LED Lighting group

[RonH]

And, thanks again! I joined this forum to learn from those who are experienced with this vehicle, which I sure as heck am not.

A few short weeks ago, I vaguely thought I'd be in the market for a slightly updated version of, I dunno, a CJ-5, I guess. To tell the truth, I'm not really sure what I was thinking. Now I'm trading messages about LEDs and infotainment systems. I already own a damned BMW wagon. which I could sleep in as comfortably as my bed at home, even while driving. Maybe I should get a CJ-5 after all. Heck, I know how to work on cars. Hmm.

At the end of the day, it's your money...get what you enjoy/are willing to spend, and forget about what anyone else says (that includes me...lol). Life is way too short to not get what you like and spend your own money the way you see fit. I wish you well in your search/decision!

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[DanW]

And, thanks again! I joined this forum to learn from those who are experienced with this vehicle, which I sure as heck am not.

A few short weeks ago, I vaguely thought I'd be in the market for a slightly updated version of, I dunno, a CJ-5, I guess. To tell the truth, I'm not really sure what I was thinking. Now I'm trading messages about LEDs and infotainment systems. I already own a damned BMW wagon. which I could sleep in as comfortably as my bed at home, even while driving. Maybe I should get a CJ-5 after all. Heck, I know how to work on cars. Hmm.

There is a gorgeous, mint condition CJ 5 for sale on the West side of Indianapolis at, I believe, Andy Mohr Kia. It has been trying to seduce me every day as I pass it going to and from work. I believe they are asking $12,000 for it. It looks from the road like it just came out of the factory. PM me if you'd like me to get more information on it for you. I could easily stop by there today to get a closer look.

 

[Dynomite1371]

For $895, I'll go aftermarket. Is there anything special about OEM LED's?

Yes they're OEM.

 

[macintux]

There is a gorgeous, mint condition CJ 5 for sale on the West side of Indianapolis at, I believe, Andy Mohr Kia. It has been trying to seduce me every day as I pass it going to and from work. I believe they are asking $12,000 for it. It looks from the road like it just came out of the factory. PM me if you'd like me to get more information on it for you. I could easily stop by there today to get a closer look.

Whoa. I just happen to have today off work to go to the show, guess I'll go check that out. Can't afford it right now but would like to see it.

 

[RussJeep1]

If I may play devil's advocate only for the purposes of hearing from people why this argument makes no sense...not to infuriate anyone.

....I could have sworn I saw on the TFLcar video, where Roman and Tommy took a road trip in the new Sahara, that they reported that people were flashing them with their headlights, presumptively trying to communicate to Roman and Tommy that their high beam headlights were on, when in fact all that were on were their non high beam LED headlights. Might, "not annoying other motorists," be a reason to pass on these lights?

Maybe people aren't use to just how many lumens these new headlights emit and confuse them for high beams: something that with time is less likely to happen perhaps as LED headlights become more standard equipment on vehicles. I do appreciate that better LEDs produce less stray light to annoy other motorists, but these were the OEM LEDs on the new JL. Maybe its a Wrangler think, as its headlights start further from the ground than a sedan's, irrespective of the direction of their beam.

For off roaders and people who drive in more rural areas--don't get me wrong, I can appreciate how the LEDs increase visibility down the road, which increases safety. But for Wrangler owners who consider "outdoor adventures" finding a parking spot at a popular watering hole/mall, wouldn't the additional fog lights be enough where the halogens prove insufficient?

..not that those of us buying mere Sports will have a choice but to buy a light kit, or wait until the aftermarket produces LED headlights compatible with the new JL.

I'm going to guess that the (OEM) LEDs may put a damper on the aftermarket's additional light source sales, but only a small one given its has two markets: those who buy the lights more as show, and those who buy them for off road and rural driving where as bright as they are, the OEM LEDs don't spread light as broadly as such an adventurer might like, precisely because these new headlights need to not interfere with other motorists sight, in more conventional on-road driving scenarios.

Thoughts?

 

[macintux]

There is a gorgeous, mint condition CJ 5 for sale on the West side of Indianapolis at, I believe, Andy Mohr Kia. It has been trying to seduce me every day as I pass it going to and from work. I believe they are asking $12,000 for it. It looks from the road like it just came out of the factory. PM me if you'd like me to get more information on it for you. I could easily stop by there today to get a closer look.

