Headlight units - late Defender

Hi All,

I have a 2004 Defender Td5, and when I first started driving it, found the
headlights very inadequate. I made considerable improvements by fitting
relays, upgraded wiring, and more powerful bulbs, but still find that the
light pattern of the standard Wipacs is pretty poor in spread & penetration.

Has anyone changed the headlight units to better ones, and if so, what are
the best to go for. As far as I know, the lights are standard 7" units, so
there should be some alternatives available.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Graeme Evans
+61 3 9318 0690(H), +61 419 880371(B), +61 3 93180893(Fax)
E-mail: [email protected]

graeme .
im running a 300tdi defender , i wired the headlights [via relays 1
for main beam and one for dipped] directly from the 12v output of the
alternator and fed new wires to each headlight .
i cut the headlight wires about 6 inch from each light and then
rewired them to the outputs from relays, i teed off of each relay,
feeding 2 lights from each relay .

the original wires from the main light switch are disconnected on the
drivers side but still used on the passenger side , to feed the relays
and switch them .

before i did all this the voltage to the headlights was 11.5v at best ,
now it is same voltage as the output from alternator, ie around 14.5v
when engine revving and 12.5v at idle .

i use CIBIE headlights CIB082439 and i wired the sidelights up too .
im not sure of exact cibie partnumber , the number above is from DEMON
TWEAKS , also another place in the uk called www.cars-gb.com sells
these headlight under the part number of H180

i use 100/80w halogen bulbs .

these are extremely bright and show a good pattern of light , very much
better than the orignal headlights were and are at least 3x as bright .

if buying a set of halogen headlamps then the headlights you want to
buy are the ones without the metal hood inside that covers the bulb .

there are someother headlights available called CRYSTAL , they have
shaped bowls , not glass , they arent supposed to be legal here on post
1975 vehicles but work perfectly well .


see here www.powerfuluk.com/Light_Conversions.htm



see paddock landrover spares website also


measure the voltage at the headlight socket of yours and youll know if
you have the right voltage , it will be same as the sidelights.
on mine at first my sidelights had higher voltage than the headlights ,
but now the headlights have same voltage as is coming from the
alternator .

i didnt bother with xenon bulbs etc, just use ordinary halogen bulbs,
those BLUE light bulbs are dimmer due to the coating on them .

so long as you can get a good 13-14v at the headlights they should be
bright .

if setting up on a beam setter inh a garage , set the main beam as high
as possible , if not slightly higher than is on machines scale .

hope this helps.
ian


Graeme Evans wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have a 2004 Defender Td5, and when I first started driving it, found the
> headlights very inadequate. I made considerable improvements by fitting
> relays, upgraded wiring, and more powerful bulbs, but still find that the
> light pattern of the standard Wipacs is pretty poor in spread & penetration.
>
> Has anyone changed the headlight units to better ones, and if so, what are
> the best to go for. As far as I know, the lights are standard 7" units, so
> there should be some alternatives available.
>
> Any information would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Graeme Evans
> +61 3 9318 0690(H), +61 419 880371(B), +61 3 93180893(Fax)
> E-mail: [email protected]

m0bcg <[email protected]> uttered summat worrerz funny about:
> graeme .
> im running a 300tdi defender , i wired the headlights [via relays 1
> for main beam and one for dipped] directly from the 12v output of the
> alternator and fed new wires to each headlight .
> i cut the headlight wires about 6 inch from each light and then
> rewired them to the outputs from relays, i teed off of each relay,
> feeding 2 lights from each relay .
>
> the original wires from the main light switch are disconnected on the
> drivers side but still used on the passenger side , to feed the relays
> and switch them .
>
> before i did all this the voltage to the headlights was 11.5v at best
> , now it is same voltage as the output from alternator, ie around
> 14.5v when engine revving and 12.5v at idle .
>
> i use CIBIE headlights CIB082439 and i wired the sidelights up too
> . im not sure of exact cibie partnumber , the number above is from
> DEMON TWEAKS , also another place in the uk called www.cars-gb.com
> sells these headlight under the part number of H180
>
> i use 100/80w halogen bulbs .
>
> these are extremely bright and show a good pattern of light , very
> much better than the orignal headlights were and are at least 3x as
> bright .
>
> if buying a set of halogen headlamps then the headlights you want to
> buy are the ones without the metal hood inside that covers the bulb .
>
> there are someother headlights available called CRYSTAL , they have
> shaped bowls , not glass , they arent supposed to be legal here on
> post 1975 vehicles but work perfectly well .
>
>
> see here www.powerfuluk.com/Light_Conversions.htm
>
>
>
> see paddock landrover spares website also
>
>
> measure the voltage at the headlight socket of yours and youll know if
> you have the right voltage , it will be same as the sidelights.
> on mine at first my sidelights had higher voltage than the headlights
> , but now the headlights have same voltage as is coming from the
> alternator .
>
> i didnt bother with xenon bulbs etc, just use ordinary halogen bulbs,
> those BLUE light bulbs are dimmer due to the coating on them .
>
> so long as you can get a good 13-14v at the headlights they should be
> bright .
>
> if setting up on a beam setter inh a garage , set the main beam as
> high as possible , if not slightly higher than is on machines scale .
>
> hope this helps.
> ian

Some good advice there, bit extreme but can't fault APART from advising that
any bulbs used are of a legal wattage when used on the road.... especially
if I'm coming the other way in the 101.

