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nosnibod



Member Since: 15 Aug 2007
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 370
United Kingdom 1998 Defender 110 300 Tdi SW Bronze Green
J W Speaker LED Headlights - first experiences
After a couple of years of beating around the bush I finally decided to break open the piggy bank and order some J W Speaker 8700 headlights from Tim at Mobilecentre.

I had been running +120% bulbs in the standard Wipac Quadoptic lamps for the last couple of years and whilst the +120% bulbs were pretty good, it was a recent drive in an absolutely standard 2001 Freelander that made realise how poor my 110's lights were. The Freelanders lights were massively better than the Defenders and it was a bit of a wake-up call.

The lights arrived very quickly and with a nice Forum discount (thanks again Tim) and within minutes of them arriving, I had swapped them over. I ordered some stainless steel bezels as well, and just had to swap the clips over and screw it all back together.

Before starting I had marked the garage door with the existing alignment (which I knew to be good) to give me a starting reference.

So, how good are they?

Quite Simply Astonishing

Dipped beam is particularly good, with a very sharp beam upper cutoff. In fact it enabled me to adjust the lights upwards quite a bit without dazzling ongoing drivers. The acid test for me is a stretch of country road that locals use as a short-cut. Normally with oncoming vehicles I can't see much at all, however with the new lights they penetrate far better, allowing a much better 'feel' of road position.

Main beam isn't so dramatic, simply because dipped beam is so good, but still a lot better than standard. The beam is very focussed even with a defined upper cutoff that feels a little strange at the moment but I'm sure this is because I'm used to the standard lights spilling light where it isn't actually needed - upwards.

So, after a couple of years of should I/shouldn't I pondering I'm definitely in the "I should have done it ages ago" camp. Dave
Green Goddess - 1998 Defender 110 300tdi
Post #183287 8th Nov 2012 8:31pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10382
United Kingdom 
Thanks for the effort of sharing your info Thumbs Up
Post #183295 8th Nov 2012 8:48pm
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ZeDefender



Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: Munich
Posts: 4731
Germany 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Baltic Blue
Mine should arrive early next week Mr. Green Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing...
Post #183298 8th Nov 2012 8:51pm
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big steve



Member Since: 24 Dec 2009
Location: hertfordshire
Posts: 2456
United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Montalcino Red
Mine are fitted just got to try them Smile 2015 2.2 tdci hardtop xs
3.2 conversion DONE 238bhp and 707nm torque and thats just the start ;-P
hybrid turbo in build -done ready to fit
ashcroft atb in transfer box
6 speed auto in build
Post #183300 8th Nov 2012 8:54pm
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ken



Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328
United Kingdom 
This really is great news after a few years of people saying they are too expensive quite a few have literally seen the light.

I have stated many times that Tim at the MCL is a great chap and knows his stuff he provides info and quality kit, he's helped me spend many times Rolling with laughter
Post #183313 8th Nov 2012 9:19pm
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nosnibod



Member Since: 15 Aug 2007
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 370
United Kingdom 1998 Defender 110 300 Tdi SW Bronze Green
Yeah Tim even includes a nice little brochure with the lights, detailing all the other goodies you can, er, ponder Whistle Dave
Green Goddess - 1998 Defender 110 300tdi
Post #183325 8th Nov 2012 9:42pm
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adafish



Member Since: 30 Mar 2009
Location: atherstone
Posts: 1384
United Kingdom 1984 Defender 110 300 Tdi DCPU Stornoway Grey
nosnibod wrote:
Yeah Tim even includes a nice little brochure with the lights, detailing all the other goodies you can, er, ponder Whistle
......plenty of them down unit !....which ones you get ?..have the EVO 8700 fitted to mine chrome editions.. Putting Dreams on Drives at JLR Solihull..
Post #183353 8th Nov 2012 11:48pm
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nosnibod



Member Since: 15 Aug 2007
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 370
United Kingdom 1998 Defender 110 300 Tdi SW Bronze Green
I got the 8700s in black, without the sidelight. Didn't want the chrome version because I thought it might draw unwanted attention to them Whistle Dave
Green Goddess - 1998 Defender 110 300tdi
Post #183362 9th Nov 2012 6:07am
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ClaireWright



Member Since: 12 Oct 2012
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 609
United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Keswick Green
Love mine...indeed excellent product :-)
Post #183472 9th Nov 2012 3:33pm
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pjh



Member Since: 22 Nov 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 126
United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
We agree. Really pleased with all of Tim's products - full LED lights and DRL side lights.

So much better than the original lights.

Peter Defender 11MY USW
Post #183636 9th Nov 2012 10:14pm
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mcma1



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 2893
Should have mine on Monday, looking forward to getting then on. Very Happy
Post #183893 10th Nov 2012 10:37pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581
United Kingdom 
Just remember to protect them!


Brendan
Post #183903 10th Nov 2012 11:03pm
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610
United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Thumbs Up


Click image to enlarge 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!!
Post #183908 10th Nov 2012 11:14pm
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Honker



Member Since: 26 Jun 2011
Location: St Albans
Posts: 353
 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
leeds wrote:
Just remember to protect them!


Brendan



Click image to enlarge

Thumbs Up thanks Brendan.

Stu

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green
Post #183918 11th Nov 2012 6:41am
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ZeDefender



Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: Munich
Posts: 4731
Germany 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Baltic Blue
Do you reckon the original LR guards will be sufficient using rivnuts and security screws?

I guess you can get through any guard with a bolt cutter...

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing...
Post #183988 11th Nov 2012 12:25pm
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