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scotty38

Member Since: 21 May 2011
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 571

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Aintree Green

LED headlights and driving lamps

I've just bought another Defender and it came fitted with LEDs but the main beam seems very poor. There's a bit more height in the beam to the sides but distance doesn't seem to change at all. It passed its MOT the day before I bought it so I am making the assumption they're set up fine.
I don't know what make they are and would probably need to take them out to see but I am considering adding 2 x Lazer ST4 but wondered what the general consensus is on LED main beam before I start....

27th Jul 2021 11:17am

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey

Had my LED's for a while (Trucklights). I would say overall they are marginally better tan "normal" headlights with upgrade bulbs (Osram nightbreaker for instance) and a harness upgrade.
In some conditions (like falling snow) LED's are IMHO not as good as a decent setup as described above.
Make sure any LED lights have relevant markings to be road legal... Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

27th Jul 2021 11:21am

scotty38

Member Since: 21 May 2011
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 571

Thanks for the info, appreciated. I took mine out about 10:30 last night to test and on main beam, other than illuminating the hedgerow a bit more they seemed to add nothing much at all in front, is this normal or do I need to sort my headlights before thinking about adding additional lights?

27th Jul 2021 11:32am

L90Andy

Member Since: 29 May 2014
Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon
Posts: 717

Similar experience to when I had Noldens, nice and crisp on dip, but not that much more light thrown forward when on main. Ended up adding a 20" lightbar which solved everything, but a shame they hadn't lived up to the hype.
Now got another Defender, this time its got Trucklite's, but its not mobile enough to have left the garage for a drive yet so can't comment on those! Instagram: l90andy

2006 Land Rover 90 TD5 CSW Silver Edition

My 1984 Ninety: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56071.html - SOLD!
My 2015 Defender: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39625.html - SOLD!

27th Jul 2021 11:35am

scotty38

Member Since: 21 May 2011
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 571

Thanks, seems to mirror what I've seen (or not) so far.....

27th Jul 2021 11:46am

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4206

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

I’ve got Trucklites and they are OK, but I think a lot of what you initially think is better light is actually just a lot whiter with a sharper cut off. I don’t think they actually throw light much further than properly sorted halogens. I find coming off high beam back to dipped beam feels like you’ve just switched the lights off completely. I’m convinced the whiter light is less eye friendly than halogen. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

27th Jul 2021 12:29pm

scotty38

Member Since: 21 May 2011
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 571

Thanks for that but the most noticeable thing for me is going from dipped to main beam and the thought "what changed?" Once you look you can see up the hedgerow a bit higher but just looking forwards changes nothing, well very little....

27th Jul 2021 12:35pm

milesr3

Member Since: 12 Feb 2013
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 873

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Keswick Green

I've got JW Speaker and the main beam is additional to the dipped beam and is pretty good - filling in the distance and providing some extra width.

27th Jul 2021 12:50pm

scotty38

Member Since: 21 May 2011
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 571

Thanks Miles that's good to know too.

27th Jul 2021 2:24pm

Linds Hanson

Member Since: 16 Jan 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 485

You can run dip and main togeather when switched to main beam with LEDs which gives more output

27th Jul 2021 5:22pm

milesr3

Member Since: 12 Feb 2013
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 873

I’ve run Wipac crystals before with Philips bulbs and JW Speaker Evos are better. TBH I find the sharp cutoff of the dipped beam quite limited in their ability to illuminate the road. Full beam is totally different, reaching far into the distance and giving much greater illumination with all LED elements operating.

27th Jul 2021 6:53pm

mcma1

Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 2892

When the JW speakers get dirty the light spread is shocking. A few additional main beam spots/small lazer linears is a great mod

Andy

2014 Fuji 110 SW LS3
https://www.defender2.net/forum/post751233.html#751233

2014 Corris 110 SW
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40056.html

My old Xtech 90 build..
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic15681.html

LS3 V8 build...
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic49051.html

27th Jul 2021 8:03pm

BogMonster

Member Since: 05 Feb 2008
Location: Stanley
Posts: 400

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey

I decided not to bother with them, put some Ring Xenonmax upgrade bulbs in which made a hell of a difference (and still legal) and have some Wipac crystals on order which are a fraction of the price and will hopefully give a further improvement though realistically the lights are now good as they are. ---
2006 Defender 110 SW 300Tdi • 2011 Ford Ranger XLT crewcab • 2015 Defender 110 Station Wagon Utility TDCi

28th Jul 2021 12:41am

scotty38

Member Since: 21 May 2011
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 571

Linds Hanson wrote:
You can run dip and main togeather when switched to main beam with LEDs which gives more output

Well quite and that's what happens with mine but it doesn't fix anything, as I say the change is barely noticeable.

28th Jul 2021 8:22am

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

BogMonster wrote:
I decided not to bother with them, put some Ring Xenonmax upgrade bulbs in which made a hell of a difference (and still legal) and have some Wipac crystals on order which are a fraction of the price and will hopefully give a further improvement though realistically the lights are now good as they are.

^^ my experience. Standard lights, but with bulb (legal as you say, altho I used Osram Nightbreakers or Philips Extreme) upgrade, and maybe a boomslang loom. It's a great setup, and in most conditions just as good as LED.

I also have some PIAA spotlights for full beam which work great with "standard" bulbs...the light seems yellowish by comparison, but makes a great setup for long drives in Northern Scotland on dark nights

Or for blinding the "front fog brigade" in daylight

Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

28th Jul 2021 12:17pm

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