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oop north



Member Since: 23 Mar 2016
Location: Preston-ish
Posts: 59

United Kingdom 
Headlights
How bad are the premium led lights? Looking at a car and won’t have chance to drive before having to decide. I would normally try to get matrix but that restricts choice even more - and I have seen on here that the defender matrix aren’t so good anyway. But I do like a good headlight - live in the countryside so not having good lights would be poor.
Post #986429 22nd Mar 2023 6:39pm
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Buz1500



Member Since: 07 Jul 2020
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 150

United Kingdom 
I have the Premium leds and they aren’t great. I’ve just purchased a Lazer light bar to fit into the lower grill to improve things. 2019 Range Rover SDV8 Autobiography
2023 Defender 110 P400e X-Dynamic HSE - gone
2020 Defender P300 SE - gone

2019 Jaguar F-Pace SVR - gone
2013 SDV8 Autobiography - gone
2011 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE - gone
2006 L322 3.6 Vogue Se - gone
1999 P38 4.0 se - gone
199? Classic 3.5 - gone
Post #986432 22nd Mar 2023 7:05pm
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oop north



Member Since: 23 Mar 2016
Location: Preston-ish
Posts: 59

United Kingdom 
Thanks. Might be worth trying to get matrix then - though some on here aren’t impressed with them
Post #986435 22nd Mar 2023 7:24pm
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lightning



Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2825

United Kingdom 
Do you mean the standard headlights? I've got no upgrades on my D250 and the standard lights are fine.

l've had better, but they are certainly adequate.
Post #986439 22nd Mar 2023 7:52pm
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J77



Member Since: 04 Nov 2019
Location: Fife
Posts: 3403

Scotland 
No complaints with the ones on my previous 90, done the job. 24MY 90 D250 HSE, Tasman Blue
Post #986454 22nd Mar 2023 9:35pm
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Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1395

Ukraine 
I'd get the premium lights and add Lazer. I have matrix and they aren't worth the money, particularly if you've experienced the Volvo matrix lights.
Post #986457 22nd Mar 2023 10:26pm
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oop north



Member Since: 23 Mar 2016
Location: Preston-ish
Posts: 59

United Kingdom 
Not sure what you mean by “lazer”? Is that an aftermarket extra / accessory?

My wife’s Volvo c40 has matrix lights, and my 2017 xc90 has matrix. Neither is as good as the matrix on my ipace…
Post #986458 22nd Mar 2023 10:33pm
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Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1395

Ukraine 
https://www.lazerlamps.com/land-rover-defe...it-g2.html

I had Matrix on my 2020 XC90 and they were very good and are leagues ahead of my MY 2023 Defender.
Post #986461 22nd Mar 2023 11:05pm
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Nuclear Nick



Member Since: 21 Aug 2021
Location: Southwest
Posts: 284

United Kingdom 
I find the matrix lights more than adequate. Yes, there will be others that may be better, and if experienced before a Defender then it might cause the impression that the Defender’s lights are inadequate. But in reality do we always need to light up the next county?
Post #986476 23rd Mar 2023 8:41am
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Telemarkskier



Member Since: 20 Jul 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 126

United Kingdom 
Buz1500 wrote:
I have the Premium leds and they aren’t great. I’ve just purchased a Lazer light bar to fit into the lower grill to improve things.


That's just what I did.
Unfortunately the lazer light bar I had fitted partially obscured the front camera view so lost the through the bonnet view. That's because the 1250 lightbar won't recess far enough into the grill and I didn't want a roof mounted bar either. I understand the newer lightbars are less deep.
The other factor to think about is where you are going to drive as some euro countries don't allow single light bars for on road driving, they have to be in pairs. in Switzerland a single bar needs to be covered even when not being used.
Powerful Uk are developing a CAN Bus reader so their lightbar will work with the headlight set to auto high beam. I was too tight to pay out for a CAN Bus interface so just change manually from full to dip for the lightbar as the way its wired at the moment the unit does not pick up the high beam signal from the headlight. 2020 Defender 110 SE 240D: Fuji White.
2011 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE
2007 Freelander2 HSE (man)
Post #986480 23rd Mar 2023 10:03am
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Garndefender



Member Since: 12 Apr 2023
Location: Llyn Peninsula
Posts: 2

 2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Indus Silver
Before we had our Defender and after Harry’s garage mentioned he was dissatisfied with the headlights, I did worry if they would be up to the job.
We live in very rural North West Wales and our last car, an Audi Q3 had fantastic, smart LED,s the ones that stay on high beam and adjust the beam accordingly. These are just about adequate, disappointing yes but not that bad. Auto high beam takes its time too.
Post #988814 13th Apr 2023 7:21am
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chrispuk



Member Since: 22 Nov 2021
Location: Wirral
Posts: 13

United Kingdom 
Matrix seem good to me
Paid extra for Matrix as aware of reservations about the other systems offered. I do a lot of night driving on all types of roads and Matrix (adaptive driving beam system) seems perfectly good - actually quite clever to me. More than happy with it. Haven’t experienced other Matrix systems though.
Post #988816 13th Apr 2023 7:45am
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Intercooler



Member Since: 04 Jan 2022
Location: Schwabenland
Posts: 27

Germany 
I also have the Matrix light with AutoBeam and I am very, very happy with it regarding light performance and adaptive, intelligent use of the HighBeam.
However, I must also say that I previously drove a Mercedes G-Wagon (MJ2015) with normal xenon light. Wink

Cool To finish first, you first have to finish!
Post #988906 14th Apr 2023 9:18am
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mbso



Member Since: 01 Sep 2021
Location: Genoa
Posts: 99

Italy 
Hi 👋 guys
I also have the matrix headlights with Autobeam and I find them wonderful !!

Thumbs Up DISCOVERY 4 2013
VOLVO XC90 2017
MY23.5 110 D250 SE in Santorini Black
Post #989025 14th Apr 2023 9:59pm
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