 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > Led Vs wipac crystal halogen |
 
|
|
|
| kenzle8a Member Since: 12 Feb 2020 Location: None Posts: 1074  
|
Wipacs with halogens are an improvement, but not a great one.
A decent set of led lights like truck lights are amazing. |
||
29th Jun 2023 9:13pm |
|
| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17443  
|
This is another of those questions which will produce polarised responses. I can honestly say that the best overall headlight experience I have yet had on my Defender was with Wipac crystal light units and top-quality LED "bulbs". They gave an excellent, full, even, and uniform light pattern on both dip and main beam, didn't dazzle oncoming traffic, and had no problems whatsoever passing the MoT test beam alignment check.
I removed them when the MoT test rules changed to make them a specific test failure item (although ironically my tester didn't know that they should have failed until I inadvertently told him) and replaced them with top-quality Nolden LED units. These produce an excellent dip beam but the main beam is much less uniform in light density than the previous crystal/LED combination were and has patches within the illuminated area which are significantly dimmer than than the rest. The beam also does not seem to project as far ahead as the crystal/LED lights did on either dip or main beams. That being said, the Noldens are leagues ahead of the original factory-fitted lights. The appearance of the Noldens, and indeed most other LED headlamp units, is very "Marmite", and personally I did prefer the classic appearance of the crystal/LED lights. I should also perhaps point out that before the LED bulbs I ran Wipac crystals with fancy H4 bulbs (which in my opinion were not worth the money since the improvement over normal H4s was marginal at best) and that my headlights are wired straight off the battery via relays and use ridiculously over-specified cable (10mm^2 CSA) so that there is negligible voltage drop at the lights. I think the deciding factor now is whether you are happy to drive a vehicle which is legally defective or not, bearing in mind that - however unlikely - at any time you could end up in a spot of bother for having LED bulbs fitted in H4 units and a type-approved vehicle. |
||
|
29th Jun 2023 10:36pm |
|
| edward Member Since: 08 Jan 2023 Location: Lincs Posts: 151
|
Thanks both for the replies.
I honestly prefer the look of the crystals - which is why I’m torn…but I do want to keep it legal. I’ll Just have to keep hunting for the best looking (not crazily expensive!) LED units I guess! |
||
|
30th Jun 2023 6:24am |
|
| Mdm Member Since: 11 Sep 2013 Location: Sunny Lancashire Posts: 1623
|
we used crystals with a boomslang loom and better bulbs for many years.
then moved to led headlights and have never looked back, even the mid price allmakes and beamach ones are a good improvement. |
||
|
30th Jun 2023 6:46am |
|
| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4216 
|
I’ve got Trucklite LED units and don’t rate them at all in terms of performance. I like the look of them and that’s about it. The crystals with Osram bulbs and relay loom were better as a functional headlight. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
|
||
|
30th Jun 2023 7:46am |
|
| kenzle8a Member Since: 12 Feb 2020 Location: None Posts: 1074
|
I've had the same combinations ^
The truck lites were IMO the best 'legal' set up out of the three, they took a lot of adjustment to get them in the right spot. They do have an odd beam pattern though. The crystals with decent bulbs and the Landrigizer loom were 10% better than OEM. The Crystals with the classic car LED H7's were the best combination out, just sadly not legal on anything post 1985. |
||
|
30th Jun 2023 8:18am |
|
| MarkBrown Member Since: 03 Oct 2022 Location: Mid Wales Posts: 475  
|
I fitted the crystal lenses to mine, mainly because I like the traditional style of them, which suited the style of my rebuild. They're fitted with the standard 60/55 halogen bulbs and were much better than the standard lens of originals.
I did also fit some led driving lamps, but although they were good, I took them off as the white light they give off is too much of a contrast to the more yellow light the halogen bulbs give off. I managed to find some classic style, halogen bulbed, stainless steel driving lamps intended for a mini, which gives me all the light I want. I've not driven a car with led headlights, but image the light they emit would be impressive, but presumably would dazzle other drivers, some car lights are just too bright! |
||
|
30th Jun 2023 9:11pm |
|
| kenzle8a Member Since: 12 Feb 2020 Location: None Posts: 1074
|
In the crystals my beam was identical to the halogen ones, I never had a flash. They can’t be that bad as even The Germans have made them legal.
I can safely say they are far better in terms of dazzle than some oem items like on the new minis |
||
|
30th Jun 2023 10:34pm |
|
|
|
| All times are GMT |
< Previous Topic | Next Topic > |
Posting Rules
|
Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
