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| mk1collector Member Since: 17 Sep 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 6769   
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Led headlights are great but you could try fitting an up rated loom first which will give a lot more power to the lights than you have at the moment. Ray
My build thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html |
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24th Dec 2016 2:30pm |
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| OleDave Member Since: 19 Oct 2013 Location: CARDIFF Posts: 175  
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Hi mk1 and thank you very much for your reply, what do you mean or suggest when saying replacing the loom, part of the loom or a section?
Regards Ole Dave |
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24th Dec 2016 3:12pm |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1218  
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Red Bison (I think that's the name) do a plug and play loom available though paddocks. Ed
82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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24th Dec 2016 3:14pm |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1777 
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Whole new loom with relays gets rid of the melted dip/full beam switch and main headlight switch problems.
Also lets you use higher powered bulbs which whilst aren't exactly legal, if they are adjusted properly cause no problems to other road users and I've never had a MOT fail or been pulled in 30+ years of running them. Just a note, with a crystal headlight in daylight you can read what is stamped on a H4 bulb through the lens so if you do try a higher output bulb, do a little fettling with a dremel or similar first! Keith |
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24th Dec 2016 3:47pm |
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| OleDave Member Since: 19 Oct 2013 Location: CARDIFF Posts: 175
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Hi Guys, thanks for the tips, will look at the plug and play loom sako243, Paddoks you say so will have a nip into their site today while the wife is occupied with vacuuming upstairs, I am supposed to be prepping the tea, will have to make some noises which sounds like I am doing it while I search lol.
Ole Dave |
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24th Dec 2016 4:04pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3745
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Hello
LED's seem to be getting better / cheaper all the time and while I have upgraded all my lights now apart from the headlamps to LED I'm still unsure. For one, the price for 'E' marked ones seems to vary from £200 to £600 a huge difference. So for me I did the crystal and better bulbs, Made a huge difference. I also have the loom but will try and fit this in the warmer months... Ok its not like the Xenon lights of my last car but much better.  Click image to enlarge and the loom Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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24th Dec 2016 4:13pm |
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| OleDave Member Since: 19 Oct 2013 Location: CARDIFF Posts: 175
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Hi Stacy007, many thanks for your reply re the headlight upgrade, to be honest I am going around in circles at the moment in my head with it, as you say the prices do vary and the set of LED lights I have considered are £255 for the set E marked.
I watched a bench test and these were very good, the best of 4 types and made halogen look yellow, they were that bright the chap doing the test advised Not to look into them at close range, he did and thought for a while it would mean a vist to A&E. Ok its not a massive amount of money opposed to the crystal lens which are only £70 but if I buy those and do not get much of an improvement I am £70 down and still unhappy, I am really looking for a big improvement but also to stay within the UK law and MOT requirements, LED has me interested but its something I have to ponder on for a while and gather as much info as possible to convince me its the way to go. I had considered spot lights, but if you look at good quality spotlights they are really expensive and open to being pinched when your back is turned. Many thanks again Marry xmas Ole Dave |
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24th Dec 2016 5:42pm |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1218
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I changed to Wipac clear lenses and Osram? Nightbreaker bulbs, when not caked in mud there is an appreciable difference. I haven't got around to fitting the loom above (same one I have) but hopefully will get a chance in the next few days so can report back as to the difference.
All in its about £70 I think for the lenses, bulbs and loom so a quick simple win. If not enough then you can always think about LED. Personally I'm not a fan of their looks but I've yet to drive / be driven in one with them so remain not yet convinced as to their light output. I don't have an issue with the main / low beam for most of my stuff and to be honest would be more interested in very long distance stuff for foxing or the early morning drives in the Highlands. From everything I've researched long distance stuff wise nothing comes close to HIDs yet. LEDs with decent lenses are coming close but you're still looking at a factor of 10 in price difference at that kind of spec. If I were you change the bulbs, lenses which is extremely fast, then drop in a harness. If that still isn't good enough consider is it low of high beam stuff you want to improve. If the latter then some secondary HIDs are likely to be a far cheaper alternative than LEDs at the moment. Unless you don't want extra lights or its the low light stuff then LED headlights would be the favourable option perhaps. Ed 82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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24th Dec 2016 5:53pm |
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| mk1collector Member Since: 17 Sep 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 6769
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I fitted a loom before I bought my LED lights and according to my multimeter I was only getting (if my memory is correct) around 10/11 volts at the lights before where as when the loom was fitted I got 14v which made the headlights much brighter. This coupled with clear headlights and better bulbs should see a good difference but if your after really good white light I'd get led's but avoid the cheaper ones. Ray
My build thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html |
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24th Dec 2016 5:59pm |
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| Stripygitface Member Since: 16 Sep 2014 Location: Kent Posts: 78 |
I have a set of LED's cost me £225, E Marked, was wary of buying cheap ones, but having bought them my advice would be don't mess about with anything else, they are fantastic, buy the LED's you won't be disappointed
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24th Dec 2016 6:00pm |
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| LR90XS2011 Member Since: 05 Apr 2011 Location: bickenhill Posts: 3639 
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I fitted the Landreiziger loom and nightbreaker bulbs the difference is amazing well worth it and 1 less upgrade that says nick me. DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,
I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy Last edited by LR90XS2011 on 24th Dec 2016 7:26pm. Edited 2 times in total |
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24th Dec 2016 6:05pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20299
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The add on looms will only be of use with Crystals / halogen lights though.
LED's are regulated voltage via a driver. So if you stick to halogen great, worthwhile upgrade. If you had ideas of a later date of going LED in my view it'd be waste of money. But you can do what you like of course. âï¸âï¸God Bless the USA 🇬🇧🇺🇸 âï¸âï¸ |
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24th Dec 2016 6:31pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17351 
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The loom by itself will make a noticeable difference since the standard prehistoric wiring does not deliver full voltage to the lights.
Loom plus crystals makes an even bigger improvement. Even if you go led it is worth fitting the loom. |
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24th Dec 2016 6:41pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20299
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What loom do you have? I assume you have one?
Last time I tested mine at the lights it was IIRC 12.1v or similar. However, some have done this and found voltage as low as 10v! As LED drivers are muktivoltafe in-out regulated to around 12.2v I can't see that I'd have much to gain. However, running halogen with a higher draw and voltage would be a significant improvement. The loom I was most interested in was the Landreiziger, but again costly but seems well made and high quality. Just had a look on their site, seem to have plastic connectors available at the moment but the ceramic version not in stock just at the moment. https://shop.landreiziger.nl/lichtversterk...elais.html âï¸âï¸God Bless the USA 🇬🇧🇺🇸 âï¸âï¸ |
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24th Dec 2016 7:17pm |
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