If it’s still there in a couple of months (unlikely I know) forget about a JL for me. GORGEOUS.

 

[Megsxr750]

At the end of the day, it's your money...get what you enjoy/are willing to spend, and forget about what anyone else says (that includes me...lol). Life is way too short to not get what you like and spend your own money the way you see fit. I wish you well in your search/decision!

Well said.

 

[CantThinkOfAHandle]

In Europe and Japan, you can get vehicles with adaptive headlights and front-facing cameras that create a hole in the beam to protect the eyes of oncoming drivers, and of drivers directly ahead. Also, the lights "see" around corners. It's very cool. Unfortunately, the beam-shaping feature is not yet legal in the USA.

 

[The Great Grape Ape]

For off roaders and people who drive in more rural areas--don't get me wrong, I can appreciate how the LEDs increase visibility down the road, which increases safety. But for Wrangler owners who consider "outdoor adventures" finding a parking spot at a popular watering hole/mall, wouldn't the additional fog lights be enough where the halogens prove insufficient?

Thoughts?

The issue with the fog lights is that they don’t extend visibility so much as fill in gap nearer to the Wrangler and illuminate the roadside edges for slow travel needing to make out road/lane edges. Their point is to stay below the level where reflected light would wash out the driver’s vision in fog, but with DRLs in Canada, that role is negated, so all they accomplish is illuminating the area immediately in front of the Wrangler, and the area slightly to the sides adding another nearby 10-15 degrees adjacent illumination, none of which helps either rural or urban adventurers IMO.

Having the fog light housing contain driving lights would throw more light down road, but keep it out of the eyes of oncoming drivers. It would still work ok as a fog light for folks without DRLs as the low to the ground positioning would still illuminate the roadway below the driver’s sightline.

The LEDs in TFL’s JL may have been misaligned (there are as many reports of that from the factory as leaks), but ut may also be that they are just bright and in mountain passes, etc differences in angles or even just the stark contrast to total darkness may have earned the warning flashes even without misalignment.

I would accept their word that they are better than the JK’s OEM LEDs, but it would’ve been nice to see the light pattern with cut-off etc to ensure it wasn’t just a bad cut-off or misalignment.

For trails it doesn’t matter, light-it-up with a blazzing LED lightbar or 10, but for those going to the mall or returning from the trail-head onto the highway far from home, we need to maximize down-road illumination while not blinding other drivers. It’s a hard balance, and I trust the OEM and good established mfrs ahead of random Amazon/eBay offerings.

 

[Lurvis33]

If I may play devil's advocate only for the purposes of hearing from people why this argument makes no sense...not to infuriate anyone.

....I could have sworn I saw on the TFLcar video, where Roman and Tommy took a road trip in the new Sahara, that they reported that people were flashing them with their headlights, presumptively trying to communicate to Roman and Tommy that their high beam headlights were on, when in fact all that were on were their non high beam LED headlights. Might, "not annoying other motorists," be a reason to pass on these lights?

Maybe people aren't use to just how many lumens these new headlights emit and confuse them for high beams: something that with time is less likely to happen perhaps as LED headlights become more standard equipment on vehicles. I do appreciate that better LEDs produce less stray light to annoy other motorists, but these were the OEM LEDs on the new JL. Maybe its a Wrangler think, as its headlights start further from the ground than a sedan's, irrespective of the direction of their beam.

For off roaders and people who drive in more rural areas--don't get me wrong, I can appreciate how the LEDs increase visibility down the road, which increases safety. But for Wrangler owners who consider "outdoor adventures" finding a parking spot at a popular watering hole/mall, wouldn't the additional fog lights be enough where the halogens prove insufficient?

..not that those of us buying mere Sports will have a choice but to buy a light kit, or wait until the aftermarket produces LED headlights compatible with the new JL.

I'm going to guess that the (OEM) LEDs may put a damper on the aftermarket's additional light source sales, but only a small one given its has two markets: those who buy the lights more as show, and those who buy them for off road and rural driving where as bright as they are, the OEM LEDs don't spread light as broadly as such an adventurer might like, precisely because these new headlights need to not interfere with other motorists sight, in more conventional on-road driving scenarios.

Thoughts?

