 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > New 110 ordered... How to best upgrade lights? |
 
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| RouseyD Member Since: 12 Jan 2014 Location: Southampton Posts: 24   
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Hello everyone,
I've ordered a new 110 which is due to arrive mid-march. My other vehicle has bi-xenon 'intelligent' lights which are fantastic. I'd like to get as close to this quality of lighting as practical on the Defender. Having searched the forum, it seems JW Speaker headlights are what most folk recommend - so this is top of my list right now, but am I missing anything else? I asked the dealer whether the OEM Front Lighting Pack with headlight levelling (http://accessories.landrover.com/gb/en/def...levelling/) is a cosmetic upgrade, or consists of better lighting equipment and bulbs - he wasn't sure so I'm waiting for his response. Does anyone here know about the answer to this one? Dave |
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22nd Jan 2014 4:25pm |
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| Go Beyond Member Since: 30 Jan 2012 Location: Headcorn, Kent Posts: 6678
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Hi, welcome to the forum.
The pack you've hilighted was originally fitted to the SVX Defender. It consists of a headlight and 'spotlight' combination which from experience, we have a vehicle here fitted with it and a new one on order, is certainly better than the standard factory fit item. The cosmetic 'look' is not to everyones taste though The Speaker LED headlights are also a very effective upgrade. |
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22nd Jan 2014 4:40pm |
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| Go Beyond Member Since: 30 Jan 2012 Location: Headcorn, Kent Posts: 6678
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Oooh, tricky question ...
As a 'trader' we sell a lot more of the Speaker LED headlights than the SVX upgrades - and sometimes Speaker headlights in place of the factory lights in the SVX grills. However, personally, I think the SVX lights look great and I find the performance more than adequate. I do have Speakers fitted to my 130 demonstrator (so have 'real life' experience) and although a very 'white' light they do (as is the nature of LED's) have a very concise 'cut off' on the beam which is a little 'marmite' I'm sure there are HID options but I have no experience of them |
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22nd Jan 2014 4:54pm |
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| rtm89 Member Since: 14 May 2013 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 255 
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I must admit to being disappointed by the speaker lights.
They are great on low beam but the high beam I wasn't as impressed with. They do get plenty of condensation in them as well. They are great but at £1k a pair I would just rather spend the money elsewhere. The svx set up I like and to be fair crystal bowls with a good bulb and upgrading the bezels to stainless while you're in is a good budget set up. Each to their own though |
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22nd Jan 2014 4:55pm |
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| Go Beyond Member Since: 30 Jan 2012 Location: Headcorn, Kent Posts: 6678
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I agree with rtm as to the high beam but dispute that the SVX set up could be described as 'budget'
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22nd Jan 2014 4:56pm |
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| Macpaul Member Since: 25 Mar 2013 Location: SW Surrey Posts: 439 
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I too agree with rtm.
I've just fitted Speakers and the difference between dipped beam and main is not much. Can't comment on SVX. They also flicker when switched on without the engine running, due apparently to Land Rover loom voltage drop between the battery and the lamps. This can be fixed with a dedicated circuit though. Mine were a much better price from Tim at Mobilecentre than the one quoted, and they are better than crystals but probably not enough to justify the price. I am keeping them though.. 2003 Td5 110 Hardtop Now a 2013 110 USW too. |
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22nd Jan 2014 5:03pm |
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| Welshsurferdude Member Since: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Newport Posts: 2398 
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Have an look at the trucklite ones, they are an bit cheaper! 2008 Santorini Black 110 XS USW (Sold)
2015 Discovery 4.5 Black pack Firenze red XS 2008 Corris Grey 110 XS USW (sold) 2011 Santorini Black 110 XS USW (Sold) |
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22nd Jan 2014 5:10pm |
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| RouseyD Member Since: 12 Jan 2014 Location: Southampton Posts: 24
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Thanks everyone for your replies so far
It seems like it's not a clear-cut conclusion: Not much difference in lighting Bit of a difference in price (SVX fitted by dealer is, I think, more expensive than Speaker upgrades) One thing that I should make clear is that I don't plan on off-roading, and I'm only on poorly-lit roads perhaps 20% of the time, so the 'normal' beam is more important to me than high-beam. Also, I'm looking at this from a safety/convenience perspective as opposed to aesthetics of the vehicle. The LR dealer advised that any accessories I spec before delivery will have the same 3 year warranty as the vehicle. Given this, and that there is not a significant difference between the two light options, I'm beginning to lean towards the SVX setup, though I will need to see one in the flesh before handing over the credit card! All views welcome! Cheers, Dave |
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22nd Jan 2014 5:12pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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We have both Speaker 8700 lights fitted to our black 110 plus Lazer Lamp LED light bars.