Lee

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your valuable info. I have done the upgraded wiring with relays
in similar fashion to what you have described, and with the improved voltage
to the lights, I have gained a lot of improvement. It is just the poor beam
pattern of the original Wipac units which is the remaining problem, so your
information will assist me to find some suitable replacements.

Cheers,

Graeme Evans
03 9318 0690(H), 0419 880371(B), 03 9318 0893(Fax)
E-mail: [email protected]

"m0bcg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> graeme .
> im running a 300tdi defender , i wired the headlights [via relays 1
> for main beam and one for dipped] directly from the 12v output of the
> alternator and fed new wires to each headlight .
> i cut the headlight wires about 6 inch from each light and then
> rewired them to the outputs from relays, i teed off of each relay,
> feeding 2 lights from each relay .
>
> the original wires from the main light switch are disconnected on the
> drivers side but still used on the passenger side , to feed the relays
> and switch them .
>
> before i did all this the voltage to the headlights was 11.5v at best ,
> now it is same voltage as the output from alternator, ie around 14.5v
> when engine revving and 12.5v at idle .
>
> i use CIBIE headlights CIB082439 and i wired the sidelights up too .
> im not sure of exact cibie partnumber , the number above is from DEMON
> TWEAKS , also another place in the uk called www.cars-gb.com sells
> these headlight under the part number of H180
>
> i use 100/80w halogen bulbs .
>
> these are extremely bright and show a good pattern of light , very much
> better than the orignal headlights were and are at least 3x as bright .
>
> if buying a set of halogen headlamps then the headlights you want to
> buy are the ones without the metal hood inside that covers the bulb .
>
> there are someother headlights available called CRYSTAL , they have
> shaped bowls , not glass , they arent supposed to be legal here on post
> 1975 vehicles but work perfectly well .
>
>
> see here www.powerfuluk.com/Light_Conversions.htm
>
>
>
> see paddock landrover spares website also
>
>
> measure the voltage at the headlight socket of yours and youll know if
> you have the right voltage , it will be same as the sidelights.
> on mine at first my sidelights had higher voltage than the headlights ,
> but now the headlights have same voltage as is coming from the
> alternator .
>
> i didnt bother with xenon bulbs etc, just use ordinary halogen bulbs,
> those BLUE light bulbs are dimmer due to the coating on them .
>
> so long as you can get a good 13-14v at the headlights they should be
> bright .
>
> if setting up on a beam setter inh a garage , set the main beam as high
> as possible , if not slightly higher than is on machines scale .
>
> hope this helps.
> ian
>
>
> Graeme Evans wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I have a 2004 Defender Td5, and when I first started driving it, found
>> the
>> headlights very inadequate. I made considerable improvements by fitting
>> relays, upgraded wiring, and more powerful bulbs, but still find that the
>> light pattern of the standard Wipacs is pretty poor in spread &
>> penetration.
>>
>> Has anyone changed the headlight units to better ones, and if so, what
>> are
>> the best to go for. As far as I know, the lights are standard 7" units,
>> so
>> there should be some alternatives available.
>>
>> Any information would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Graeme Evans
>> +61 3 9318 0690(H), +61 419 880371(B), +61 3 93180893(Fax)
>> E-mail: [email protected]
>

Graeme Evans wrote:
> Hi Ian,
>
> Thanks for your valuable info. I have done the upgraded wiring with relays
> in similar fashion to what you have described, and with the improved voltage
> to the lights, I have gained a lot of improvement. It is just the poor beam
> pattern of the original Wipac units which is the remaining problem, so your
> information will assist me to find some suitable replacements.

Repco do a decent replacement light insert with a good beam pattern -
branded as a Wagner. Add some Narva Plus50 bulbs and you'll be seeing a
lot better at night.

--
EMB

"EMB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Graeme Evans wrote:
> > Hi Ian,
> >
> > Thanks for your valuable info. I have done the upgraded wiring with
relays
> > in similar fashion to what you have described, and with the improved
voltage
> > to the lights, I have gained a lot of improvement. It is just the poor
beam
> > pattern of the original Wipac units which is the remaining problem, so
your
> > information will assist me to find some suitable replacements.
>
> Repco do a decent replacement light insert with a good beam pattern -
> branded as a Wagner. Add some Narva Plus50 bulbs and you'll be seeing a
> lot better at night.

I use cibe iode units, they're not too bad. The crystal units already
mentioned are now available on ebay in right-hand drive format and "E"
marked as well.
Badger.

On or around 30 Aug 2006 12:17:30 -0700, "m0bcg"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>
>i use 100/80w halogen bulbs .

arse.

they're illegal for road use, in the UK anyway.

if you sort the wiring as suggested (or at least check for decent voltage at
the bulbs) then you shouldn't need more than 60/55W bulbs. If you regularly
drive at more than the legal limit on ordinary A roads, then a pair of
long-range driving lights are good in addition.

super-bright dipped beams should outlawed, IMHO...
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
Robert Frost (1874-1963) from Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening