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Old 10-07-2015, 06:41 PM
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Default Headlight upgrades

Any suggestions on a headlight upgrade for a 97 XJ?!?
Old 10-07-2015, 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Landau27
Any suggestions on a headlight upgrade for a 97 XJ?!?
Im running H4 bulb and Autopal housings with upgraded wire harness..

Upgrading the wiring harness for the headlights will improve the stock headlights a lot. then get Sylvania silverstar H6054.
The wiring harness is the key.. Our Jeeps came with bad wiring for the headlights


If you want to do the H4 then do some reading here.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/hea...grades-151217/

Last edited by Dumajones; 10-07-2015 at 06:54 PM.
Old 10-07-2015, 07:19 PM
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I have the putco harness, vision x housings, and some PIAA extreme whites I haven't installed yet but I will post a review when I get the chance.
Old 10-08-2015, 04:42 AM
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Default Headlight upgrades

If you're wanting to get a bit crazy, I suggest doing an HID retrofit.
Headlight upgrades-55wlows.jpg
Headlight upgrades-55whighs.jpg

And here's the h4 conversion with the putco harness

Headlight upgrades-img_1350.jpg

Last edited by DenimDean; 10-08-2015 at 04:46 AM.
Old 10-08-2015, 06:23 AM
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I have a set of LEDs that I am pretty sure I got over charged for by black-mamba offroad. The lights are awesome... they really are. But ive since seen ones that look the exact same on ebay for much cheaper. They are ugly but by far the brightest thing I've ever seen on a cherokee and Ive tried a bunch of them.
Old 10-08-2015, 07:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Dumajones
Im running H4 bulb and Autopal housings with upgraded wire harness..

Upgrading the wiring harness for the headlights will improve the stock headlights a lot. then get Sylvania silverstar H6054.
The wiring harness is the key.. Our Jeeps came with bad wiring for the headlights


If you want to do the H4 then do some reading here.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/hea...grades-151217/
What did you do to upgrade the harness?
Old 10-08-2015, 07:53 AM
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Most people use this
Amazon.com: Putco 230004HW Premium Automotive Lighting H4 100W Heavy Duty Wiring Harness and Relay: Automotive Amazon.com: Putco 230004HW Premium Automotive Lighting H4 100W Heavy Duty Wiring Harness and Relay: Automotive


But you could make your own there with a couple relays and some wire, There are a few write-ups on here
Old 10-08-2015, 08:41 PM
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I had Putco harness, AutoPal Headlights, and generic bulbs in my Daughters Cherokee, it was an improvement but I was not happy, I had an issue with the AutoPal losing the chrome reflection material after they got water in them once.

I now have the Rampage Headlights, Putco Harness, and plan on going with the Hella 130/90 watt bults (65/55 is stock I think)

I am also going to order a set of these LED's for $110, or get a set on eBay for $100 - http://www.farmerjohnsonoffroad.com/...ight-110-pair/ but mine is a trail rig that only will be driven to the trail and back. If I like the LED's I will keep them and give the Rampage's to my daughter for her new trail jeep, if not she will get the LED's, and if I love the LED's we will both end up with them.
Old 10-08-2015, 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by bryweb
I had Putco harness, AutoPal Headlights, and generic bulbs in my Daughters Cherokee, it was an improvement but I was not happy, I had an issue with the AutoPal losing the chrome reflection material after they got water in them once.

I now have the Rampage Headlights, Putco Harness, and plan on going with the Hella 130/90 watt bults (65/55 is stock I think)

I am also going to order a set of these LED's for $110, or get a set on eBay for $100 - http://www.farmerjohnsonoffroad.com/...ight-110-pair/ but mine is a trail rig that only will be driven to the trail and back. If I like the LED's I will keep them and give the Rampage's to my daughter for her new trail jeep, if not she will get the LED's, and if I love the LED's we will both end up with them.
Mine look similar to those (LED lights). Slightly different pattern. On low beam, only the top light up (which are angled slightly down), On high beam the output is ridiculous.. much brighter than any of the new cars I have owned.

I dont get flashed unless it's something really low... like super low. I have always been flashed by them sitting as high as I do.

Only down side to the light the LEDS throw out is the snow. For one, it wont melt it off the lense, and for two, the glare is terrible. I have some amber fogs I use during the blizzards. I followed a cop around for awhile when I first put them in to see if he would pull me over or anything... he didn't. I am not worried about the legality of the lights. I would rather see. (Call me selfish if you wish.. with how bright modern lights are, I don't care)

Last edited by Ianf406; 10-08-2015 at 08:47 PM.
Old 10-10-2015, 04:45 AM
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I picked up a h4 conversion housing on ebay for $60 and kensun 30,000k hids off amazon for $70.
Old 10-10-2015, 08:53 AM
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On the low-end, a Putco Harness and a set of Silverstars would be a really good upgrade over the OEM lights.

If you want to really step up to amazing headlights...

JW Speaker

Old 10-10-2015, 09:14 AM
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Read this please

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/headlights-203245/
Old 10-10-2015, 12:32 PM
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I have an ARB harness, which is pricey but extremely well made with quality relays, plus a set of Hella e-code housings with 100/80W H4s. The harness made the biggest difference, but the e-code pattern is MUCH better than DOT. I had also bought an HID retrofit kit, but I decided against installing it after considering the HID system's vulnerability to water and the fact that the H4 bulbs in e-code housings are almost as good as the OEM HIDs in my other car.

Personally, I think the LED headlight banks make the truck look ugly. But that's just my aesthetic.
Old 10-11-2015, 02:10 AM
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ebay search 7x6 h4 conversion, housings can be found for $30 shipped. go to the junk yard and cut off some plugs from a car with the h4 style lights, get a couple relays wire them up to the new plugs with a separate ground (not factory) and tap into the harness behind the front header panel disconnect and leave the oem plugs chillin behind the headlights. Then you can run what ever style H4 bulb, or get a plug and play hid kit off of feebay. I am running hid's in one xj and going to be putting silverstar H4's in the other xj. IIRC you are looking for a striped red and a stripped purple, well atleast thats what I think they were in mine 98 and 99. You need to run relays for the hid's or what ever you run for bulbs, if not if you have a delay turn off it will freak out the ballasts and flash like a strobe until it burns out, because they do not have enough current draw to keep the delay relay circuit closed.
Old 10-11-2015, 02:13 AM
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correction, http://www.ebay.com/itm/351280280022?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT$22 shipped, these are the same as I am running in both xj's


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