On our white 90 we just have the Nolden LED lights fitted with no other lights fitted. On our red 110 we have standard LR 'candles' fitted plus Lightforce lights. These three vehicles are our daily drives. In our opinion the best headlight are the Noldens. Look at the manufacturer light output figures. Speaker 8700 Raw Lumens: 1,350 (Both Low & High Beams) Effective Lumens: 650 (Low Beam), 760 (High Beam) Noldens 7" Raw Lumens (low beam/high beam) 1880/2400 Measured Output (low beam/high beam) 1550/1700 Put another way the Noldens are the brightest Ingress Protection Rating Speaker 8700 IP67 Noldens 7" IP6K9K The Noldens have a higher IP rating and can withstand jet washing Yes we are 'traders' and forum sponsors and can supply a range o aftermarket lights but we also use the gear we sell and we know which ones we prefer. There are other cheaper options ranging from upgraded wiring loom, upgraded bulbs to additional driving lights Brendan PS Welcome to the forum |
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22nd Jan 2014 5:19pm |
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| RouseyD Member Since: 12 Jan 2014 Location: Southampton Posts: 24
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Brendan, that's great info, thanks - I'd not come across the Noldens in my forum searches.
How difficult is it to fit these? And how do they compare cost -wise? I am slightly reluctant to start taking apart a new truck (I know one end of a spanner to use, but I am by no means anything more than an enthusiastic amateur at this sort of thing) - how Presumably upgrading the wiring loom AND fitting upgraded Nolden/Speakers (etc) would be the best solution? Cheers, Dave |
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22nd Jan 2014 5:31pm |
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| Go Beyond Member Since: 30 Jan 2012 Location: Headcorn, Kent Posts: 6678
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You don't need to upgrade the wiring, the LED lights draw minimal current and the flickering is easily solved (drop me a PM if you go the LED route and I'll explain how)
Installation is really easy, only a posi screw driver is required. |
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22nd Jan 2014 6:04pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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Changing a standard LR candle for a LED headlights is a simple matter of 10 screws.
Unplug old unit plug in new put back 10 screws. As long as you do not touch the adjusting screw it is straight forward, allow about 10-15 minutes per side. Price? Basically there are 4 main LED headlights in the UK and price per pair 1) Trucklites £600 2) JWSpeaker £800-850 3) Nolden 7" £925-965 4) Terrafirma £1,300 Trucklite and Terrafirma I have no personal experience of. Trucklite light output? I believe raw lumen output is 1,300 lumens Terrafirma? I can not readily find a figure for the light output?? The wiring loom upgrade is really for standard lights as there is a voltage drop in the loom. Going down the LED headlights there should be no need for it. LED headlights flickering? Not experienced it yet with the Noldens. Brendan |
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22nd Jan 2014 6:30pm |
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| RouseyD Member Since: 12 Jan 2014 Location: Southampton Posts: 24
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Everyone - thanks very much, this has been educational and really helpful. I'm glad I asked rather than lurking on the forum and continuing trying to piece together info from the various threads.
I have to say, the best part of a grand for headlights is going to stick in the throat a bit (but equally, the bi-xenon upgrade on my other vehicle will have cost the same if not more). So say I go for Nolden headlights, it feels like the truck might look a bit unbalanced, with mega-bright headlights and weedy indicators, rear lights etc. What is the wisdom on upgrading these to keep everything broadly consistent? |
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22nd Jan 2014 7:26pm |
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| mk1collector Member Since: 17 Sep 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 6769  
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Bolt on bits do a full set of led lights for a reasonable price, that look the same as the originals but are a lot brighter so match the led headlights.
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22nd Jan 2014 8:15pm |
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