pozoxj

I am looking to replace the headlights in my XJ and I would like to know what kind of lights everyone is running on their rigs.

Jrozar

I did the h4 housing upgrade, Osram bulbs and an ArB wiring harness on both my XJ and YJ. An amazing difference ..one of the first upgrades anyone should do.

Even if you just do the headlight wiring harness upgrade you will almost double your stock lights lighting.

There is a member selling a set of led trucklites here on the site for like $275 which is an excellent deal.

andrewmp6

First step up is a h4 swap with the relays,Next step up is the full led headlights trucklite or jw speaker.

cruiser54

Read this:

Originally Posted by xjsnake https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/hea...151196/index2/ - post2069179https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/headlights-151196/index2/ - post2069179
Upgraded headlights the legal (ish) way...

1) Get a new headlight harness.

You can make your own http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm

Or you can buy one: http://www.eautoworks.com/Putco-H4--...s-PRD7540.aspx

The eautoworks harnesses used to be quite cheap until everyone on this forum started recommending them and the price was raised accordingly.

You can pick them up for $29.99 here http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/csd/full.aspx?Page=48 part number 36-3580. It says it fits a chevy blazer but it's the same as the eautoworks harness and I'm running the LMC harness in my XJ.

There are other more expensive options for pre-made harnesses but I'm not super familiar with those.

2) Upgrade to H4 housings

There are two types of regulations pertaining to headlight housings. There are DOT approved housings which are legal in the US and there are Ecode lights which are European housings and aren't legal in the US although many people use them as they are considered superior housings due to the light pattern.

DOT
Rampage http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_501.htm
IPF http://www.quadratec.com/products/97017_1600.htm
Delta http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_121.htm
Hella http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_02.htm

Ecode
Autopals (look on ebay for Autopal 200mm H4 housing)
Hella http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=744
Cibie http://www.clearcorners.com/products/cibie/

Personally I won't buy housings that have plastic lenses, I much prefer glass but your mileage may vary.

3) Get good bulbs

Some of the above housings come with bulbs included with them. I tend not to recommend bulbs as the choices are extremely vast and everyone has their own preferences as to color and wattage.

4) Aim your headlights properly!

I can't say enough how much improperly aimed headlights annoy me on the road plus you are wasting all that time and effort to upgrade the lighting if you don't aim the light where it does the most good... http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=78017

5) On HID Lights

I do not recommend HID's for use in XJ's... People will show links to cheap HID kits and "Projectors" off of ebay and other sites which will give you a lot of light and will also throw a lot of light in all directions making you very visible to police and possibly blinding other drivers.


Read http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html for a well written description of the problems with HID kits.

When using HID's you need a true projector housing. I'm sure people will chime in and say they run HID's and ebay housings and have had no problems but I'm describing the legal (ish) way.

If you want to go down the road of HID's, take a look at what true projector housings cost http://www.kbcarstuff.com/6054-200mm...-p/xd-6054.htm
http://www.brightheadlights.com/hid-upcoming.htm
or you can buy the projectors and retrofit them into existing housings if you are so inclined: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/hea...9/#post1391556

There are a myriad of options available to consumers with the limiting factor being cost. One can spend under $100 and have significantly upgraded their lighting or they can spend $1000 and upgrade their lighting more. It's all in how much money you want to spend.

For those wanting to do some of these upgrades but not necessarily all I would do them in the following order:
1) Headlight Harness (major improvement even with sealed beams)
2) Housings and Associated Bulbs
3) Hid and Projectors (Cost prohibitive to do correctly)


For installation of the harness and housings see this excellent write up: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/my-h4-upgrade-114440/

Disclaimer: Always check your local and state laws as some places have more stringent lighting laws than others... I am in no way associated with any of the above companies and none of what I say should be taken as the absolute truth or only way to do things. Flame on...

IJM

I'm running Hella E-code housings with H4 bulbs and a heavy-gauge harness.

cruiser54

That's a nice combo.

OP: Everyone is stressing the use of the supplemental harness, with good reason. If you do nothing more at this point, just get the harness.

adamk

14 gauge harness, hella housings and Olympus Offroad LEDs. I very much like the LED bulbs. They fit any H4 housing(or any housing because they make many bulb types) and are only $115 a pair.

rmoore1031

Truck Lite LEDs. Pricey but worth it. There is a thread of us that use them, got pics in my build too.

Chris01XJ

H4 Housings and HID's on mine

Chris01XJ

6000K

boondocksaint

Does it matter what harness you get? Is that the only other thing you have to replace besides the housing?

I just got pulled over for apparently blinding a police officer with my LED light bar that I use instead of my brights, so I need to upgrade my headlights as I'm not allowed to use the light bar now and can't stand the stock lighting.

adamk

The harness can be made for $20. It's a significant difference over the factory wiring but with good housings and bulbs it can be great. Google XJ wiring harness diagram. That will point you to links of how to make the harness

Here ya go:
http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm

cruiser54

Putco 23004HW

gettin_dirty_with_ruby

x2. I run this set up and very bright, plug n play lights and a quick conversion. happy happy happy

thatXJguy

TruckLite LED 5x7 headlamps. They're amazing.