Jeep Cherokee Forum

Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

best suggestions for new headlights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-17-2018, 07:03 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
RangerRick82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Bloomfield, CT
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default best suggestions for new headlights
All- Hope all is well. I'm looking to replace my old and dim wagner halogen headlamps and am looking for your best suggestions. I have seen a ton of HID, projector and all sorts of "tacticool" looking lights on eBay, but don know if they are the way to go. What is the best bang for the buck in your guys' opinion for XJ headlights?

Thanks- Rick
RangerRick82 is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-17-2018, 09:45 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
CRLAMBERTJR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L I-6
Default
  1. Get an upgraded headlight harness from the seller in the forums here. I've been buying so much stuff, can't remember which it is ? XJWONDERS or JHC799.
  2. Get a set of AutoPal Eurobeam headlight projectors.
  3. I installed Phillips Xtreme Vision 130% 55/60w bulbs in mine
  4. Problem solved !
CRLAMBERTJR is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-17-2018, 10:16 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
 
zmzamarripa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Pueblo, CO
Posts: 89
Received 6 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default
Originally Posted by CRLAMBERTJR
  1. Get an upgraded headlight harness from the seller in the forums here. I've been buying so much stuff, can't remember which it is ? XJWONDERS or JHC799.
  2. Get a set of AutoPal Eurobeam headlight projectors.
  3. I installed Phillips Xtreme Vision 130% 55/60w bulbs in mine
  4. Problem solved !
agreed. With the harness I just used the bulbs that came with the auto pal lenses and it’s unbelievable the difference.

I paid 23 for the harness and 27 for the bulbs and lenses. I couldn’t be happier with such a simple cheap upgrade and they still make heat for winter driving if that matters to you.
zmzamarripa is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-17-2018, 10:36 PM
  #4  
CF Veteran
 
00t444e's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Southern OH
Posts: 3,604
Received 456 Likes on 369 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default
I have the wiring harness, rampage H4 lights from Amazon, and Hella 80/100 watt bulbs and they work great.
00t444e is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 10:53 AM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
RangerRick82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Bloomfield, CT
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default
Thanks for the info. I was looking for more of a “plug and play” type unit where I could buy the enclosure and bulb in one and just bolt in. Do you know of anything like that or is there an option for just replacing the bulb and leaving it at that?
RangerRick82 is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 11:59 AM
  #6  
CF Veteran
 
00t444e's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Southern OH
Posts: 3,604
Received 456 Likes on 369 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default
My H4s came with bulbs but I used the Hellas instead and kept the others for spares. Either way you will still want to get the wiring harness.
00t444e is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 01:45 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
tinytrax78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: orrville ohio
Posts: 822
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default
start with the harness upgrade you will be impressed plus you will need it for any other option anyway plus its the cheapest too
tinytrax78 is offline  
Reply Like

Trending Topics

Old 09-18-2018, 02:15 PM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
Ralph77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,357
Likes: 0
Received 1,530 Likes on 1,173 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Default
I run the headlight harness upgrade with the BrightLite version of the Wagners. Nothing fancy but work for me.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/LMAH...earchIndex=App
Ralph77 is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 03:08 PM
  #9  
IJM
CF Veteran
 
IJM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: District of Columbia
Posts: 1,287
Received 274 Likes on 205 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default
I've been very happy with Hella e-code housings with H4 bulbs plus the harness.
IJM is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 04:09 PM
  #10  
CF Veteran
 
Turbo X_J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ☼ Blackhole Sun
Posts: 8,567
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Year: My Jeep is a GMC
Default
Originally Posted by RangerRick82
I have seen a ton of HID, projector and all sorts of "tacticool" looking lights on eBay, but don know if they are the way to go.
All cheap 3rd world junk. Avoid any headlamp with a clear (non-fluted) lens, the pattern sucks and you'll just blind oncoming traffic.
The least expensive option is an H4 relay harness that avoids the meager factory wiring and a pair of Sylvania XtraVision 6054 bulbs.
Turbo X_J is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 04:49 PM
  #11  
CF Veteran
 
SatiricalHen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 0
Received 190 Likes on 165 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default
I love my truck lite LEDs in my Cherokee, but they aren't the best for wet snow. My Comanche on the other hand has a new set of sealed lights and a headlight harness and it feels like I'm holding a candle in front of my jeep at night. I've gone with h4 and harness, h4 LEDs, truck lites, and sealed housings and the truck lites are the way I'd go again.
SatiricalHen is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 07:08 PM
  #12  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
RangerRick82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Bloomfield, CT
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default
I appreciate the advice guys- How hard is it to upgrade this harness? Something I can handle myself?

So I'm really looking at a harness and a bulb upgrade, no need to change the glass?

thanks again- Rick
RangerRick82 is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 07:14 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
CRLAMBERTJR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L I-6
Default
Originally Posted by RangerRick82
Thanks for the info. I was looking for more of a “plug and play” type unit where I could buy the enclosure and bulb in one and just bolt in. Do you know of anything like that or is there an option for just replacing the bulb and leaving it at that?
I still have my OEM headlight bulbs. They were fine when I pulled them. That's about as easy a plug and play you can get. If you don't want to mess with the harness,,,
CRLAMBERTJR is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 08:29 PM
  #14  
CF Veteran
 
SatiricalHen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 0
Received 190 Likes on 165 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default
Originally Posted by RangerRick82
I appreciate the advice guys- How hard is it to upgrade this harness? Something I can handle myself?

So I'm really looking at a harness and a bulb upgrade, no need to change the glass?

thanks again- Rick
The harness is fairly simple, I've done a couple and the stock bulbs are sealed units so you will have to replace the housing with something whether it's a sealed LED like the truck lites or something you can put an h4 bulb in.
SatiricalHen is offline  
Reply Like
Old 09-18-2018, 08:30 PM
  #15  
CF Veteran
 
SatiricalHen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 0
Received 190 Likes on 165 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default
Originally Posted by CRLAMBERTJR
I still have my OEM headlight bulbs. They were fine when I pulled them. That's about as easy a plug and play you can get. If you don't want to mess with the harness,,,
You definitely want to do the harness if you are running anything other than LEDs. The factory setup runs all the power through the headlight switch and they often burn up in Cherokees. The harness adds the relays the factory should have.
SatiricalHen is offline  
Reply Like



Advanced Search
Quick Reply: best suggestions for new headlights


Reply Closed Thread Share

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:44 AM.