 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Fitting Wipac Crystal Headlights |
 
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| yorkshireman Member Since: 28 Mar 2016 Location: North England Posts: 80  |
Hi, I did the same on mine with some brighter Osram bulbs, noticed a hell of a difference. Mine doesn't have extra relays and as yet I haven't bothered with an uprated loom but I gather it can give a much better current and depending on the bulbs a brighter beam. I'd go with the stainless rims at the same time, I didn't bother and it bugged me for weeks so ended up changing them afterwards which meant taking it all apart again so save yourself the trouble.
 Hope this helps. There are plenty of threads on the forum about looms if you search for them.Last edited by yorkshireman on 8th Jun 2016 7:57pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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8th Jun 2016 8:52am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971  
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All Defenders have relays before the switch (when you turn the ignition off, the headlights go off but the sidelights stay on) but none of them have it after. Putting in decent wiring and relays ups the voltage to the bulbs from about 11V to about 14V as well as protecting the stock, undersized cabling and switch. The Boomslang looms is one option (that I used), there are other looms or you could DIY.
Rust: stainless is one option. Alternatively you could remove them, clean them, rust converter, paint and replace them. Up to you  |
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8th Jun 2016 9:32am |
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| Sadi Member Since: 23 Jul 2015 Location: Windhoek Posts: 334  
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https://www.nakatanenga.de/beleuchtung/zub...nder?c=119
https://shop.landreiziger.nl/lichtversterk...elais.html http://www.piaa.com/store/c/21-Automotive-Bulbs.aspx?Attribs=38 For the 1'st article - there is a forum sponsor. Uncertain about the other 2. |
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8th Jun 2016 2:51pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3758
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maybe a daft question?
Instead of clear lens do wipac or similar do a slightly smoked or darker unit? Thanks |
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8th Jun 2016 2:56pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816  
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^^ Daft question indeed. What is the point of looking for better headlights, and then have a smoked or darker version?
 Think they would be neither legal, nor E marked either.
Go for Cristal Wipacs, upgraded H4 standard 55/60 Watt bulbs, and a landreiziger loom with relays so that the full 14V gets to your lights instead of disappearing in the standard route via the light switch, and you will have a big improvement. 
Not as good as LEDs though. 
Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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8th Jun 2016 6:03pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3758
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^ I knew it was a daft question,
Maybe want I mean is the headlight bit is clear but the back ground darker (behind the bulb) a bit like the Led ones? does that make sense? like this one but the yellow part darker? so not the front bit that the light shines through?  |
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8th Jun 2016 9:34pm |
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| FunkyMunky Member Since: 10 Jun 2016 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 22 
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Replaced my headlamps with Crystals and there was a marked improvement but nothing spectacular.
 'borrowed' a friends H4 Night Breaker bulb for comparison and wasn't much of a difference except the instrument light seemed to be dimmer too! 
Had seen many headlight wiring modification posts so went that route, as much a preventative measure (re: the headlight switch issue) as improving the lights.
Bought all the components from Fleabay and made my own loom, complete with waterproof relay holder box and fuse-holder. What a massive difference! Especially with the Night Breaker bulb!
Definitely recommend this modification! |
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10th Jun 2016 6:39pm |
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| Sadi Member Since: 23 Jul 2015 Location: Windhoek Posts: 334
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o Not impossible that such may exist - but may need more search time to find such that will meet your exact specs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LUCAS-24hr-LeMans-...1209425833 http://www.ebay.com/bhp/tri-bar-headlights |
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10th Jun 2016 7:38pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3758
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^ thanks
that is the sort if thing I guess the issue would be they are not MOT passable? |
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10th Jun 2016 8:27pm |
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| Sadi Member Since: 23 Jul 2015 Location: Windhoek Posts: 334
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There was a recent group buy on the Forum which I missed:
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic44406.html It displayed a nice variety of PIAA bulbs. I did the Landreiziger upgrade but kept the Wipac OEM headlights for the "traditional look". Will eventually do a bulb upgrade - but happy sofar with the light output (live is connected directly to alternator and ground connected to the A/C compressor as per threads on here) - and especially for the current saving-/protection on the light switch. In South Africa the installation of the round headlight of the earlier VW Golf model is also popular - ?Hella - which apparently shifts focusing of light beam from the lens (Wipac OEM) to the reflector. May not be as straightforward an installation as the Chrystal - but could be researched with a search engine. |
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11th Jun 2016 5:49am |
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| Mwd Member Since: 12 Jan 2016 Location: Scottish Highlands Posts: 45
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Thanks for the advice everyone. Wipac Crystal headlights & S/S rings and a Boomslang/Red Bison loom all ready to fit. All looks straightforward in theory but no doubt routing the cables and securing them properly will be fiddly. Has anyone done this on a Puma - getting to the alternator for the positive supply looks like it will involve removing some air hoses from the turbo, the alternative is connecting to the battery?
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13th Jun 2016 5:27pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5111  
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Much better to wire up via the battery, much easier to get to the fuse and in any respects the Boomslang loom fuse if fitted to the alternator could give problems as it is not in a waterproof holder. If going the battery route remove the two lucar connectors to the fuse holder using a small screwdriver blade to press down the pins. Then you should be able to pass the wires through one of the battery box grommets then reconnect the lucars into the fuse holder. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..
http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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13th Jun 2016 5:39pm |
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| Sadi Member Since: 23 Jul 2015 Location: Windhoek Posts: 334
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http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic26097....;start=150
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic25681....p;start=15 I removed only the one air hose - turbo/air box - for connecting to the alternator. Still a job to be done in bright light preferably - and not when you are tired and at the end of your tether... Also a decent spanner- and socket set required. |
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13th Jun 2016 7:48pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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For what it's worth, Nightbreakers aren't technically brighter, they don't produce more lumens because that's illegal.
What they do (I think) is produce a light that seems brighter, and is produced in a smaller area so it's easier to focus with a small reflector. Defender has a big reflector so makes less difference. More information in historic threads from Lost for Words. |
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13th Jun 2016 9:15pm |
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