Defender Upgrades: LED Lights
It must be said that one of the poorest performing parts of the Defender is its headlights. Having often been compared to putting out as much light as a candle, anyone that's driven a defender at night can attest to their need for an upgrade.
Fitting a pair of upgraded headlight bulbs can have a pretty big impact, but to go beyond this you need to fit a pair of LED Headlights.
Until fairly recently, your options were pretty limited and you were confined to using modern looking headlights that simply had no place on the front of a classically styled Defender. Thankfully the H4 headlight is used throughout the world, predominantly on classic vehicles, so a couple of options have emerged in recent years, and it’s one of these we have used on most of our recent builds.
Whilst upgrading the headlights has the biggest impact for those driving a Defender, for other road users upgrading the brake lights, sidelights and indicators can make a real difference to being seen on the road. Thankfully Wipac have produced for a number of years their LED light upgrade kit, which is available in the traditional Red/Amber/White colours, there is also more contemporary White/White/White version, and there’s a Smoked version for those inclined. While they don’t look identical to the original lights, it’s certainly a trade off worth considering.
The original Wipac Quadoptic Headlights
Headlights
The Wipac Quadoptic Headlights are as iconic as the Defender itself and replacing them with modern looking headlights in our opinion doesn’t work at all. Bangin’ Headlights in Australia has produced a great glass-fronted offering which replicates the styling of the original units, but provides a great light and has a warm tone (4300K) to it, closely resembling the original lights. It’s these lights that we’ve used and would highly recommend. Holley in the US has recently introduced a 7’’ Headlight, with similar styling to the originals, and although I’ve heard good things about them, we’ve not seen or used these yet ourselves.
Bangin’ Headlights’ Traditional 7
Side Lights, Indicators, Brake Lights, and Fog and Reverse Lights
Wipac manufactures a LED kit for all the smaller 73mm lights together with a relay. The reverse and fog lights, and side indicators mounted on the front wings are available separately. One useful feature of these lights is that they are weather sealed, which for those used to the originals, will be a welcome upgrade!
Wipac LED Brake Light, Indicator and Reverse Light