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The more I read, the worse it gets - LED headlights

7K views 42 replies 31 participants last post by  TheGreatGrapeApe 
#1 ·
After some preliminary research, I was set on the QT stealth LED headlights and possibly the combo kit with the fogs.

Then I keep reading and there are just sooooo many options. I've read tons of threads, reviews, etc.

Heated, non-heated, just bulbs, full LED lamps. Quite the spectrum.

Another forum member tried these and liked them at 50% cost of the QTs: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Power-Projector-Waterproof-Headlight/dp/B00PQ9Y1R8

I know QT will stand behind their products and I do prefer to support vendors that support us.

I was thinking about even going for a simple bulb upgrade to the Sylvania zxe bulbs, but I'll likely not be happy with that.

So, should I get the QT stealths or the Win Power in the link above for half price of the QTs?

I know there are many threads and I've many of them here and on the JKforum site.

I just bought a 2017 JK 2 door Willy's specced the way I wanted, except it didn't have the LEDs.

Any thoughts and advice?
 
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#2 ·
Find some on near you that has LED's and ride with them at night to get a feel for them if you can. do it several times. Some like them, some don't. Even though I bought some. I'm back in the stockers. It doesn't matter the brand. bright white is bright white. I preferred the color temp of the stock bulb.
 
#3 ·
It is your money and you can spend it how you want to. But the headlight you have linked is a Chinese knock off of the JW Speaker headlight.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Well, do you have to deal with snow/ice? Keep in mind if you do that standard LED Headlights do not generate any heat and therefore will freeze up. Not a super huge deal if you're willing clean them off occasionally. I know Truck lites makes a heated LED light now and I'm pretty sure JW Speaker does also. Remember you always get what you paid for! I run Trucklites and am very happy with their performance.

And if you're in a JK you will need an anti-flicker harness.
 
#6 ·
Remember you always get what you paid for! .
This statement says it all.

I went with a set of Inspired Engineering headlights, and I like them. I also must admit that I probably should have gone with a set of Truck Lites, JW Speakers, or even the Q-techs as the build quality isn't as high, and I've had an issue or two with the wires coming out of the connector, nor is the "cut off" as sharp as some of the other lights on the market.

The minor issues that I've had were not that big of deal, as IE has excellent customer support, and it was easier for me to just fix the wires than it was to send 'em back for a replacement.

If you're looking to save a buck, then go with the Q-techs or the newer IE lights, but if you're wanting the best or need heated lenses then save your money until you can get a set of the higher end (and priced) lights.

good luck

Exco
 
#5 ·
I bought the QT stealth lights and fogs. The headlights were unimpressive. I think I got a bad batch but the fogs are awesome. Don't make the mistake many of us have made and don't buy the Chinese knockoffs. I'm paying for it now and will be looking for a black Friday deal on a new set only because I'm tired of only being able to see about 40 feet in front of me.

If you like the look of the JW's get them. If you want a different look look at Vision X. Both quality lights but be prepared to open the wallet for a quality light.
 
#7 ·
I will say no matter what lights you get, make sure you get a good set of anti-flicker harnesses. My Petersons started cutting off on me and I thought they were going bad but it ended up being the cheap anti-flicker harnesses I got off of Amazon. I got a set from Q tec and now no more problems. XT sells an inexpensive set that have a lifetime warranty but I'm happy with what I got. I also got a pair for my fogs, which are OPAR but work great and match the Petersons in color.
 
#8 ·
There are many options out there. Really good options and some not so much. Keep researching. I personally went with JW Speaker because I have experience with them on my past Harley. Excellent beam pattern and they are just a quality product. Trucklite are another good option. I ran them for years on my bikes.

And whatever you do avoid the LED bulbs. The stock reflectors are not meant to disperse that light correctly. Yes they will look brighter. But the light will be going everywhere. No set, even beam pattern. Just like throwing a retrofit HID kit in there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#9 ·
I agree with the sentiment of this topic. The current LED situation is frustrating. The only two aftermarket options that appreciate to provide a decent product are JW (though I'm seeing a worrying amount of JW Speaker headlight problem threads that have me wondering about their quality) and Truck-Lite. The problem for me is they both look too "aftermarkety" to me. I'm not picking on them, I just like things to look stock, or it's possible it came from the factory that way. So, I was waiting out on Jeep to fix this in 2017, and they partially did, but those things run cool as cucumbers. There are those that say it's not a big deal to have your headlights covered in snow. I don't even remotely agree.

For now, I'm going Cibié. Already ordered. If that's not enough I'll, reluctantly, do a harness upgrade for more powerful bulbs. Maybe a year from now Jeep will have modern all weather safe headlights available. I thought the aftermarket would have this covered well. I guess they kinda did for almost as long as there have been 7" headlights.
 
#10 ·
Over three years in with my Truck-Lites, and zero issues or complaints.

I also have Inspired cube fogs and like the function of them, but the brackets are already rusting and the light housings are losing their paint. Bummer.
 
