thatXJguy

I was wondering if anyone has, or is, running these kinds of LED headlights in their XJ, and what they think about them and if they can post any good comparison pics?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7x6-LED-HID-...pVV95X&vxp=mtr

andrewmp6

They have been around under a few brands,But i would pass on them tho,Theres a reason why trucklite went away from the muilt led light set up like that.

mschi772

I've seen them. I'd tell you to stay away. Absolutely garbage pattern if you can even say that they have a pattern at all.

If you want LED, as far as I'm concerned JW Speaker is the best (beware of "counterfeit" JW's that are all over the place--they're much lower quality in many ways that really do matter), and Truck-lite is the only other LED headlight worthy of consideration.

SatiricalHen

There are threads about them. The most memorable one is finally the perfect led headlight. Kind of ironic since they suck so bad. They're cheap and blindingly bright. Offroad use only would be fine but on road they blind on coming traffic. People will still buy them and use them even though they blind others. Most only care about their own ability to see at night and how cheaply they can get more light.

thatXJguy

I know how good the TruckLites and JW Speakers are. I had the TruckLites on my XJ when I still owned it and I currently have JW Speaker on my JK Rubicon.

I'm questioning these lower-cost LED headlights, or any like them in this price range, because I need a cheap option for the girlfriend who needs something better than stock so she can see out on the dark country roads. And I honestly don't want to invest money in better halogen headlights or incandescent headlights because for the money, I think HID or LED is a better light source.

I was wondering if anyone at all has any pictures of light output from something like this and how it compares to the (obviously much nicer) pricier alternatives. Her XJ is a clunker as it is, so cheap headlights don't bother me that much as long as they're bright enough to satisfy her needs.

What I have heard is they are not DOT approved, but sweeping that under the carpet, she barely does any night driving. Her OEM headlights are dimmer than candles and she needs cost-efficient lighting that performs well.

I'm not surprised. They're like spotlights. Almost like they have the same pattern as an LED light bar, just packed into a headlight shape.

thatXJguy

Well I found a video that probably answers my question. I wonder if adjusting them to a super low angle would eliminate most of the head-on glare. After all, she isn't lifted or anything like that.


When it comes to smaller LED light bars, it's tolerable to look at them from an angle, such as when tilted up or down and away from the eyes. It's only head-on where I would ever complain about being blinded.

dmill89

A harness upgrade (PutCo, one of the many on eBay, etc.) makes a big difference the stock wiring on the XJ sucks (especially if old and neglected) leading to a significant voltage drop. Even the OE sealed beams are much brighter with an aftermarket harness and H4 upgrade housings even better.

Harnesses:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ceramic-H4-9.../221349534772?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/H4-Headlight...VUpy5e&vxp=mtr


H4 Housings:
DOT if you live in a state with inspections:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200mm-H6054-...VVtyLC&vxp=mtr


Euro (ECE) which have a better pattern if being DOT certified is not an issue:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200mm-H6054-...tVq1TY&vxp=mtr

mschi772

What???? The only worth LED headlights I've seen as the lighting geek I am have been at least $400. The best halogen patterning I've seen has been on a ~$180 pair, and it's effectively almost as good plus Halogen has the benefit of better CRI for what that's worth. Meanwhile, the ol classic Autopal + relay harness costs pennies and is really quite decent. For the money, there's no question that a simple H4 halogen setup has the greatest bang-for-buck.

So why in the world are you even bothering to fuss over such expensive a market as LED headlights when she'll barely get any use out of them.


Relay harness and ECE Autopals with good bulbs should cost less than $100 and be tremendously better than stock.

Turbo X_J

shooptube

andrewmp6

For around the same price you can get hella h4 housings and the wiring harness,And probably have better light out of them.If its a stock jeep thats just a daily driver that set up will be more then enough light for night time driving.

peligro113

Yup I put a harness, some philips bulbs, and some Vision vx57 housings, the difference was night and day, DOT approved so I am still street legal.

rzldzl

which is it? lol

thatXJguy

Sorry if that sounded contradictory. She barely does, but when she does, I want her to be able to see well.

Like I said, her Jeep's a clunker and I'm not willing to invest a ton of money into it, so the cheaper the better.

I'm not a fan of the Putco harness after having installed it on my Cherokee a few years back.

investinwaffles

Those LED headlights are off-road lighting. No amount of aiming is going to turn those into a DOT approved beam pattern that you can use on the road.

If you are looking for on-road lighting, go with the suggested harness upgrade and some DOT approved H4 housings.

Or get her some real bi-xenon projectors like these;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOT-Certifie...FS-TS8&vxp=mtr

Or just throw a crappy light bar on there and wire it to a switch or the high-beams if she is driving on dark country roads (meaning that there is little oncoming traffic and you can dip your lights when there is oncoming traffic).