Is the factory LED light upgrade worth it?

[ShadowsPapa]

Honestly, just go to the lot and test drive a non-led wrangler or gladiator after dark. Go a little out in the country. Then drive the LED. If you can’t find an LED to test drive, just think how dim the non-LED is, and think how the LEDs’ low beams are at least 2-3x brighter than non-LED high beams.

I forget to even hit high beams sometimes on this truck because the LED lows are so good. Granted I can see out farther with the high beams but our roads are so winding and hilly- you can't see far ahead anyway. The highs are better for DEER if you are one who chooses to avoid being hit by them.

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[BAT]

Because they wanted to force everyone to pay for the upgrade. If smart and resourceful, diy for cheaper and sometimes better.

The bulbs are a fix for the time being until I can scratch together some other replacement lights. I almost had my hands on a pair of slightly used Bi Ocular lights for $300 but they got scooped up before I could get them.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The bulbs are a fix for the time being until I can scratch together some other replacement lights. I almost had my hands on a pair of slightly used Bi Ocular lights for $300 but they got scooped up before I could get them.

Thank you. I was hoping it was "to get by" and/or "check things out".
The science is established - the only way to get GOOD LED is with LED bulbs (good ones) in LED housings made specifically for the light pattern and wavelengths generated by LED.
I wish I had some LED Jeep lights or knew where there were any - I'd send them over.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

I have been running these KIWI Master lights for about a month now and have compared them twice to factory and they are quite comparable in light output my only concern will be how long they last. But so far quite happy with them especially for the $199 price I caught them for the Model 2.

They have a decently bright Halo that required going into the fuse box but other then that they are plug and play. Went with just LED bulbs in the fogs.

Amazon.com: KIWI MASTER 9 Inch Round LED Headlights Halo DRL for 2018 2019 Jeep Wrangler JL 2020 Jeep Gladiator JT Accessories High Low Beam Headlight with Daytime Running Lights (New Version Adjustable Screw): Automotive

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

Because they wanted to force everyone to pay for the upgrade.

Makes financial sense. But how does it make marketing sense? Do you expect customers to just know coming in that the halogens are poor? Do you instruct your sales people to tell customers "get the LED upgrade because the halogens are crap" ? Neither seems like a good strategy.

 

[BAT]

Makes financial sense. But how does it make marketing sense? Do you expect customers to just know coming in that the halogens are poor? Do you instruct your sales people to tell customers "get the LED upgrade because the halogens are crap" ? Neither seems like a good strategy.

Probably should have been the other way around if you want halogen lights you have special order them.

 

[BAT]

Thank you. I was hoping it was "to get by" and/or "check things out".
The science is established - the only way to get GOOD LED is with LED bulbs (good ones) in LED housings made specifically for the light pattern and wavelengths generated by LED.
I wish I had some LED Jeep lights or knew where there were any - I'd send them over.

Yea the lights were one of the few things I planned on changing on the Truck other than the tires. But wife got let go from her job of 19 years so my spare money's are directed toward other things currently (LOL).

 

[Rollcast]

When I did the FCA survey about my truck, the two things I specifically mentioned as being absolutely outstanding were the transmission and LED headlights.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Makes financial sense. But how does it make marketing sense? Do you expect customers to just know coming in that the halogens are poor? Do you instruct your sales people to tell customers "get the LED upgrade because the halogens are crap" ? Neither seems like a good strategy.

LOL - oh, the internet. Everyone is a lighting expert regardless of their background or experience.
No science background? Who cares - they'll still put out "scientific fact". Don't even bother reading all about lights from a science perspective or from lighting EXPERTS because forums have enough experts, that's all that's ever needed. Besides, opinions are better than fact.

Halogens are not "crap". The best? No, but not crap. Some of these haters should take a drive with my wife's 2021 GC - halogen lights that rival many LEDs, honestly. Now you do get different light color, and bulbs put light out differently - LED is far more directional, halogens not so much (thus different housings, shapes, reflectors, etc.) you can cut off LED sharper than others because of the way LED works vs. halogen, but I'd had halogen lights that I'd not replaced with LED because LED was marginally better.
Perhaps with the Wrangler and Gladiator light shape there's a larger difference, but for other light shapes in other vehicles, halogen are not that much less good than LED.
In fact, based on our experiences with the many GCs we have owned, my Silverado and others, when we ordered the 2021 GC it wasn't even a thought that the lights on that thing would be not good.
The shape of the front of the JT and similar is possibly a limiting factor - so generalizing and saying "halogen are crap" is - well, crap. Some have them and never even think of swapping.
I'd not even think of swapping with my wife's GC - now my WJ, MAYBE - but then those ORIGINAL LIGHTS are 16 years and 127,000 miles old, too! So if I go in with new - new anything, of course they'll be better.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yea the lights were one of the few things I planned on changing on the Truck other than the tires. But wife got let go from her job of 19 years so my spare money's are directed toward other things currently (LOL).

I can so relate....... it's been years ago now, but I recall that October day in 2002 when PFG came around and told about 80 of us to meet in a large conference room at 9:00 am. We knew......... I would survive, we planned for emergencies, but others there, including one woman who had worked in the IT department for something like 23 years was in tears. I bought and drove as my daily driver an old VW Bunny with a smashed windshield, over 100,000 miles and holes in the floor sealed with expanding foam spray. When you drove in the rain the alt light came on...... but it was good mpg and dirt cheap to own.
I did odd jobs, remodeling, electric work, got back into small engine repair and some auto repair in my garage and we cut back to normal payments instead of paying extra each month on stuff. Just about the time we were starting to have to dip into savings to get by - I finally, 22 months into being unemployed, got a job.
I feel the pain and difficulty for sure.
Since then my wife has given thousands to the local food bank, donated countless quilts to charity and churches to auction or raffle for charity and when I can or have the stuff needed, I'll literally send out parts to someone making an effort, but who has landed in tough times.

