Land Rover Joe
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- Joined
- Apr 10, 2011
- Posts
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I have the OEM lights which @Rover Range provided the instructions.
Yes, the install is very involved and not very fun. There are a lot of issues sorted out and as one person said on this forum a long time ago (when I did mine, which was 2015)... you pay $1000 to get the OEM wiring harness (which is basically true).
The good thing about the OEM set is that after all this wiring, you have a pretty good looking (with its own Relay which is basically added-onto the relay box under the hood) switch in the cabin. Of course, that switch is compliant with EU regulations...so that means that your Accessory Lights only work with the brights (as installed). I am sure there is a way to rewire all this stuff...but that is a project I simply haven't bothered with (yet). Plus, I am headed back to Europe shortly so I will need to have those lights compliant (yes, they do check with their various annual inspections - called the "MOT" in the UK [Ministry of Transportation Vehicle Inspection]).
Another "good thing" about the OEM is that they are indeed strong enough to deal with the lights with all this plastic in front. You simply cannot bolt lights onto the existing bumper or grill because it is just not strong enough. The OEM assembly has two pretty large steel upright supports which bolt to the frame and extend THROUGH (requiring some cutting/drilling) the OEM bumper.
I have the plastic bumper guard accessory as well (no longer available, apparently) and the OEM lights fit pretty well with that installed as well.
SO: BAD IDEA - bolt lights to the plastic. BETTER IDEA - Get some steel supports (OEM or otherwise) and modify those for your application. BEST IDEA - Just get a steel bumper and be done with it.... (again, I cannot since I have to go back to Europe and the truck needs to be compliant).
The OEM lights are Hellas and not great (at all). Mine worked ok for the first ~4 years but then the seals got compromised and started to leak, corroding the reflectors and fogging up. At this point, I am done with them and bought some Baja designs lights to replace them (with a whole new wiring harness). This is a future project and can let people know how that works out (priority right now is the engine) but may be germane to this discussion.
Curious on folks thoughts -
Yes, the install is very involved and not very fun. There are a lot of issues sorted out and as one person said on this forum a long time ago (when I did mine, which was 2015)... you pay $1000 to get the OEM wiring harness (which is basically true).
The good thing about the OEM set is that after all this wiring, you have a pretty good looking (with its own Relay which is basically added-onto the relay box under the hood) switch in the cabin. Of course, that switch is compliant with EU regulations...so that means that your Accessory Lights only work with the brights (as installed). I am sure there is a way to rewire all this stuff...but that is a project I simply haven't bothered with (yet). Plus, I am headed back to Europe shortly so I will need to have those lights compliant (yes, they do check with their various annual inspections - called the "MOT" in the UK [Ministry of Transportation Vehicle Inspection]).
Another "good thing" about the OEM is that they are indeed strong enough to deal with the lights with all this plastic in front. You simply cannot bolt lights onto the existing bumper or grill because it is just not strong enough. The OEM assembly has two pretty large steel upright supports which bolt to the frame and extend THROUGH (requiring some cutting/drilling) the OEM bumper.
I have the plastic bumper guard accessory as well (no longer available, apparently) and the OEM lights fit pretty well with that installed as well.
SO: BAD IDEA - bolt lights to the plastic. BETTER IDEA - Get some steel supports (OEM or otherwise) and modify those for your application. BEST IDEA - Just get a steel bumper and be done with it.... (again, I cannot since I have to go back to Europe and the truck needs to be compliant).
The OEM lights are Hellas and not great (at all). Mine worked ok for the first ~4 years but then the seals got compromised and started to leak, corroding the reflectors and fogging up. At this point, I am done with them and bought some Baja designs lights to replace them (with a whole new wiring harness). This is a future project and can let people know how that works out (priority right now is the engine) but may be germane to this discussion.
Curious on folks thoughts -