Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

Best stock look headlight upgrade?

Greenmachine

Greenmachine

TJ Enthusiast
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Hey, I’m looking to keep the stock look as much as possible but improve my headlights since the actual stock ones stink. A lot of options out there improve the performance for sure but makes the Jeep look too alien for me.

Anybody know what I should buy?
Thanks.
 
Install a dedicated electrical harness with (2) 30A relays and use the factory 18 gauge wiring as the switching power. The stock factory harness delivers only about 11.6V to the headlights; the dedicated harness will deliver whatever voltage your alternator is putting out (13.8-14.3V). The harness alone will make the stock headlights brighter.
You can also install H4 headlight housings (PIAA,IPF,Hella) with replaceable bulbs to make your headlights even brighter.
 
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Chris said:
If money is no option, I absolutely love these things on my TJ, and they have a nice almost stock look to them as well:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DNK7BFA/?tag=wranglerorg-20

If money is a concern, these are excellent H4 halogen upgrades:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008DQV88Q/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Click to expand...
X2

2E404EC0-CF85-4BBE-95FD-75CF4469A49A.jpeg


Nice clean white light. Not bluish at all.
 
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Greenmachine said:
Hey, I’m looking to keep the stock look as much as possible but improve my headlights since the actual stock ones stink. A lot of options out there improve the performance for sure but makes the Jeep look too alien for me.

Anybody know what I should buy?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Look stock but perform way better than stock.

These H4 housings
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G72SKQ/?tag=wranglerorg-20

With this harness

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H5JFHR0/?tag=wranglerorg-20

And some Sylvania 130%+ bulbs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMEEOV2/?tag=wranglerorg-20
 
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Here is a reprint of my 6/19/2020 post in another thread on this very subject:


I am not a fan of aftermarket LED headlamps for TJ's. I don't like the beam pattern or the color temperature. YMMV.

I use Hella E-Code housings and 60/55w Philips Extreme Vision +130 bulbs with an aftermarket headlight harness that powers the bulbs directly from the battery rather than run power through the headlight switch.

Links:

E-code Housings and Bulbs - $87.91 on 6/19/20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G72SKQ/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Philips +130 Bulbs (optional) - $19.88 on 6/19/20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMEEOV2/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Headlight Harness (optional) - $25.00 on 6/19/20
https://www.ksuspensionfab.com/store/p6/H4_Upgraded_Headlight_Harness.html#/


As for fog lamps, I use the factory fogs with yellow/amber H3 bulbs. These:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002E2WMVW/?tag=wranglerorg-20



See: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/led-headlight-and-fog-light-upgrade.36852/#post-609961
 
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I recently installed the Hella E-code housings and Philips +130 bulbs that Mr. Bills uses (without the aftermarket headlight harness) and am happy with the results. Stock look with significant increase in brightness. Regardless of which headlights you choose, you will need to check the aim.
 
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The factory headlight harness is 18 gauge wiring, the fuse that supplies the circuit is a 10A and the multi function switch is not capable of handling a continued use of a high amp draw which is why I suggest the installation of the 12 gauge wiring from the battery to the relays, 14 gauge wiring from the relays to the headlights and a inline 25A fuse for the power source.
In reality the 18 gauge wiring can only handle 7.5A of draw and that is being generous.

For those that upgrade the headlights with higher wattage bulbs without upgrading the harness; you should periodically inspect the 18 gauge wiring to ensure the wiring is not getting too warm due to lower voltage and higher amp draw.
 
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CharlesHS said:
For those that upgrade the headlights with higher wattage bulbs without upgrading the harness; you should periodically inspect the 18 gauge wiring to ensure the wiring is not getting too warm due to lower voltage and higher amp draw.
Click to expand...

Good point.

Inspection of the OEM H6024 headlamps reveals that they are a sealed housing with an ordinary 60/55w H4 halogen bulb inside.

Jeepers who upgrade to E-Code housings and the 60/55w H4 bulbs that typically come with the kits, and those who upgrade to the Philips +130 H4 bulbs, which are also 60/55w but with a slightly higher color temperature, are using bulbs with exactly the same wattage as the factory H6024 headlamps so the amp draw should also be exactly the same as the factory headlamps.

Where one typically starts getting into trouble with burned sockets, multipurpose headlight switches, etc., is using 80/55w, 100/55w or similar high powered bulbs. I have a spare E-Code housing left over from another project which shows heat damage from it's original owner's use of 100/55w bulbs. I have housings that have been used almost 20 years with standard 60/55w H4 bulbs which show no heat damage whatsoever.


Since I use 60/55w H4 bulbs, my reason for using an aftermarket headlight harness was to get greater light output through higher voltage to the bulbs rather than to protect the factory 18 gauge wiring from greater wattage or amp draw.
 
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This might not be the exact thing you are looking for but it was cheap and I think it looks good.
I had an old Harley halogen headlight laying around and when helping a buddy with his bike, I noticed he had one too. Since a LOT of Harley guys are updating to LED, you might be able to find these for cheap or nothing at all.
I just added an LED replacement for the H4 bulb last night. Looks and works good.
HD Headlights.jpg
 
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Just put a good bulb in a JK housing, then use the relays and wire them up like the KC hi-lites quad beam where the dim remains on when on hi beam. Blinding and easy and cheap.
 
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