Poor Headlights

I have a 2014 Freelander 2 HSE with nice running lights but on dipped or mainbeam they are poor and yellow white. The headlight enclosures are clear so what can I replace the standard bulbs with for better performance.

That old chestnut.
The only way to improve them is to get an HID conversion kit and install that. Unfortunately HID kits aren't legal in headlamps marked for halogen use. Sometimes the label shows HID, which might trick an MOT tester into thinking they are factory fit, so not a fail. However some MOT testers don't seem bothered, and will pass a car which looks OK.

Nodge68 said:

That old chestnut.
The only way to improve them is to get an HID conversion kit and install that. Unfortunately HID kits aren't legal in headlamps marked for halogen use. Sometimes the label shows HID, which might trick an MOT tester into thinking they are factory fit, so not a fail. However some MOT testers don't seem bothered, and will pass a car which looks OK.

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Any recommendations for an easy to fit and effective kit??

For defenders there are wire-sets, I do not know if it is necessary / works for a Freelander..

If you use a voltmeter:
Start the engine and measure the voltage on your headlights and compare that with the voltage on your alternator.
If there is a 1,5 volt or more difference you can make your own wire loom and power your headlights from your alternator..
On the old Series and Defenders that makes a big difference.

Gatherrover said:

For defenders there are wire-sets, I do not know if it is necessary / works for a Freelander..

If you use a voltmeter:
Start the engine and measure the voltage on your headlights and compare that with the voltage on your alternator.
If there is a 1,5 volt or more difference you can make your own wire loom and power your headlights from your alternator..
On the old Series and Defenders that makes a big difference.

Click to expand...

There's plenty of volts at the headlamps. They're just a bad design. What happens is the small reflectors overheat and go yellow, reducing the light output massively. HID lamps are 3 X as bright, so can overcome the damaged reflectors to a large degree. Also as an HID lamp doesn't get anywhere near as hot as a 9005 lamp, so the reflector degradation stops.

Timruk said:

Any recommendations for an easy to fit and effective kit??

Click to expand...

ABD get good feedback on the Freel2 forum. Get the 35W version, but be aware that they could fail the MOT, but many FL2 owners on Freel2 have them, and pass MOTs without trouble.