What is the best headlight for the money?

Even the stealth I googled didn't look near stock up close ..so here's what I'm up to..


Got Hellas coming and some online glass version of the rampage and Beamtech LEDs and the adapter they said was needed...I like both looks so it will be fun to see how they both look on the Jeep...I do lean toward stock generally.

It seems the housing and led world gets down to this ...not all housings are compatible with LEDs as far as directing the light, good cut off and not overpowering oncoming cars.

The hella /led combo is a known, and the only place I'm out in left field is not.getting the exact Rampage housing because I couldn't cancel fast enough...but I know what to get if I these are junk, so I should be fine and can return reorder. Too many boxes showing up that don't say Etsy causes my wife concern.

Part of me doesn't want to go extremely high end for several reasons-

500+ plus for bulbs is territory I've never been to...hard to get my mind around it....of course having 30k in one of these and another one to sitting under a car cover for a hobby when I'm not working on my hobby probably isn't a sign of genius either.

I have 5 aux lights ...plus 2 driving lights if I need more than the lesser cost upgrade gives

Lastly, I really like the stock light...the TJ is too far out of production for some aftermarket lights to look right. It's like aftermarket wheels on a Corvette...it seldom works aesthetically.

My stock lights do the job, but like the 4.0, I don't want any less, and it isn't a good light tone. I've likely grown used to halogen and LEDs since my other vehicles are newer.

Halogen doesn't bother me as a category...I'm jus trying to limit my search, and going with popular opinion.

Thanks 👍

Here are the Quadratec gen ii stealth. Bought them pretty cheap off someone turning in a JK on lease. Not exactly stock, but in line with the other aftermarket leds put there

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I feel almost apologetic to post this... I know we have the sticky...but the headlight market seems to be evolving so fast and when I look online my brain just melts.

Would it be possible to categorize aftermarket headlights this way for me...

What is a truly significant upgrade from stock with a stock appearance for under $150.... The combination of bulbs and housings is endless... And many housings are not made for the power of an LED and you end up with cut off issues or simply too much light or other things I think

What is the best value around 150-$300

What is the best light....period

I like the idea of a housing that looks stock and being able to run into the parts store and get a bulb...

And I don't mind going clear..

I'm also confused about the advantages of polycarbonate versus glass.

Thanks I know I've started a similar thread before but I'm trying to break it down a little bit... I don't want to overthink it.

I know I don't want anything garish or it looks like it's all black or a flies eyes... and I would like to see significantly better output than stock.
I work at a Harley parts store and I used the Harley Dresser headlights we sell. They are exactly the same headlight just different packaging. And a lot cheaper.
 
I work at a Harley parts store and I used the Harley Dresser headlights we sell. They are exactly the same headlight just different packaging. And a lot cheaper.
Tell me about that headlight... What is it... Or do you have a part number. I kept noticing that comes up over and over for the bikes as well.
 
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I'm very surprised no one has mentioned Cibie H4 housings. They are glass and look very much like stock. I have them paired with Philips +130% H4 bulbs and the ARB M002 harness and they have been great. Sharp cutoff, no dark spots, and never been flashed (after aiming them correctly). There are probably cheaper harnesses available than the ARB now but I couldn’t find any a few years ago when I bought it.

However, it looks like Amazon hasn't sold them in almost a year and I don't really see them available anywhere else either. It's possible that they are no longer in production.

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I really really wanted the KC Gravity headlights... but I just couldn't bring myself to drop that kinda bread on headlights. I ended up 'settling' for the KC HiLites H4 halogen lights but it turns out I couldn't be happier. At first I told myself I'd run these until I got the major fixes/upgrades out of the way, then I'd get the Gravity lights... but I ended up loving these so I'll probably stick with them for a long time.

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I'm very surprised no one has mentioned Cibie H4 housings. They are glass and look very much like stock. I have them paired with Philips +130% H4 bulbs and the ARB M002 harness and they have been great. Sharp cutoff, no dark spots, and never been flashed (after aiming them correctly). There are probably cheaper harnesses available than the ARB now but I couldn’t find any a few years ago when I bought it.

However, it looks like Amazon hasn't sold them in almost a year and I don't really see them available anywhere else either. It's possible that they are no longer in production.

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I saw those and was impressed with the stock look as well...good post.
 
The best headlight for the money is the one that makes you happy. But I do have JW speakers in the jeep and a set of the KC Gravity Pro's in the box. Ended up liking the jw better..
 
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. . . What is a truly significant upgrade from stock with a stock appearance for under $150. . . .

What is the best value around 150-$300

What is the best light....period

I like the idea of a housing that looks stock and being able to run into the parts store and get a bulb...



with these [Philips X-Treme Vision +130 H4 bulbs] ...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMEEOV2/?tag=wranglerorg-20

^^^ These.

Plus:

Maximize the brightness of the upgraded bulbs with this wiring harness, $25, from K-Suspension, worth the wait until back in stock:

https://www.ksuspensionfab.com/store/p6/H4_Upgraded_Headlight_Harness.html#/

Hella E-Code housings, $81, plus Philips X-Treme Vision +130 H4 bulbs, $20, plus K-Suspension headlight harness, $25 =$130.



You don't "need" the +130 bulbs. The Hella housings come with 60/55w H4 bulbs that you can find at any auto parts store. The benefit of the +130 bulbs is a slightly whiter color temperature which makes them appear brighter to the human eye without any blueish cast, but they have the same 60/55w rating as standard H4 bulbs and aren't necessary to get the benefit of the E-Code housings.
 
For the best headlights in your price range, I suggest what I currently have:

-IPF H4 housings (glass)
-LED H4 bulbs
-Harness that allows for low beams to stay on when switching to high beams

This retains the stock look, with pretty decent brightness and beam pattern. I think the best for stock look/brightness are the KC Gravity headlights like Chris posted, but they certainly aren't near the budget mentioned. I plan on getting the Gravity LED lights myself eventually. Every KC product I've owned has been top notch, and from the pics I've seen I think the beam pattern is slightly better than what I have now.

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I'm that guy that bought some "cheap" LED headlights off Amazon. Initially for my JK, then I cascaded them to the TJ. I'm not enough of a connoisseur to be able to speak to beam patterns and cutoffs, but they work well and I don't get people flashing me at night (very often). Had them for 3 years, so reliability is not a question. The factory lights were an abomination unto the earth, so the bar was low.
 
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Ok, I can do that but what is your strategy for puddles of dirty water ON the road?? 🤣
Honestly I bought my TJ about a year ago. I live in the city and it stays parked in my parking garage. I take it out for cruises on nice days and I’ve been straightening all the little things out that it’s needed. I’ve overhauled the cooling system, fixed all the oil leaks, installed a new suspension, valve guide seals, and a couple other miscellaneous things including new wheels and tires this past summer. I finally have it in the type of condition I’m happy with short of a re gear (which is next). After that I will have no issues jumping on the highway and heading to the trails much more often.
 
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i have the KC H4 HILites and they are alot better then stock with the bulbs they come with, my next little project is the phillips +130's and the conversion wire harness that was posted earlier out of stock i have my hella 500's come on with the high beams as it is now
 
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I just ordered 2 sets of Philips X vision H4, for my 30 yr. old Cibie Z-beam housings.
And a set of Omix-Ada 7” wide fender flares for better tire coverage.
 
This thread got me thinking about upgrading. I grabbed a Hella conversion kit off ebay yesterday and had the wife pick up some Silverstar Ultra bulbs. I almost went with the truck-lite knock offs, but decided I wanted the stock look more than sunlight at night. I can always experiment down the road.