#11 ·
Completely happy with my JWS LED's. However, the true test will come this winter. They may get swapped out for heated TL's if icing/snow buildup becomes an issue. I bought my JWS lights from a reputable dealer so I'm not worried about warranty issues if problems arise. They've been in for about 7 months now and I've completely gotten over their non-stock appearance and they now seem perfectly normal looking to me.
 
#14 · (Edited)
JWS's are the Gold standard in LED lighting. Truk-Lites are great if ice is a concern. I'm in the Pocono Mountains of N/E Pa and if I have a concern it's Bear and Deer over snow/ice. I run JWS's.
Have mine iced over? Yes. I pull over, get out and clean them off and then I go home and drink a Hot Toddy and sit in my Hot Tub and listen to the snow fall in the forest.

There. Light issue - Solved :)

( for hybrid set-ups Google Daniel Stern Lighting, Q-Tecs, Truk-Lites, are all good lights. Buy from a Forum sponsoring vendor)
 
#33 ·
I don't think you know what that means, "cutoff". Face a large building wall about 50 feet away, then take a picture. The line of light, if it's clean and even, like a set of Euro HIDs, it's a clean cutoff, if it looks like a disco ball, it is not. You can't call a shot onto nothing a clean line lol.
 
#21 ·
I got the Truck lites, which seem to be the same thing as the Qtech deals. I didn't get the heated ones, but as we are moving to UT here in a couple weeks, I may regret that.

Anyway, I never really thought it would be worth spending $400 to get more light for normal driving. I was wrong. Personally, I'd get a name brand, and do it. As everyone seems to say, the JWS ones are the best and don't disput that, but I couldn't justify the extra $300 for them. The Truck lites have been great for me and I'd do it again.
 
#22 ·
After some preliminary research, I was set on the QT stealth LED headlights and possibly the combo kit with the fogs.

Then I keep reading and there are just sooooo many options. I've read tons of threads, reviews, etc.

Heated, non-heated, just bulbs, full LED lamps. Quite the spectrum.

Another forum member tried these and liked them at 50% cost of the QTs: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Power-Projector-Waterproof-Headlight/dp/B00PQ9Y1R8

I know QT will stand behind their products and I do prefer to support vendors that support us.

I was thinking about even going for a simple bulb upgrade to the Sylvania zxe bulbs, but I'll likely not be happy with that.

So, should I get the QT stealths or the Win Power in the link above for half price of the QTs?

I know there are many threads and I've many of them here and on the JKforum site.

I just bought a 2017 JK 2 door Willy's specced the way I wanted, except it didn't have the LEDs.

Any thoughts and advice?
I've had the Win Powers for a year and a half now.
They seem to be well built and work great.
I'm glad I bought them.
I can't comment on the JW's, but I did buy their tail lights and the plastic housing broke after a few weeks. No warranty from JW on the housing.
I'll stick to the knockoff's
 
#23 ·
I have the JW Speaker headlights, love them except...

For what you pay, you'd expect the warranty and customer service to be better.
1. Customer service does not respond to inquires.
2. Warranty work has be sent to the place you bought them from and then to JW Speaker. I have a light that does not work currently. Not like I'd need headlights to drive at night.

Would not recommend.
 
#24 ·
I have the JW Speaker headlights, love them except... For what you pay, you'd expect the warranty and customer service to be better. 1. Customer service does not respond to inquires. 2. Warranty work has be sent to the place you bought them from and then to JW Speaker. I have a light that does not work currently. Not like I'd need headlights to drive at night. Would not recommend.
This is my Main concern with buying the LEDs. I definitely need something better as between these almost 60 year old eyes and working the midnight shift the stockers are definitely lacking. But I can't see going a week or two with a bad headlight if there's a problem while you wait for a replacement. At least with the stock ones you can stop at any Walmart or auto parts store and get a replacement bulb. I guess you could keep the stock for a fix if it happens but the whole send it back to the vendor sounds like just a way big hassle. Maybe I just overthink things.
 
#25 ·
You can pick up a bulb for the Cibies at Walmart or Autozone too ;)

Plus, no matter what headlights you have if you lose one you can drive with your fogs on to help out
 
#26 ·
I've been running the QT LEDs and have one heavy-icy-salty-snowy Chitcago winter with them and love them. Even my teenager says "wow these headlights are awesome compared to ____'s BMW". They're inexpensive in comparison to others with a company that has a very good reputation.

When it got icy, the QT LEDs didn't pile on the ice any better or worse than the stock units. The one thing I found odd, in a good way, is when the LEDs got the salty grime on them they still lit up the road worlds better than stock. I only had to clean off the ice a few times and NO MORE OFTEN than I had to for the HIDs on my Grand Cherokee.
 
#27 ·
This is in regards to warranty concerns. I bought my JW Speakers from Discount Fleet Supply. They have been around for a while and I am sure they will be for a while. So I'm not worried. They will take care of me if I have an issue.

But as for the warranty itself. It would be no different than if you had aftermarket rims and one developed a crack. The vendor or the manufacturer is going to want to see the defective product before sending out a replacement. They aren't just going to send out a replacement on good faith. So no matter what if you are having to do a warranty claim on any aftermarket part, expect to have to go back to stock for some time.

