D2 headlights in a D1

[terryjm1]

In one of my recent project D1s, the original headlights had a good amount of moisture in them. In another project D1, that is a down the road project, someone had installed D2 headlights (pre 2003 ones). So, I swapped them in.

I had been driving another D1 for years with stock D1 headlights. I was never happy with the light output.

Much to my surprise, the D2 headlights were much better. Coming back from my son’s school after their fall festival last night, I came within a couple feet of hitting a deer. I believe the brighter/ more side road coverage D2 headlights were the difference. (By the way, the antilock brakes did well. I skidded just a bit, truck turned sideways just a bit, then the ABS kicked in and righted things. The near miss was rounding a slight curve.)

Is this to be expected or maybe do my D2 headlights just have better bulbs fitted?

 

[jvarnadoe]

I have stock D1 headlight housings with Philips X-treme Vision bulbs and they're pretty darn good at lighting up the road. The headlights were extremely out of adjustment when I purchased the truck. There was a dramatic improvement with the adjustment and upgraded bulbs.

That said, I have no experience with D2 housings so your setup may outshine mine. I just have nothing to compare it to.

 

[DiscoClay]

The two big problems with the D1 housing are:

1. Reflector Degradation
2. Lens Pitting

*Of course the crappy nylon ball sockets are common across many rovers as well

The reflectors get eaten up by moisture and heat cycle until there is barely any shiny mirror stuff remaining. I looked into getting them re-plated but it is ridiculously expensive here in The States.. And, i'd have to ship them to Michigan to get it done.

Pitted lens cause glare and scatter the light away from the intended target.

This is why (and because I want to) I am building my own. I do like the idea of adapting the modernized D2 lights to the D1... tempting but again, finding cherry ones seems to be quite pricey (for me, anyways). If I gotta spend several hundred bucks cherry picking ebay for NOS OEMS at ~$300 a pop.. I'd prefer to build my own.

I will start a new thread with the custom lights. I started discussing it in the electric power steering thread and I shouldn't have done that, additionally, some of the guys here are very particular about how great the original stockers are, and while no harm-no foul, I am not a fan

 

[4Runner]

I feel like some time with a 3D printer is in order. Or try and find a set of Tuff Roc and copy those. I love that your crafting your own set.

 

[lunchbox]

Pre-03 D2 lights are for sure brighter and clear. Easy and cheap upgrade. Throw in some decent bulbs, and you’re set.

 

[terryjm1]

Pre-03 D2 lights are for sure brighter and clear. Easy and cheap upgrade. Throw in some decent bulbs, and you’re set.

Also, no modification is required. They pop right in like the D1 lights.

On a related note, I purchased a brand new set of D1 headlights a few years ago before they got stupid expensive. They are OEM, not Land Rover branded. But, comparing the LR ones to the OEM, the only difference is the Land Rover symbol is not in the glass. Everything else is exactly the same.

 

[DiscoClay]

I feel like some time with a 3D printer is in order. Or try and find a set of Tuff Roc and copy those. I love that your crafting your own set.

I gotta go research tuff roc now.

 

[DiscoClay]

I'd prefer to build my own.

I will start a new thread with the custom lights. I started discussing it in the electric power steering thread and I shouldn't have done that, additionally, some of the guys here are very particular about how great the original stockers are, and while no harm-no foul, I am not a fan

Here's that new thread:

Custom Headlight Project for D1 (1995 NAS 14CUX)

This is the next project for our 95 D1: New headlights. I have limited facilities and am pretty much inventing as I go..so it's a slow slog. DOT hella H4's .. the old school euro ones with metal (e.g.: hard chrome) reflectors which can be easily chromed if they get nastied up. The trick is, I...

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