pgrbff Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I drove my 300tdi 1000miles over the last two days, only bought it on Thursday. The headlights are appalling compared to my other, more recent 4x4. Is there a simple upgrade that will not fry the light switch that will give me a worthwhile increase in dipped and main beam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Relays, decent bulbs and decent head light units. All well covered on all the forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrbff Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 I'm sure if you have owned a Defender for more than 3 days you've probably seen a good few posts. All I can find is a lot of conflicting advice on the forums. That's why I joined LR4X4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Adding a dedicated supply and relays to drive the headlights is a worthwhile upgrade, along with replacing the bulbs and lamps, if they're old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redneck Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Wipac Crystal reflectors with Phillips X-treme Vision bulbs, followed by a relay/wiring upgrade soon after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landy andy. Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 As above, crystals and xtreme bulbs, is the best without making looms, or LED headlights, whilst keeping legal, so not HID. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrbff Posted January 27, 2014 Author Share Posted January 27, 2014 Thanks. As I've just bought her, and there is lots to do, I'm trying to keep things simple to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 What light units are fitted now > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uninformed Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 IMO I would not waste money on reflectors and bulbs. The problem is not them, it is the wiring. I added better bulbs etc and the improvement was maginal at best. Later I installed a Traxide Headlight upgrade kit and that made the biggest difference of all. Even the original bulbs were much better than the old set up with better bulbs. http://www.traxide.com.au/headlight-wiring-kits/headlight-wiring-upgrade.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrbff Posted January 27, 2014 Author Share Posted January 27, 2014 What light units are fitted now > I assume they are the originals. I've had her less than a week but can see virtually nothing at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 A pair of Hella or Carrello light units should be a straight swap.These will give you much better light Actually it's the wiring that's the problem. Your 300Tdi should already have relays fitted. New looms are easily made and fitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidW Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Wipac crystal replacement lights with Osram night breaker bulbs made a big difference to mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pollywog Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 +1 for the Nightbreakers. I've just fitted a pair of Osram Nightbreaker Unlimiteds and they've made a huge difference (mind my old bulbs probably came from poundland). When I get round to it I'll be re-wiring with relays but for now I'm very happy with the improvement made by the new bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diablo Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 New wiring is the best upgrade you can do. I have done this and used new nightbreaker style lamps, and the overall improvement is huge. Just weighing up getting crystals now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrbff Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 A pair of Hella or Carrello light units should be a straight swap.These will give you much better light Actually it's the wiring that's the problem. Your 300Tdi should already have relays fitted. New looms are easily made and fitted. Why do you say it should already have the relays? As part of the original LR loom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 No it will just have a relay to turn off the headlights with the ignition. The full load still runs through the switch. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 No it will just have a relay to turn off the headlights with the ignition. The full load still runs through the switch. Mo Does it now. Just as well I rewired mine the same way as I did my rally cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Indeed it is Mike Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrbff Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 A pair of Hella or Carrello light units should be a straight swap.These will give you much better light Actually it's the wiring that's the problem. Your 300Tdi should already have relays fitted. New looms are easily made and fitted. Now I'm confused. You say the "wiring is the problem", I'm guessing relays in particular? But then you say I should already have the relays fitted??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Wiring and relays IS a simple upgrade. The is no 50p waving of a magic wand that will help you. HTH Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 The original wiring is the problem. The wire isn't good enough for the headlights, it gives a huge Volt drop Each headlight has a connector for the bulb. Fit a bulb into the connector and hold the bulb in your hand looking at the back of the connector with the middle terminal at the top. Left hand terminal==Earth.Black wire Top terminal========Dip beam.Blue red tracer. Right hand terminal=Mainbeam.Blue white tracer. Headlight wiring circuit.Provides dip at all times.Fuses to protect the wiring in case of accident damaging headlights. You will need. Two 70amp relays R70 from Vehicle Wiring Products. Suitable correct colour coded cable of at least 29/0.030 wire of the required length for each of the headlight circuits. Cable at least 44/0.30 Brown for the feed to the relay. cable at least 44/0.30 black to earth the headlight bulb. cable 14/0.30 to earth the relays. Fuse box for spade type fuses,one fuse for each bulb element. Lucar connectors to suit both the fuse box and the relay. Connectors for the feed to the relay. DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. Fit both the fuse box andthe relays in a suitable position. Make up a small loom,one dip one main beam[assuming two headlights]one earth. Take the earth to the body/chassis. take the dip wire to the fuse box and connect. Take the main beam wire to the fuse box and connect. Repeat for the other side. You should now have the headlights wired into the fuse box. As we are using the 70 amp relay.take a large lucar connector and join TWO wires into that connector for the dip circuit,make that wire a suitable length to go from the relay to the fuse box. Repeat for the other light. You should now be wired from the relay to the headlight. Take TWO lengths of Brown wire fron either,the starter solenoid or the battery master switch.What ever is convienent,one wire to each of the relays useing the othe large terminal. Earth both relays. NOW!!! Cut the ORIGINAL headlight connector off the Original headlight wiring and fit a Lucar connector to both the dip and main beam wires. Fit fuses. It should now work. Good!!! NOTE I haven't given the relay connector numbers.That information MUST be supplied with the relay. To have the dip switched on permantly. Remove the shroud from the steering column. Comming up the column is a cluster of wires. The Blue wire is the headlight feed to the switch. Te Blue with a red tracer is the dip feed from the dipswitch. Cut both these wires and join together.I use a bullet connector but you can now get a proper Lucar block connector. Please try this with test wirs before cutting the wires. You can also do the same thing useing a relay.PM me if you would like me to sort this method out. Get out bit..... I've given you this information to the best of my ability.This is the method I've used on four of my rally cars and most of my road cars.Please use a fused link to check everything works before reconnecting the battery. This is how mine is fitted to the inside of the left front wing. The two brown wires are the live feed from the starter motor terminal The spiral wrapped wires are the feeds from the old headlight connector to trigger the relays. The wire comming out of the front of the fuse box [on the right of the picture] are the wires to each headlight. The relay to the front of the picture _________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrbff Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 Many thanks. Something to do when it stops snowing! I live in a third floor flat, no garage, on one lane high street and all work carried on in parking lot in village layby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 I know the feeling. If you read Our Project http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=75880 You will see like you I have an air conditioned garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 If you don't like electrickery and want a simpler / quicker (if more expensive) option, someone on ebay is doing a plug and play loom kit: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321280431149?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Wow. That's not too bad. Yeah you could do this for probably less than £20 worth of wire and bits but for the time it would take and hassle for the sake of £40 that's not a bad way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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