These Chinese knock off companies and the vendors who sell them probably play different. They buy them so cheap in the first place and they already expect a high failure rate so sending out a replacement without a return first is usually one of their selling points.


Tap'd from my 7+
 
#28 ·
I bought my JW Speakers from Discount Fleet supply 3 years ago. One failed. Contacted them, have to ship it to them in GA then they ship it too JW Speaker in Michigan? Guess I don't have one headlight for a month. JW Speaker customer support and warranty support sucks!

Buying Chinese next time.
 
#29 ·
Thought I would throw my plate on the table. Originally bought Vision X for my TJ last fall and drove them through winter. Low beam light pattern was unbelivable and made seeing the from the ditches to the fields easy. High beam pattern is best summed up buy my wife's guestion, "Are they on". I have the adapter harness that lights highs and lows simultanoiusly. Highs throw more of a pencil beam down the road so you don't get that flood light to the sides of the roadway with them. You can't stand in front of the jeep when the highs are on and look at them, truely blinding. Twice I had them snow pack and had to pull over to clean them off. Retired last December and traded the TJ for a 2016 JKU Black Bear in February. Put the LEDs in it since the anti-flicker harness was included in the original purchase. No flicker, has not throw any codes (knock on wood) and defiantly improved being able to see. I'll add that I tried Sylvania Ultra Stars in the JKU before switching to the LEDs. No comparison, my old eyes see better with the LEDs.
 
#30 ·
Most if not all stock headlights shut off the low beams when the high beams are turned on. Most of the aftermarket lights don't do this but Vision X does. The reason behind this has to do with how our night vision works. The closer you are to a bright light source to the less you can see in the distance. If you camp at all you know what I am talking about. How far can you see past the camp fire if you are looking over the fire. Turn your back to the fire and you can see much farther into the dark.

Even though I know this I also went with the Hi4 adapter. What I found is that at 60mph or slower I am not over driving the low beams and these speeds are what you find most common on a 2 lane highway where I would most likely use the high beams. I am much more worried about deer jumping out at me on these roads and I love how wide the pattern is. That does not mean the high beams are useless. While they don't light up the road the same way the low beams do they really do outline the road ahead. And if any reflective objects are out in the dark they light up like christmas trees.
 
#31 ·
For the winter it all depends on the type of snow. In UT my wife tells me that it is more of a powder snow than here in WY.
Non heated TLs after a 5 mile drive, had to pull over and wipe them off. When the snow built up it acted like an incandescent light and lit everything up. It looked like a low wattage version of high beams with seeing every snowflake in front


This one pic should set everyone on if heated work or not. You can see that the regular fogs and turn signals could not keep up. All it takes is one storm with the right conditions and type of snow to ruin your day.
 
#32 ·
For the winter it all depends on the type of snow. In UT my wife tells me that it is more of a powder snow than here in WY. Non heated TLs after a 5 mile drive, had to pull over and wipe them off. When the snow built up it acted like an incandescent light and lit everything up. It looked like a low wattage version of high beams with seeing every snowflake in front This one pic should set everyone on if heated work or not. You can see that the regular fogs and turn signals could not keep up. All it takes is one storm with the right conditions and type of snow to ruin your day.
You need to quit posting that photo, everytime I see it I get depressed and think to myself,"damn, I'm not looking forward to that crap." But on the bright side if everything goes as planned I'll be retired by the time that hits next year and can sit beside the fire on those days and think of the poor souls having to drive to work.
To keep on thread, do the artifacts everyone seems to complain about with the Trucklites bother you much?
 
#34 ·
I'm a newb in Jeep land that happens to have an automotive light interest. So, if you look my posts as a newb you'll mostly see me thinking or whining about lights. That said, I just want to throw two thoughts into this discussion.

The first thought is in regards to JW Speaker reliability. The majority of my time in this fantastic forum has been reading threads about lights. There are a lot. In that collection there is an amount that is greater than makes me comfortable about JW Speaker reliability, issues, customer service. This is an anecdotal observation, I don't own them and haven't experienced their customer service. They are not the only aftermarket LED provider I have seen posts about, this is to say that even the best rated aftermarket lights are not without their concerns. This is just kind of a ramble to support why I'm going Cibie instead of throwing money at something I'm not confident about.

The second thought is regarding the 2017 LED lights and the Great White North*. As far as I can tell, Sahara and above trimlines in the US have LEDs as standard. There's a lot of people in the US that do not have snow concerns. In Canada the 2017 LEDs are an option no matter your trim level. Cash grab? Maybe. Chrysler being careful to give too many people in the allegedly frozen north cool running lights? Maybe that too.

* I get that the arbitrary line dividing our countries does not tell the cold and snow where and where not to be. There are many in the US that would/should/could be concerned with the 2017 LEDs because of where they driver. Frankly, north of the arbitrary line there are plenty of regions where a cool running headlight is not a problem. This may be a market test or something else including nothing. Doubt it.

Anyway, my two points are only to add to my slightly speculative experience to the worse it gets as we look at JK lights closer and closer.

Hopefully Cibies installed in the next week or so!!! :)
 
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