Maggsie8
Active Member
Firstly welcome Matt.
My advise on the LED headlights is spend a little more and go for recognised ones (Truck, etc.) rather than cheap sets from eBay... from personal experience getting these cheaper sets (even if DOT approved) can cause issues in getting the correct alignment and will lead to an MOT fail!!
Blaven
Active Member
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Firstly in the U.K. and Europe you do not need DOT approval. There is no such thing as DOT approval as the U.S.A Department of Transport does not approve items but are a regulatory setting organisation.
If LED headlights are just marked DOT, SAE, E + number in a circle they are illegal on cars in the U.K.
Most cheap if not all cheap LED headlights on sites like eBay are illegal for road use in the U.K. as they are not approved for road use.
Easiest way of buying fully approved, road legal LED headlights is to buy some with a reputable makers name on them such as J W Speaker, Vision X, Nolden, Truck-Lite etc.
To be road legal in the U.K. the lights must have an approval mark on consisting of
Country code
Light Function Code
Approval Number
Peak Beam Reference Number
Etc
Brendan
If LED headlights are just marked DOT, SAE, E + number in a circle they are illegal on cars in the U.K.
Most cheap if not all cheap LED headlights on sites like eBay are illegal for road use in the U.K. as they are not approved for road use.
Easiest way of buying fully approved, road legal LED headlights is to buy some with a reputable makers name on them such as J W Speaker, Vision X, Nolden, Truck-Lite etc.
To be road legal in the U.K. the lights must have an approval mark on consisting of
Country code
Light Function Code
Approval Number
Peak Beam Reference Number
Etc
Brendan
FlyingPete
Well-Known Member
And half of those, if they have a beam pattern at all, will be set for driving on the right.
JB007
New Member
Bought these the other week and fitted them before the MOT. Passed no problem.
Seem to be good quality for £90. Plugged straight in with no issues.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Defender-90-110-LED-PAIR-of-Headlights-7-Inch-FREE-Fog-LED/163663464281?_mwBanner=1&ul_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F163663464281&rvr_id=0&rvr_ts=b920fe1d16c0a4d12ae2be48ffec9980&ul_noapp=true&pageci=660c0714-a3c1-46bd-ab18-ed42eb12f1ea
Seem to be good quality for £90. Plugged straight in with no issues.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Defender-90-110-LED-PAIR-of-Headlights-7-Inch-FREE-Fog-LED/163663464281?_mwBanner=1&ul_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F163663464281&rvr_id=0&rvr_ts=b920fe1d16c0a4d12ae2be48ffec9980&ul_noapp=true&pageci=660c0714-a3c1-46bd-ab18-ed42eb12f1ea
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Martin Goode
Member
I have to vote for a quality, branded lamp. I put J W Speaker's on mine, and haven't regretted it. You'll need to spend a few quid, but the difference in output and definition of the beam is chalk vs cheese. (I know as I put a 'cheap' set off Ebay on first, and they wouldn't have passed the MOT)
tailhook
Well-Known Member
Love it when someone finds a bargain! For £90, why not take a punt because Inspector Knacker has zero interest, knowledge or notion to check anything like the back of a headlight and ditto for MoT guys, just so long as the beam is the correct profile and spread, etc. For £500, I'd certainly reckon mine were better than any eBay kit. They're all made in China, India or Turkey, so go figure.
neilly
Well-Known Member
tried the Ebay route, hugely bright and then failed by MOT 10 months later as the beam pattern was all over the place. Bit the bullet and bought the WIPAC lights in the end. They're awesome! beam pattern is great (and MOT worthy) and I wired the angel light thingys into the side lights (pretty easy to do). really happy with them.
Blaven
Active Member
I think if you go branded you won’t be disappointed. I can’t say they are all the same because I genuinely don’t know but I’d have thought there won’t be much difference (other than price!). As I said above I’ve got the Vortex and can’t fault them.
Let us know how you get on.
JB007
New Member
Lights have been on for a while now. No problems so far with water/mud.
neilly
Well-Known Member
JB007
New Member
Just normal driving.
Millsy90
Member
Have you considered LED bulbs, at work we fit the LED bulbs from https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/
There are other people that make them but the bulbs from here have the best beam pattern.
There are other people that make them but the bulbs from here have the best beam pattern.
Sofasurfer
Well-Known Member
So I could spend a lot of money on headlights to fit myself, that might not pass an MOT and that might be nicked when I already have working headlights. Hmm, let me think about that........ I know........!
