Club 80-90 Forums

Anybody here used the campervan culture LED headlight upgrade for round light vans?

Bump... I'm guessing that's a no?

Round or Square...not that it makes any difference apart from my interest in what Jed is actually selling here.
The technical issues around supplying an LED alternative that fits the original lamp housings? (I presume the lamps stay the same) as these lamps shape their light through the lens the internal light source (the filament) must be accurately suspended (with pin point accuracy) at a set point in the lamp so that the reflector projects the light forwards through the 'shaping lens' the change from Dip to Full beam is a simple swap between two filaments held at different points within the lamp..we are talking just a few mm difference. Hence my apprehension/scepticism, as LED light emission is very directional unlike a traditional filament within a Halogen or Tungsten bulb.

The fact that ONE of the 3 reviewers on the site reports NO KICK indicates that the shaping of the light by the lens is not as it should be. Lamp aim and beam shaping, both have to comply to strict criteria to pass an MOT. I am always open to new technology that improves our lives but I doubt that these would comply to current MOT standards...It could be something of a lottery whether they would pass and I'm guessing, down to how strict or thorough your MOT is conducted.

Martin

My feelings on Hella units are well known. Even when new, they're not good. They simply do not compare to modern reflectors for accuracy and maximising light output, no matter what bulbs you fit. I tried just about every type of bulb in stock units over 12 months including (as Martin mentions), trying the bulbs in different positions and whilst some were considerably brighter, I wasn't really happy with any of them. They lacked focus and allow spurious light where its not really wanted. Moving to modern computer-designed light units completely solved it for me and I still only use standard halogen bulbs. Considering they're only around £40 a pair brand new, its a no-brainer. I think Hellas cost that EACH.

These are round headlights with stock bulbs. All I did was upgrade power feed to headlights, added relays and dumped the Hellas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEIkGpC72GY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; If you pause close to beginning, you'll see the headlight units. The reflector is the lens rather than the glass. They pass MOT every year and I can spot a wandering bunny for a quarter of a mile. I can also get replacement bulbs anywhere at low cost. My MOT tester was really helpful and verified the beam pattern was exceptionally good.

If you have square lights, you are somewhat limited, but Osram silverstar bulbs are a good choice, and you may find LED bulbs work for you (they didn't for me), but as I say, the reflectors themselves are very old-school and far more suited to tungsten or halogen anyway.

My recommendation is set aside the issue of bulbs for now and consider the bigger picture. LED bulbs are a very white light but from all the experiments I did, their range is less than halogen bulbs, at least in stock Hella units.

To my mind, trying to compensate for poor lights with whiter or brighter bulbs is like chasing your tail. It still leaves the underlying fundamental cause - lack of volts and/or crappy headlight units, only now you have the added problem of being reliant on a bulb that is less readily available than what you had to start with. Better to deal with the cause.

Thanks for replies, certainly food for thought on the LED VS HALOGEN debate.

I have an 1982 van with round SA spec grill with the extra two light on main beam.

After following a few links from the you tube from Covkid I've come across these units for land rover. They are 7" and upon first glance look like they'd fit in the big lights. Not sure if they are compatible. Has anyone tried these ?

http://www.powerfuluk.com/vehicles/land ... rades.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Still need to look for 5.5" for the small lights. They are going a bit rusty...

Yep - its already in another thread although you can also do it with cable ties.