Upgrading the headlight bulbs

[woody367]

So I would like to change my stock TJ headlights and use SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR ULTRA bulb. Should I find a set a stock JK lights, not sure if the newer ones would fit or are these on ebay any good see link.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...r-tj-for-a-hardtop-part-1-dash-harness.15350/

 

[Chris]

What does that link have to do with headlights?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Silverstars are barely and almost imperceptibly better than the OE headlights.

 

[WesRJ86]

I have a set of JK housings on mine that my brother gave me from his JKU. After watching a video from Headlight Revolution that @Chris posted on here, I bought a "2 sided" LED bulb style that the guy recommended and installed them in the housings. The low beam has excellent output and pattern in my opinion. The high beam pattern is bad, but this may not be the case with one of their recommended brands.

 

[CharlesHS]

For about $110 total; you can upgrade to a separate headlight harness giving you 13.8V+ and Hella H4 headlight housings with replaceable bulbs.

K Suspension H4 headlight harness

Hella H4

 

[woody367]

What does that link have to do with headlights?

Sorry for the link screw up. Try this one .

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-...0001&campid=5337789113&icep_item=332414137941

 

[woody367]

Can not use LED as they do not give off enough heat to melt snow in the winter. I will look into the HELLA setup.

 

[Zorba]

I'm running the Hella setup with "BeamTech" LED H4 replacement bulbs. If you need the heat, there *are* heated LED headlites.

 

[Goatman]

Watched the vids. Ordered the harness! Thanks guys. You keep my credit card company very happy.

 

[woody367]

Watched the vids. Ordered the harness! Thanks guys. You keep my credit card company very happy.

What vid did you watch? What did you search? Thx

 

[woody367]

I'm running the Hella setup with "BeamTech" LED H4 replacement bulbs. If you need the heat, there *are* heated LED headlites.

Heated LED lights are alot of money. Not woth it to me.

 

[WallyWest]

I've only had mine for one winter so far, and not much snow. But it seems to me the lights are almost completely vertical. Can't imagine snow accumulating on them very much. I'm seriously considering some of the Truck Lites, or similar.

 

[AjRagno]

After a lot of research, I recently replace my headlights with Cibie lenses and Osram bulbs - this was based in Daniel Sterns’ recommendations.

I did not change the harness because unless you have other issues or plan to run hotter bulbs it shouldn’t be an issue. Also: if ARB can get away with charging $130 for their harness, I couldn’t trust any of the lower cost alternatives.

No issues after 2 months and a lot of night driving. Great light output and I only need to carry a spare bulb.

 

[j8ksdad]

For about $110 total; you can upgrade to a separate headlight harness giving you 13.8V+ and Hella H4 headlight housings with replaceable bulbs.

K Suspension H4 headlight harness

Hella H4

View attachment 189180

Just did this to my wife's TJ this past weekend. HUGE improvement!

 

[CharlesHS]

Just did this to my wife's TJ this past weekend. HUGE improvement!

Between the almost 3VDC difference in voltage to the headlights, the better reflector and the better quality crystal lens there is quite a difference in the lumens the headlights put out over the stock head lights; plus you are not overloading the factory 18 ga wiring and 10A fuse.

 

[Goatman]

What vid did you watch? What did you search? Thx

I s
Watched the vids Charles linked. (Post #5), then stayed on Utube for another hour and a half checking out other similar comparison vids of different LED, Halogen lights. I've been trying to find a non LED bulb because I don't see with the blueish tint well at all. After over a year of checking all different types of upgrades when I saw for $25 it is worth the gamble to keep with standard lights. When I get the harness installed I'll report back on how they do. May need some help setting up my (phone)camera to take controlled exposures.

 

[CharlesHS]

Yeah.... My eyes don't like the blueish tint either..
The Hella H4 60/55W halogen lights work well for me...

 

[Feralkid]

I got the kc H4 housings. They use a polycarbonate lense that won’t shatter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045IBCGE/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Probably get them cheaper directly from kc.


They come with Phillips long life bulbs.
I replaced the bulbs with Osram night breaker unlimited , which are identical to silver stars but way less expensive. Marketing I suppose. I keep the Phillips as backups.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085NS3XU/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[CharlesHS]

I got the kc H4 housings. They use a polycarbonate lense that won’t shatter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045IBCGE/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Probably get them cheaper directly from kc.


They come with Phillips long life bulbs.
I replaced the bulbs with Osram night breaker unlimited , which are identical to silver stars but way less expensive. Marketing I suppose. I keep the Phillips as backups.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085NS3XU/?tag=wranglerorg-20

In the short term the KC polycarbonate lens may work fine, but look what the UV does to factory headlights that have the plastic lens; they turn a hazy yellow which will decrease the amount of lumens that reach the road.
I have run Hella H4 housings with the crystal lens on a variety of Jeeps for almost 25 years and they have not disappointed me yet.

 

[woody367]

CharlesHS. Are you using the Hella H4 ousingand bulbs or just the Hella H4 4bulbs? with some other brand housing?