Verified: LED & Interior/Exterior Lighting Features for 2018 Jeep Wrangler (JL)

[JAY]

Over the coming weeks and months we will be releasing various features & options that we have verified will be available for the 2018 JL Wrangler. These will be released in parts and as always will be added to the main 2018 Jeep Wrangler (JL) / 2019 Pickup (JT) Info Thread for easy reference.

Part 1 - Lighting

The JL Wrangler will feature many new lighting features & options including ambient LED lighting for the interior and illuminated cupholders. We can also confirm that the exterior will feature daytime running lamps with LED accents, LED fog lamps, LED reflector headlamps and LED tail lamps.

**Note that some of the features may be standard or optional, or part of a package, and may not be available on all trim models.**

SUMMARY:

Interior

• Ambient LED lighting
• Illuminated cupholders

Exterior

• Daytime Running Lamps will have LED accents
• LED fog lamps
• LED reflector headlamps
• LED tail lamps
• LED turn signals (in fenders)

LED headlights and LED turns signals have already been spied in previous JLU prototype photos.

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[Davos77]

It's the little things like LED lighting that helps make a car look and feel more modern. I just hope these are all standard and Jeep won't be nickel and diming us for it.

 

[DropTopGal]

It's the little things like LED lighting that helps make a car look and feel more modern. I just hope these are all standard and Jeep won't be nickel and diming us for it.

I agree... the little things make it nice.

 

[Eddie_T]

I've held off for many years on buying LED head/tail lights due to mixed reviews about flickering lights or misalignment. They're pretty expensive so if Jeep can make it standard on all Wranglers that would be a huge bonus. Extra points if they can offer smoked housing.

 

[Dackel]

I've held off for many years on buying LED head/tail lights due to mixed reviews about flickering lights or misalignment. They're pretty expensive so if Jeep can make it standard on all Wranglers that would be a huge bonus. Extra points if they can offer smoked housing.

For those of us still in warranty, there's also the potential of having a dealer blame a larger electrical issue on aftermarket LED as a lame excuse for not wanting to honor my factory warranty.

 

[AVENTUS]

Ambient lighting on inside is a great sign that this will be the first wrangler to have a truly luxurious interior, even if it looks utilitarian and is waterproof.

 

[Dart Maul]

Ambient lighting on inside is a great sign that this will be the first wrangler to have a truly luxurious interior, even if it looks utilitarian and is waterproof.

Updated interior and modern lighting is great and all but just hope it's as hose-off-able as ever.

 

[AVENTUS]

Updated interior and modern lighting is great and all but just hope it's as hose-off-able as ever.

Hose-off-able is a huge yes.

Carpet or leather of any kind should be OPTIONAL AF.

I want white body-matched steel interior and waterproof seats and an optional waterproof cover for the touchscreen and buttons.

It's electronic. Or it "gets the hose"

 

[Shawn Ash]

Going to be able to identify the JL from a mile away with the LED halo lights.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Except now with the spottings today seems the LED headlights will only be on the high end trims still so people not willing to spend more money cant see worth a crap at night.

Going to be able to identify the JL from a mile away with the LED halo lights.

 

[Bill P]

Except now with the spottings today seems the LED headlights will only be on the high end trims still so people not willing to spend more money cant see worth a crap at night.

Not surprised since the 2017 Cherokee (same price range as Wrangler) still has halogen headlights standard in the Sport model (w/ HID optional). Everything above Sport has HID standard though.

 

[The Great Grape Ape]

Not surprised since the 2017 Cherokee (same price range as Wrangler) still has halogen headlights standard in the Sport model (w/ HID optional). Everything above Sport has HID standard though.

Actually TrailHawk is also non-HID, there's an upper model TrailHawk trim with HIDs but for the standard TrailHawk they are options like the Sport, both get the same base.

However we don't know there aren't improved incandescent setups in the JL, something that abandons the H13 connector, and may be more like the Hellas or Cibies.

From the IIHS test, not all incandescents did poorly and not all LEDs & HIDs did well, the Accord's incandescent lights were near the top of the class besting many HIDs and LEDs, with the same Accord's LEDs being only marginal, so we don't know for sure yet just based on the above.

If FCA is going through all the trouble to update so much, it would be the right time to update the performance of the base headlights too.

 

[WXman]

All these tidbits make the price go ^^^^^^^.

And the problem is that the price is already $5,000 to $10,000 higher than it should be for this vehicle to begin with.

Furthermore, the more energy efficient they make the lighting and software, the lower amperage they're going to build the system to handle. The alternator, wiring, etc. will likely be downgraded. Which makes it a real PITA for guys to add winches, lighting, radios, etc. in the aftermarket.

So the moral of the story is, LED everything isn't 100% positive.

 

[JJ75]

Furthermore, the more energy efficient they make the lighting and software, the lower amperage they're going to build the system to handle. The alternator, wiring, etc. will likely be downgraded. Which makes it a real PITA for guys to add winches, lighting, radios, etc. in the aftermarket.

Winches, radios and light bars are usually powered directly by the battery though and the battery shouldn't be affected by switching to LED headlights and fender lights. JL will have even more overall battery capacity since it has a secondary smaller battery for its ESS start stop system.

 

[The Great Grape Ape]

Plus, the diesel will require a bigger battery and alternator.

Technically the alternator might be affected by lower draw from the whole system, but it's unlikely they would give back much more amperage just for a 100W saving in lighting.

The Pentastar resulted in a drop of battery CCA and Ahr, but most people did what they did with their 3.8/4.0 and added a second battery for accessories.

However, despite the drop in battery the Pentastar alternator went back up from 140A to 160A. The Euro 2.8L CRD JK diesel is currently 210A, I would suspect the EcoDiesel in the JL will be similar to what is in the GrandCherokee 800CCA battery and 220A alternator (Ram is 800/230).

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