Sounds like you are thinking through and being creative - one step at a time.
Heck, that's how I've done most of my cars over the years - find some part that's better than what's on the car now, then in the future, find something better than that one and sell that other part, sort of leap-frog my way up until I finally find or can afford that perfect part.
Some parts on some of my cars have been swapped out 2 or 3 times as I keep finding better or getting the money to get that next better part.

 

[BAT]

I can so relate....... it's been years ago now, but I recall that October day in 2002 when PFG came around and told about 80 of us to meet in a large conference room at 9:00 am. We knew......... I would survive, we planned for emergencies, but others there, including one woman who had worked in the IT department for something like 23 years was in tears. I bought and drove as my daily driver an old VW Bunny with a smashed windshield, over 100,000 miles and holes in the floor sealed with expanding foam spray. When you drove in the rain the alt light came on...... but it was good mpg and dirt cheap to own.
I did odd jobs, remodeling, electric work, got back into small engine repair and some auto repair in my garage and we cut back to normal payments instead of paying extra each month on stuff. Just about the time we were starting to have to dip into savings to get by - I finally, 22 months into being unemployed, got a job.
I feel the pain and difficulty for sure.
Since then my wife has given thousands to the local food bank, donated countless quilts to charity and churches to auction or raffle for charity and when I can or have the stuff needed, I'll literally send out parts to someone making an effort, but who has landed in tough times.

Sounds like you are thinking through and being creative - one step at a time.
Heck, that's how I've done most of my cars over the years - find some part that's better than what's on the car now, then in the future, find something better than that one and sell that other part, sort of leap-frog my way up until I finally find or can afford that perfect part.
Some parts on some of my cars have been swapped out 2 or 3 times as I keep finding better or getting the money to get that next better part.

I just pick up stuff when I can find it as a take off, etc for a decent price if its something that is needed. She got screwed on her job. She was the senior graphic designer of 19 years and the companys Business Development group came asking for the best designer they had to handle all their stuff. So they transferred her against her will to the BD group. She didn't want to go but they pretty much kind of made it known to her that if she didn't transfer and help out the company it would look bad on her. 6 months later BD was looking to ditch some cost so they laid her and another person that was also transferred to the BD Group off. Funny thing was after she was laid off the BD group came back to her old department and said we need someone to help with our design stuff.

 

[db305]

LOL - oh, the internet. Everyone is a lighting expert regardless of their background or experience.
No science background? Who cares - they'll still put out "scientific fact". Don't even bother reading all about lights from a science perspective or from lighting EXPERTS because forums have enough experts, that's all that's ever needed. Besides, opinions are better than fact.

Halogens are not "crap". The best? No, but not crap. Some of these haters should take a drive with my wife's 2021 GC - halogen lights that rival many LEDs, honestly. Now you do get different light color, and bulbs put light out differently - LED is far more directional, halogens not so much (thus different housings, shapes, reflectors, etc.) you can cut off LED sharper than others because of the way LED works vs. halogen, but I'd had halogen lights that I'd not replaced with LED because LED was marginally better.
Perhaps with the Wrangler and Gladiator light shape there's a larger difference, but for other light shapes in other vehicles, halogen are not that much less good than LED.
In fact, based on our experiences with the many GCs we have owned, my Silverado and others, when we ordered the 2021 GC it wasn't even a thought that the lights on that thing would be not good.
The shape of the front of the JT and similar is possibly a limiting factor - so generalizing and saying "halogen are crap" is - well, crap. Some have them and never even think of swapping.
I'd not even think of swapping with my wife's GC - now my WJ, MAYBE - but then those ORIGINAL LIGHTS are 16 years and 127,000 miles old, too! So if I go in with new - new anything, of course they'll be better.

halogens in general aren't crap, but the halogens on the gladiator are absolute crap.

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

halogens in general aren't crap, but the halogens on the gladiator are absolute crap.

I was surprised at how unbright thy are, if that's a word.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I was surprised at how unbright thy are, if that's a word.

Have you driven a newer Grand Cherokee?
You also have to be careful comparing "brightness" because bright isn't always better for the human eye. There's a big difference in how things are measured vs. how the eye and brain percieve things. That's why forums in general are "crap" for determining the best light unless true experts are involved. All you get is opinion based on specific circumstances that the eyes of that person.
Newer measuring methods had to be devised to measure LED vs. others and take into account "usable light".
Those asses with the huge blue/white mega lights that blind people around every corner aren't actually better off seeing - they THINK they are because, well "they are brighter". But tests prove they are wrong.

 

[firemedic2714]

They are 100% worth $2,000.00! That may be an overstatement, but that's how I feel about mine. They aren't flat-faced like another commenter stated. They're spherically-shaped and here in St. Louis, I've had no trouble with snow packing. If they get snow on them, they're bright enough to power through and really not affect performance to the point that I have to stop and clear them. Also, a rule of thumb is that your payment increases $20 for every $1000 spent on a 60-month loan so it's really not that much of a hit and they're covered under the factory warranty. Good luck in whatever decision you make.

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