 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > LED front headlamps - overwhelming choice |
 
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896   
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With LED lights, I would aim to spend £500+. I’m sure the lower priced offerings are getting better, but I wouldn’t look at them for my needs.
I have JW Speaker EVO2 with DRLs on the Td5 and Trucklites on the V8. Neither were cheap but they’re both well made, E marked, and deliver a good light output. The only complaint I have is that I get flashed by other motorists an awful lot with the JW Speaker lights. This is even more of an issue on the continent. However, the Lazer light bar makes light work of any persistent headlight flashers! Charlie 1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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11th Sep 2024 12:33pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20311
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Nolden with pilot light, bang for buck though you won’t beat Crystals with uprated loom and bulbs.
The latter here is a better option if you are in the North or in areas that are regularity below freezing. ⭐️⭐️God Bless the USA 🇬🇧🇺🇸 ⭐️⭐️ |
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11th Sep 2024 1:35pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3745
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Interestingly I have Crystals with upgraded bulbs currently (never fitted the loom, I have it somewhere...)
It does and I know its not often concern me that snow / ice will not met off the LED ones the same? The rest of the car is LED so assumed it would be an upgrade. If I find the loom (Bloomsburg?) will it add that much difference? Thanks |
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11th Sep 2024 1:50pm |
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| jim4244 Member Since: 13 Apr 2014 Location: Bedfordshire Posts: 773  
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Hi
Get a pair of these: https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/products/...sion-9-32v The beam pattern matches the traditional halogen bulbs and no mention was made of the lights or bulbs at MOT time. Jim |
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11th Sep 2024 1:58pm |
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| Mike c Member Since: 11 Aug 2017 Location: Maldon, Essex Posts: 928 
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Standard halogens are fine if in good condition and are cheap to maintain or replace if needed.
I am probably in the minority, but i really do not get this LED super bright fascination of recent years, considering the cost of them and that money could be better spent on more important things on the Defender, maybe it's just me  2004 Defender 90 Td5 CSW
2002 Discovery 2 td5 GS (gone) 1994 Defender 90 300Tdi CSW (gone) Last edited by Mike c on 11th Sep 2024 4:44pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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11th Sep 2024 4:34pm |
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| MarkBrown Member Since: 03 Oct 2022 Location: Mid Wales Posts: 455  
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I fitted the clear crystal ones and they’re fine, if not better than some of our newer cars. I did fit some mini spot lights but rarely use them as I don’t often travel on dark, empty, traffic free roads at three in the morning.
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11th Sep 2024 4:39pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17359 
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The only issue with the LED bulb conversion is that these are now a specific MoT test item and will fail. If they don't fail it is only because the tester has failed to apply the test properly, so it's a bit of a gamble. There is of course no reason why you couldn't refit halogens for the test.
I used to run a pair of LED bulbs in Wipac Crystal units before the MoT manual changed and they were far and away the best headlights I've ever had, better than the JWS LED units I changed to. |
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11th Sep 2024 4:44pm |
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| bear100 Member Since: 22 Mar 2010 Location: South Wales Posts: 1913 
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Had JW speakers for 9 years but one packed in so had a cheap £50 pair as a temporary measure for the MOT. To be fair they worked pretty well but not a patch on the Speakers!
Bought a new set of the Speaker EVO 2 DRL version ready for the winter last week. Pricey but you get what you pay for 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8 2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI 2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone) 2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone) 1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone) 1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone) 1994 discovery 300tdi (gone) 90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone) Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone) |
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11th Sep 2024 7:29pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20311
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I think to sum it up, the key upgrades are upgrade loom as no1.
There is Boomslang and Land Reiziger, the latter here I have. Or you can make your own. Then there is Wipac Crystal and upgrade H4 bulbs, the above is also important for peak performance due to voltage. The Crystals are a better option in freezing temps in cold countries. The other most popular choices are JW Speaker and Nolden (what I have) perhaps a few others, but output will be lesser. They do have some ambient warmth when in use but is definitely not instant, in most cases isn’t an issue it never has been to me. The upgrade looms are a good idea full stop and are compatible with everything, they will reduce the load through the switch massively and in turn increasing reliability as the contacts can burn out over time leading to headlight failure. Cheap LED units can be known to have moisture issues, fogging up etc and that’s a big problem. I’ve not had any issues like that plus some cheaper offerings are probably not E marked which JW and Nolden. When not E marked they have been tested to meet road legal specs for performance and safety. I’d be quite happy with DOT regs, but that isn’t compliant across plus they are often LHD beam. Sadly. ⭐️⭐️God Bless the USA 🇬🇧🇺🇸 ⭐️⭐️ |
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11th Sep 2024 7:53pm |
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| Puma_MOG Member Since: 08 Sep 2017 Location: Cheshire Posts: 184 
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Very timely thread as I plan to do an upgrade soon and going with what Custom90 has suggested.
However, I think Land Reiziger is no longer trading, or? Kicking myself for not getting that wiring loom sooner! |
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12th Sep 2024 5:02am |
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| Ads90 Member Since: 16 Jun 2008 Location: Cots-on-the-Wolds Posts: 809 
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There’s a new LED 7” headlight from Holley, not too expensive and looks very much like the original headlight (which I like), don’t know if it’s any good as I’ve not seen a comparison test, but I’m on the lookout.
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12th Sep 2024 6:55am |
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| hank Member Since: 12 Sep 2016 Location: South Wales Posts: 2296
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Personally I wouldn't (and haven't) bother upgrading the loom if you are going LED. Current draw is so low with LED compared with traditional style bulbs > 110 XS Double Cab
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12th Sep 2024 8:54am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20311
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LED is a lot lot lower current draw yes, but the loom where the only load is the relay coil is far lower again no more than 300mA or 0.3A.
LED is a couple of amps approx 2 to 3.8A, halogen standard incandescent more again. The loom upgrade is compatible with all options. ⭐️⭐️God Bless the USA 🇬🇧🇺🇸 ⭐️⭐️ |
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12th Sep 2024 10:18am |
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| MK Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: Santiago Posts: 2414  
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halogen lives matter  Puma 110" SW
............................................................. Earth first. Other planets later |
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12th Sep 2024 12:01pm |
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