2003 mark1 TD4 Automatic. Round Headlights

Am I right that somebody used to sell Stickers which you stuck to the headlights converting them into Round Lights or was it wishful thinking. I have always thought the Mark 1 Freelander would look much better with round Headlights like the Defender.

Yes I've seen them. However I'd not use them if I wanted to drive at night, as the pre-facelift lights are pants, without blocking ½ of the little light that's available. I suspect covering ½ the lights will also fail the MOT.

Hi Nodge,
Thankfully my Freelander went through the MOT last week without me having to spend a penny on it and as for the Headlights, yes I agree with what you said about blocking off part of the lights but I do think the mark1 Freelander would look better with Round lights. Come on, does anyone have any thoughts, would Jeep Cherokee lights fit with some bodywork?

Nodge68 said:

Yes I've seen them. However I'd not use them if I wanted to drive at night, as the pre-facelift lights are pants, without blocking ½ of the little light that's available. I suspect covering ½ the lights will also fail the MOT.

Click to expand...

I agree with not blocking the lights, but the standard headlights are not anywhere near as bad as you are making out. More BS as usual it would seem....

mudinuri said:

Hi Nodge,
Thankfully my Freelander went through the MOT last week without me having to spend a penny on it and as for the Headlights, yes I agree with what you said about blocking off part of the lights but I do think the mark1 Freelander would look better with Round lights. Come on, does anyone have any thoughts, would Jeep Cherokee lights fit with some bodywork?

Click to expand...

Personally don't think it would look better at all. Not that you can see the front when driving anyhow. If you want round lights, buy a different vehicle maybe?

Wow, thanks 300bhp/ton what a great reply, maybe you think the series Defenders would look better without round headlights. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think Landzone is all about voicing an opinion good or bad and just remind me which part of my thread did I mention the Freelander Headlights were Bad??? what I actually said was would prefer mine with Round Headlights like series Defenders.

mudinuri said:

Wow, thanks 300bhp/ton what a great reply, maybe you think the series Defenders would look better without round headlights. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click to expand...

They already have round headlights.... ???

mudinuri said:

I think Landzone is all about voicing an opinion

Click to expand...

That great, as that is what I did buy saying "personally..."

mudinuri said:

just remind me which part of my thread did I mention the Freelander Headlights were Bad???

Click to expand...

eh? Noge68 said they where bad, hence why I quoted them and not you

300bhp/ton said:

I agree with not blocking the lights, but the standard headlights are not anywhere near as bad as you are making out. More BS as usual it would seem....

Click to expand...

Personally I find the standard 472 halogen headlamps fitted to the pre-facelift not good by modern standards. A 472 halogen bulb has an output of just 1350 lumens, which is low. The poor pre-facelift lighting been mentioned on here loads of times, and I agree that my experience shows they're not good. So putting decorative covers over the lamps would only make poor headlamps worse IMO.
LR knew this, so made facelift headlamps 50% brighter on dip, and over twice as bright on main beams. However the dip beam still fall short compared to modern vehicles with xenon or LED lamps, which is where the problem comes when a so equipped vehicle is coming the other way.

Back to ignoring you again.

Nodge68 said:

Personally I find the standard 472 halogen headlamps fitted to the pre-facelift not good by modern standards. A 472 halogen bulb has an output of just 1350 lumens, which is low. The poor pre-facelift lighting been mentioned on here loads of times, and I agree that my experience shows they're not good. So putting decorative covers over the lamps would only make poor headlamps worse IMO.
LR knew this, so made facelift headlamps 50% brighter on dip, and over twice as bright on main beams. However the dip beam still fall short compared to modern vehicles with xenon or LED lamps, which is where the problem comes when a so equipped vehicle is coming the other way.

Back to ignoring you again.

Click to expand...

I said I agree about covers. But twice the output doesn't mean twice the illumination. That just isn't how light works.

I have very good LED lights on one of my vehicles. But the Freelander lights are more than adequate to see where you are going at night. I've certainly driven plenty of other cars with far worse headlights. And of course you can alway do a bulb upgrade on the original lamps for more output too.

Okay thank you all for your comments and goodnight.

mudinuri said:

Okay thank you all for your comments and goodnight.

Click to expand...

If you wanted to experiment, try cutting out some cardboard and sticking it over the lens. If it works, then some vinyl in the colour of your choosing could be used. But I'd think you'd struggle to get a good beam pattern for dip & mainbeam. And of course we are now heading into the darker part of the year.

Lights have lots of regulations and legislation behind them. I'd suspect if you where involved in an RTA or RTI then you would be putting yourself at additional risk of prosecution.

As said above, I personally don't think round headlights would particularly suit the Freelander 1 anyway. Unlike the Defender which has a flat large panel with the lights placed on it. The Freelander's headlights form part of the shape and profile of the vehicle.



Most Land Rovers don't have round headlights anyway. It really was only the Series, Defender and RRC.

Nodge68 said:

Personally I find the standard 472 halogen headlamps fitted to the pre-facelift not good by modern standards.

Click to expand...

H4's are ok. Was out in the Freelander tonight, so thought I'd take some photos of the lights. Don't think the bulbs are anything special either, just regular 55/60w H4 bulbs.



And mainbeam, note on mainbeam you get dimmer light directly infront of you, due to the other filament being used. If you hold the mainbeam flash on it looks better, but not practical for use.


Certainly not claiming them as the best. But they really aren't all that bad.

The LED headlights on my Jimny are brilliant, about the best headlights I've driven with, including LED lights on the current MINI, new Defender and Ford Mustang Mach-E.