Cheap Chinese LED driving lights...recommendations?

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Hard-Drive

Hard-Drive

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I'm after a set of cheap LED driving lights to go on my front A-bar. Now I know it's possible to spend a fortune on bulletproof, lifetime guarantee, Paris-Dakar spec lights with the waterproof capability of a Rolex Submariner, however I'm just after something cheap and cheerful, for very occasional green laning and to just come on with main beam...simples. I've got old school "Wipac 4x4" on there at the moment, however with the addition of a winch I need light units that are smaller than these.

They ideally need to be round, and 6" or ideally a bit less than that in diameter.

Anyone have any experiences here? Thanks in advance.
 
The cheap stuff can be fine. But the same looking thing can be sold by many people and not always have the same performance. As it will depend what is inside it.

A question though is. Do you want flood or throw? As in what type of beam profile. As you probably won’t get both from a single unit. And most multi LED setups don’t do distance well unless they are pricey.

I’d be tempted to look at a compact light bar to fit where you want to mount it. But sadly it’s a bit of gamble how good it’ll be. I believe “5D” ones have a mix of flood and throw lenses.
 
Thanks for the advice. 300bhp...I think I probably want throw/spot, to get some light up the road on main beam for dark country lanes etc. TBH from a purely aesthetic point of view, I prefer the look of round units on the A-bar, and then I might complement it with a roof mounted light bar with the emphasis very much on flood...
 
I have one spot lamp. I think its off a jag. Its a Lucas any road up and slightly dimmer than the headlights so doesnt actually show when I switch it on :(

I find driving a bit slower negates the need for any more. ;)
 
Bobsticle said:
I find driving a bit slower negates the need for any more. ;)
Click to expand...
+1

Cheaper LED lights can have a number of problems, not least an unpredictable beam pattern, sometimes resulting in dazzle for oncoming drivers. Light output levels and colour temperature can also give rise to difficulties.
For the major lights on the front of a vehicle, headlights and spot/driving lights, I would prefer to use filament bulbs in conjunction with a properly designed reflector and front lens combination.
Pound for pound, filament lights are the preferable way to go. But that's just my opinion.
 
In the 80s my Ford Escort had the full Lombard RAC rally light set.
All very good until you see an oncoming car and kill the spots.
You then find your eyes are not in low light mode any more and you can’t see anything at all for a few hundred yards.

They can be more of a hindrance than a help when not on a rally track.

They look good though :D
 
Optional driving lights have to have an APPROVAL mark by UK law as well as to be wired through the main beam switch.

If the light is marked with DOT, SAE and E + number in a circle it is NOT legal for road use. A green lane is a public road so all motoring laws apply.

An approval mark consists of several elements and for an optional driving light it will have the country code (E + number in a circle) regulation or amendment number, the actual approval number which is 4-6 digits, Light function code something like HR, PL for plastic lens, peak beam reference number etc.

If you are involved in an insurance scenario and a loss adjuster comes out they can void your insurance policy as the lights are defective i.e. do not conform to UK law and as such your vehicle is not road legal
 
Bobsticle said:
In the 80s my Ford Escort had the full Lombard RAC rally light set.
All very good until you see an oncoming car and kill the spots.
You then find your eyes are not in low light mode any more and you can’t see anything at all for a few hundred yards.

They can be more of a hindrance than a help when not on a rally track.

They look good though :D
Click to expand...

I used to have the same problem doing night rally's in my mk1 Cortina with four 9" Cibie supper Oscars on the front total daylight then bugger almost pitch black, mind the other car new you were coming half a mile away
car and lights still sat in garage:D
 
leeds said:
Optional driving lights have to have an APPROVAL mark by UK law as well as to be wired through the main beam switch.

If the light is marked with DOT, SAE and E + number in a circle it is NOT legal for road use. A green lane is a public road so all motoring laws apply.

An approval mark consists of several elements and for an optional driving light it will have the country code (E + number in a circle) regulation or amendment number, the actual approval number which is 4-6 digits, Light function code something like HR, PL for plastic lens, peak beam reference number etc.

If you are involved in an insurance scenario and a loss adjuster comes out they can void your insurance policy as the lights are defective i.e. do not conform to UK law and as such your vehicle is not road legal
Click to expand...
I thought you could have off road lights as long as the switch illuminates to prevent unintentional use on the road. Same as rear work lights on the back. Work lights are legal but not when driving.
 
Offroad your lights do not have to be road legal. On road and that includes green lanes then your driving lights have to conform to the correct regulations and have the correct approval marks on.

If lights do not have the correct approval marks and/or unauthorised modifications have been carried out then in the case of an "insurance scenario" an insurance loss adjuster could void your insurance policy as your vehicle is not road legal/roadworthy.

Replacing a halogen filament bulb with a LED cluster voids the original approval marks as it is an unauthorised modification.

Now who's side is the loss adjuster on? How much wiggle room does your insurance company need to refuse your claim??
 
IIRC it is section 76 of RTA which states it is an offence to supply, fit or use a defective item.

UK VLR states basically external lights on a vehicle must have an approval mark

Designation of Approval Marks Act states for vehicles UN ECE Vehicle Harmonisation Regulations are an APPROVAL mark. UN ECE regulations gives examples of valid APPROVAL marks. It also states that if the manufacturers do anything but the smallest modification to their lights they must resubmit them for approval.

Your motor insurance policy is a legal contract between policy holder and insurance company and there will be a clause stating that it is your duty to keep your vehicle road worthy/road legal otherwise the insurance company can void the policy.

Insurance assessors are being trained to look for undeclared or unauthorised modifications to vehicles and can void the insurance policy as you will be in breach of your contract with the insurance company. They do not need case law to do that. We know of one case where a motorist got their insurance voided for illegal headlights

Halfords sell LED clusters and small print on back says OFFROAD USE ONLY. They will not fit a LED in place of a filament bulb.

Ring Automotive website says most of their LED are for offroad use only.

It is difficult to argue that main headlights, direction indicators, rear and stop lights are for offroad use only.
 
leeds said:
UK VLR states basically external lights on a vehicle must have an approval mark
Click to expand...

Interesting. The PO of my 90 fitted LED side, tail/brake lights and indicators, complete units not replacement bulbs. Does this contravene the VLR and potentially void my insurance cover? I haven't looked closely so don't know if they're E-marked. Are the sets on eBay Craddocks et al legal or illegal or again is it, yes but only if E-marked?
Cheers
 
Under UK VLR regulations you need an APPROVAL mark on external vehicle lights.

The expression E marked is an expression which can be misused and I see many adverts for vehicle lights stating that they are E marked and road legal. In many cases these lights do not have a valid APPROVAL mark and hence are a defective item and are illegal to use on the road. Examples of what constitutes a valid APPROVAL mark can be found in UN ECE Regulation 48.

An APPROVAL mark consists of several parts.

An E + number in a circle is the code for the country which has done the approval.

A number which is the actual UN ECE regulation number or amendment number

A 4 - 6 digit actual approval number.

Look at any vehicle glass and genuine glass will be marked by E + number in a circle (country code), 43R (UN ECE regulation 43 for vehicle safety glass), plus a 4-6 digit number (the actual approval number).

Go and look at several car windows in a car park.

Vehicle lights require additional information such as

Light function code such as HCR for headlights, RL for a DRL

Headlights also require a peak beam reference number such as 17.5

Headlights for UK use require an arrow showing it is for LHT.

If you look carefully at your lights you should be able to just make out the markings and satisfy yourself
 
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