden IP rating is IP6K9K which is a superior water ingress rating then JWSpeaker 8700 at IP67 Measured light output (can of worms, not!) Nolden 1700 lumens, JWS 8700 Evo 2 1150 lumens. Brendan |
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18th Feb 2015 12:39pm |
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| TJ101 Member Since: 30 May 2007 Location: Taunton Somerset Posts: 3750
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Here we go again !!!  California F1, 75th 110 "Kermit", 50th Ann V8, 90 V8 Hybrid, 55 Series 1
Main Brian James Trailer Dealer for South West UK |
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18th Feb 2015 12:53pm |
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| Martin Site Admin Member Since: 02 Apr 2007 Location: Hook Norton Posts: 6610 
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We all know that there are different opinions about LED headlamps, so keep it civil as per the norm for here.
I don't let those who prefer 110s over 90s drive out discussion of 90s, so we have to accept the differences. 1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top
2015 D90 XS SW |
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18th Feb 2015 1:10pm |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720
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Didn't mean to cause heated discussion, it shows though that Defender drivers are passionate folks and proud owners
For a newbie, the more views the better, so cheers guys. Can compare the specs now and look at designs too as they look quite different. I may get back to you Brendan/Barbara - the special forum member discount sounds attractive - considering my spec is slowly adding to the final price, every little helps. Perhaps looking at a good brand chequer plates would make sense too as gents here suggested in earlier posts. |
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18th Feb 2015 2:11pm |
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| couplands Member Since: 31 Aug 2011 Location: Peak District & Cornwall Posts: 1826 
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Wing top protectors are great if you tend to use the Defender as a work tool or as a truck for laning etc. I'm always using my wing tops for placing tools, lunch etc on as well as standing on it when cleaning the windscreen or roof. Wouldn't have a Defender without them, as the wing tops are pretty soft if you stand on them..
Good, for the same reasons, on the bonnet. In other areas (sills, rear quarters etc) I don't see much value. A pair of tree sliders on the sills is much more use, but again it depends what you use your Defender for. cheers simon |
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18th Feb 2015 2:56pm |
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