Head lights need to be replaced, LED?

Have any of you good members upgraded your Defender 7" headlights to LED units? Looking on the web, I have seen a good number available, but none with any feedback testimony from Defender owners.

Can anyone offer any support, please

Hi Alan have upgraded mine to LED on my project, unfortunately I haven't driven in the dark with them yet and she's in the shed with the dash off as I'm trying to sort the central locking I've fitted.
They were the same as these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rove...H4-Connectors-E-Marked-RHD-Pair-/152310689001 which aren't to bad price wise.
They look very bright when I've been testing the lights in the shed , If I get her sorted for the weekend I can get some photos of them in the yard if you would like ?
cheers Ian

I have Nolden's in mine, would not say they are cost effective ! Don't expect the brightness improvement to be equal the cost. Mine should be like midday Sun !
But they aren't

Just be extremely careful. Many of these LED headlights on ebay are ILLEGAL. They claim to be E marked and road legal but they are carrying FAKE E marks. The E mark consists of three separate parts and they have to all be on the front of the lens. The main part of the E mark is the letter E and a number between 1 and 30 in a circle. This states which country has done the approval. Alongside this should be the identification number for the approval regulations. Also there should be a 4-6 digit number which is the actual approval number.

By LAW there should be other information on a LED headlight including sign say it is for rhd/lht use. Peak beam reference number etc.

It is not a legal requirement to have the manufacturers name on the lens.

IF the only markings on the lens is DOT SAE Exx (E and number in a circle) it is a FAKE

If they have faked the approval markings what else have they faked?


Brendan

Ian Maycock said:

Hi Alan have upgraded mine to LED on my project, unfortunately I haven't driven in the dark with them yet and she's in the shed with the dash off as I'm trying to sort the central locking I've fitted.
They were the same as these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rove...H4-Connectors-E-Marked-RHD-Pair-/152310689001 which aren't to bad price wise.
They look very bright when I've been testing the lights in the shed , If I get her sorted for the weekend I can get some photos of them in the yard if you would like ?
cheers Ian

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Thanks for your information Ian, and yes I would like to see some photos when you get a chance

Foxyred said:

I have Nolden's in mine, would not say they are cost effective ! Don't expect the brightness improvement to be equal the cost. Mine should be like midday Sun !
But they aren't

Click to expand...

Thanks for that warning Foxyred. I upgraded two years ago but the interior foil reflector has come away.

leeds said:

Just be extremely careful. Many of these LED headlights on ebay are ILLEGAL. They claim to be E marked and road legal but they are carrying FAKE E marks. The E mark consists of three separate parts and they have to all be on the front of the lens. The main part of the E mark is the letter E and a number between 1 and 30 in a circle. This states which country has done the approval. Alongside this should be the identification number for the approval regulations. Also there should be a 4-6 digit number which is the actual approval number.

By LAW there should be other information on a LED headlight including sign say it is for rhd/lht use. Peak beam reference number etc.

It is not a legal requirement to have the manufacturers name on the lens.

IF the only markings on the lens is DOT SAE Exx (E and number in a circle) it is a FAKE

If they have faked the approval markings what else have they faked?


Brendan

Click to expand...

Thanks for your help Brendan. It's clearly a bit of a mine field and not one to jump into without a lot of research. I'd hate to buy and then get chucked out of the test centre for having failed on my new expensive headlights

I have fitted ones similar to the ones above, had them on for about 6 months and they are excellent, so bright and never been flashed so seem to be pointing in the right direction. They are E marked but as has been said weather kosher or not I don't know, will see at MOT time. By the way mine were £90 off ebay with a halo which is not wired up.

The MOT is a basic safety check and if the lights work then they will pass the MOT.

However without the correct markings on they are ILLEGAL to use on the public highway.

We have heard of one case where someone with illegal lights was involved in an accident and insurance assessor noticed lights were illegal and insurance declared void!

If all the markings on a headlight lens are just DOT SAE and E in a circle then they are NOT type approved.

ALL vehicle obligatory lights have to be type approved under UK Vehicle Lighting Regulations and under UNECE regulations for harmonisation of vehicles

IF they do not carry the correct markings they are NOT type approved!

What are the expressions? Buyer beware?? Ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law.

If the price seems too good to be true then .........


Whilst it is not a LEGAL requirement for a manufacturer to put their brand name on the lights the main reputable headlight makers do, Wipac, JW Speaker, Nplden, Truck Lite, Vision X etc


Brendan

forgot to say, with them being a fully sealed unit no more front mounted fish bowls