Yea, I just wanted to add that I currently drive a ‘14 Ford Mustang with HID headlights and over the past two years I’ve noticed more SUVs and Trucks come standard with HIDs or LEDs. This exact reason is why I started to want a taller vehicle because I’m always being blinded by bright lights behind and in front of me since I sit so low to the ground. The spill over from these lights are a bit too much and it’s gotten annoying that dealers can’t fine tune the angle and direction these lights shine. Almost all new cars are starting to look like their brights are on when in fact it’s just the regular setting.
It’s one of those things where behind the wheel everything looks great and lit up.....but at the cost of others driving the opposite way.
(I’ll stop ranting now )

 

[PavementWarrior]

If it’s still there in a couple of months (unlikely I know) forget about a JL for me. GORGEOUS.

Very nice, my brother still has his old cj-7 that he has had for some 30 years and tons of upgrades over the years.

Buying a new JL I know everyone in the family is going to weigh in on old vs new, lol. I am sure that CJ has wrecked a ton of new shiny wranglers over the years, so no pressure for me lol.

 

[DanW]

If I may play devil's advocate only for the purposes of hearing from people why this argument makes no sense...not to infuriate anyone.

....I could have sworn I saw on the TFLcar video, where Roman and Tommy took a road trip in the new Sahara, that they reported that people were flashing them with their headlights, presumptively trying to communicate to Roman and Tommy that their high beam headlights were on, when in fact all that were on were their non high beam LED headlights. Might, "not annoying other motorists," be a reason to pass on these lights?

Maybe people aren't use to just how many lumens these new headlights emit and confuse them for high beams: something that with time is less likely to happen perhaps as LED headlights become more standard equipment on vehicles. I do appreciate that better LEDs produce less stray light to annoy other motorists, but these were the OEM LEDs on the new JL. Maybe its a Wrangler think, as its headlights start further from the ground than a sedan's, irrespective of the direction of their beam.

For off roaders and people who drive in more rural areas--don't get me wrong, I can appreciate how the LEDs increase visibility down the road, which increases safety. But for Wrangler owners who consider "outdoor adventures" finding a parking spot at a popular watering hole/mall, wouldn't the additional fog lights be enough where the halogens prove insufficient?

..not that those of us buying mere Sports will have a choice but to buy a light kit, or wait until the aftermarket produces LED headlights compatible with the new JL.

I'm going to guess that the (OEM) LEDs may put a damper on the aftermarket's additional light source sales, but only a small one given its has two markets: those who buy the lights more as show, and those who buy them for off road and rural driving where as bright as they are, the OEM LEDs don't spread light as broadly as such an adventurer might like, precisely because these new headlights need to not interfere with other motorists sight, in more conventional on-road driving scenarios.

Thoughts?

Remember, the JLUS those guys drove was a preproduction unit. I wouldn't be shocked if the headlights were mis-aimed. They still have to abide by DOT regulations, so there is a limit to how bright they can be and still be certified to drive on public roads. My Trucklites are MUCH brighter than the crappy OEM lights that came with my JK, but I never get flashed because they are aimed properly.

 

[sandtrooper]

I could have sworn I saw a release interview from the car show where the Jeep rep said that if someone buying a Sport wants LED group or just the headlights they could be ordered and installed by the dealer as mopar parts. Has no one else heard this or can a dealer confirm?

 

[ThirtyOne]

I could have sworn I saw a release interview from the car show where the Jeep rep said that if someone buying a Sport wants LED group or just the headlights they could be ordered and installed by the dealer as mopar parts. Has no one else heard this or can a dealer confirm?

Yes they are listed in the Mopar catalog @JAY just posted yesterday but are Coming Soon with no pricing.

 

[The Great Grape Ape]

I could have sworn I saw a release interview from the car show where the Jeep rep said that if someone buying a Sport wants LED group or just the headlights they could be ordered and installed by the dealer as mopar parts. Has no one else heard this or can a dealer confirm?

As ThirtyOne mentions, the JL LED Headlights are going to be in the Mopar catalogue, so you can still order and add after the fact.

You just can’t add the JK MOPAR headlights (4 kinds including JLS and TL variants) nor 3rd party traditional 7” offerings without an eventual adapter/ring/whatever at some point in the future (likely from a 3rd party since MOPAR would want to push their newer product) in order to fit the JL. Had FCA made the headlights’ housing smaller instead of bigger then there would be no possibility for an adapter to accomodate old JK options.

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