Cherokee Chat General non-tech Cherokee chat
XJ/MJ/ZJ/WJ

Best headlight upgrade under $100

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 04:09 PM
  #1  
gvns8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 913
Likes: 6
From: Japan
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L I6
Default Best headlight upgrade under $100

One of my headlights went out and I am looking to upgrade both but I am on somewhat of a budget. Has anyone done an upgrade that has made a very noticable difference without spending too much? or should I just save up and get HID's?
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 04:26 PM
  #2  
GTPstarter's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Mackeyville, Pa.
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Default

gvns8,
All I did was buy an inexspensive set of 55w clear driving lights. Got them at Advance for around 40.00, mounted them in the predrilled holes on top of the bumper and sighted them in.
I do a lot of Sunday night driving through the woods of northern Pa. and I don't think I could do with-out them.
But I too would be interested in seeing what other people have done to upgrade their headlights on a budget.

GTP
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 05:59 PM
  #3  
SeriousOffroad's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,952
Likes: 17
Model: Cherokee
Default

Silverstar headlights. $20 per and worth a lot more.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 06:01 PM
  #4  
Crazythingsido2's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l
Default

http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_501.htm
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 08:34 PM
  #5  
gvns8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 913
Likes: 6
From: Japan
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L I6
Default

thanks for the input guys, any one else able to attest to the ones Crazythingsido2 listed or similar lights? I might do those just to have replaceable bulbs.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 09:53 PM
  #6  
xj_maniac_newb's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 6
From: Summerville, Ga
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5 4 cyl.
Default

get some walmart bajas, i think they make a big difference. They go on when my lights go on
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 10:56 PM
  #7  
elpotro1331's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Mission TX
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default read my mind

Originally Posted by Crazythingsido2
that is one hell of an upgrade a buddy of mine has them and if you want his opinion he is la ARANA in this forum I highly recommend them.I have not gotten mine because I have issues with my XJ and want to fix them first.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2010 | 12:11 AM
  #8  
e30's Avatar
e30
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 342
Likes: 1
Model: Cherokee
Default

i have hella H4's with the heavy duty headlight harness and its like day light, in comparison my bmw has stock 55w xenons and these put out the same amount of light. im very pleased with the set up and even other people who have no knowledge of lighting or cars have noticed the increased light out put, also the H4's have a very nice straight cut off line and i never blind on coming drivers


Last edited by e30; Oct 29, 2010 at 12:14 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2010 | 12:13 AM
  #9  
e30's Avatar
e30
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 342
Likes: 1
Model: Cherokee
Default

this is the harness i got...it literally doubled the light output of the H4's

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/hd...rite-up-11306/
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2010 | 12:34 AM
  #10  
gvns8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 913
Likes: 6
From: Japan
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L I6
Default

Originally Posted by e30
i have hella H4's with the heavy duty headlight harness and its like day light, in comparison my bmw has stock 55w xenons and these put out the same amount of light. im very pleased with the set up and even other people who have no knowledge of lighting or cars have noticed the increased light out put, also the H4's have a very nice straight cut off line and i never blind on coming drivers
Good to hear. So maybe I will go ahead and get some h4's and that harness. However, I am a little confused about your setup. You said you run 100/80watt headlights lights in your writeup. Are those street legal? Or were you referring to your spotlights that you mounted on the bumper?
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2010 | 12:38 AM
  #11  
e30's Avatar
e30
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 342
Likes: 1
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by gvns8
Good to hear. So maybe I will go ahead and get some h4's and that harness. However, I am a little confused about your setup. You said you run 100/80watt headlights lights in your writeup. Are those street legal? Or were you referring to your spotlights that you mounted on the bumper?
i just followed that guys write up to put the harness in, its not my write up...im using the stock bulbs that came supplied with the hellas im sure if you used the 100/80w that guy has it will be bright as hell haha
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2010 | 12:43 AM
  #12  
gvns8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 913
Likes: 6
From: Japan
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L I6
Default

Originally Posted by e30
i just followed that guys write up to put the harness in, its not my write up...im using the stock bulbs that came supplied with the hellas im sure if you used the 100/80w that guy has it will be bright as hell haha
Oh ok my bad its late here haha. I think I might go with that combo then because its like half the price of decent HID's. Was there much of an improvement for you going from stock lights to h4's before the harness upgrade?
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2010 | 01:08 AM
  #13  
e30's Avatar
e30
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 342
Likes: 1
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by gvns8
Oh ok my bad its late here haha. I think I might go with that combo then because its like half the price of decent HID's. Was there much of an improvement for you going from stock lights to h4's before the harness upgrade?
all good man no worries! ...yea man it was a huge upgrade the lights made a big difference in the distribution of light. My old lights kinda scattered it where this has even uniform light all the way to the cut off, but i decided to buy the HD harness with some extra paypal money i had not expecting it to make a big difference and it made a massive difference! i couldnt believe it! thats well worth spending the money to get
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2010 | 01:47 AM
  #14  
Svrider's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Stanwood, Wa.
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

I converted my headlights to h4's i pulled a set of headlight housings outta a ford probe turbo for $10 from pull-a-part and took a set of h4's from my civic here is what they look like. perfect fit bolt right up to original housing. and h4 plug is same as original light pug. the light housing itself is way cleaner then the stock jeep light cause it doesn't have that film to it so they are brighter. and now i got blue bulbs



Last edited by Svrider; Oct 29, 2010 at 01:55 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2010 | 07:45 AM
  #15  
Reefmike's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 242/4.0 I6
Default

Originally Posted by FrankZ
Silverstar headlights. $20 per and worth a lot more.
I just put a pair of these in. All I can say is "WOW"! What a difference over the old Wagners.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:54 PM.