As the title says - just an info thread on the lamps that the headlights take..

I was looking for them online, and couldn't find anything DEFINITIVE on what type they actually were (especially them inboard main beams)
I looked in RAVE, and also the owners handbook - which didn't help either. The owners manual just stated 60/55w Dip/Main and 55w Main - not what lamp base. Also looking on other forums, there were posts about headlights, but once again not a definitive list.

They are:
Outboard Dip/Main Beam: 60/55w H4 base
Inboard Main Beam: 55w H1 Base
Fog Lights: 55w H3 base 1995 - 1999/2000 (Older, pre 'Y2K' Facelift lights)
Fog Lights: 55w H1 base 1999/2000 - Runout (Newer, 'Y2K' Facelift Lights)
Park Lights: 5w W5W wedge base (I believe also known as 501)
Nudge Bar Spot Lights: 55w H3 base

I'm pretty sure the spots on the nudge bar are H3's - I haven't had to change them in awhile, so could be wrong. That is also only correct for the factory fitted Land Rover spots - Other makes/brands that are aftermarket may be the same though.

I hope this helps someone in the future!

Marty

and for anyone wanting to improve the headlights without spending a fortune or risking burning out the wiring (or worse still, blowing the MOSFET in the BeCM), upgrade to Osram Nightbreaker Ultimate bulbs, they make a noticeable difference.

"Without" risking blowing stuff up, surely?

I have noticed that while the main beam lights are bloody bright the dips leave a bit to be desired.

I agree the low beams are a bit dull. The extra spots on my nudge bar come on with the high beams, so lovely and bright.

I keep toying with the idea of putting some LED COB lamps in the low beams to see what they are like, but haven't taken the plunge yet as I want to find some that are going to be nice and bright, and keep the proper beam patterns.

One day I'll make my mind up and might go for it... if I do get a set, then I'll do a proper write up and review. I'd probably do a bench test of them in a spare set of headlamps I have and then be able to do a lineup against a surface from a fixed position to get a side-by-side comparison. Think I've go a set of HID ones we pulled out of a one we were stripping for parts, so might throw that in the mix aswell to give a comparison or the different types of lamps that are out there.

Could be an interesting research project!

FWIW I've used cheapo ebay HIDS in the past and they've been fantastic. It's all down to the shape of the headlights themselves. I was using them in BMWs with projector headlights so there was no problem with dazzling oncoming drivers because the beam pattern wasn't altered. The light you get from even the 35W kits is fantastic. The issue we'd probably run into with a P38 is the lower current draw of the HIDs which would probably trip the dead bulb detection but I'm sure you're already ahead of that!

I've just ordered a pair of Osram Nightbreakers from Amzn so we'll see how they work out....

Ditched the HIDs as whilst they were bright they were as directional as a florescent. Got alarms every time as well. Went to Nightbreakers and now a happy boy. Good light where I want it, and no manking from the dash. Oh, and saved around a pound in weight, which on a 2 ton motor has got to be good, right?

Just wish i could replace the LED sides now, but can't find the incandescent bulbs I need here.

I've also got Nightbreakers fitted. In combination with my spots on main beam they light up the surroundings like my old Cibie Super Oscars used to do on my rally cars back in the 70's!
I agree that dipped beam still leaves much to be desired. In fact, going from main to dipped is like turning off the lights completely. I've come close to exploring the banks on our Devon lanes a few times,
I'd love a solution to the dip problem which is compatible with stock everything. I really don't want to turn into one of those kn0bs that drive around with the fogs on all the time...

GeorgeB wrote:

Just wish i could replace the LED sides now, but can't find the incandescent bulbs I need here.

They are off the shelf from any motor factors over here. Do you want a handful picking up and bunging in the post?

Well, I've decided to take the plunge and see if these LED H4 headlamp units are any good.. most importantly - to see what kind of beam pattern they produce

From memory we've got a set of the early style headlamps at the workshop, which have HIDs in them from when we stripped the RR. my plan is to do a side-by-side test of 1) standard halogen lamp, 2) HID lamp that's in the unit already and 3) the LED H4 version.

I picked the pair of H4 LEDs up for about £32 delivered - and claim to be about 2000lm on low beam, and 4000lm (total) on high beam. Which will be nice... if they give a proper beam pattern and aren't going to blind other drivers. They are a COB style (chip on board) LED which gives you one source of light - rather than the silly ones that have LEDs around in a ring and claim to be '360 degree' because that's the bit that messes the beam pattern up from what I gather.

I'll see what they're like when they arrive and try and get some pictures of the install and testing. If they are junk, then I'm sure I'll find a different use for them... but for £32 I figured it was worth a punt!

I'm not sure which ones you got in the end but I'm tempted to give these ones a go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjaFIlUxlCM
http://www.powerfuluk.com/vehicles/range-rover-full-size/p38/exterior-accessories/h4-led-4000-lm-headlight-bulbs-range-rover-p38-white-pair.html

They have some adjustability to correct the beam pattern. They are £69.99 so a bit more expensive than the ones you got - although they're probably the same ones.

Do you have a link to the ones you got?

The ones I originally bought were not fit for purpose and the beam pattern was so far off that I never even left them in long enough to try them out on the road.

I bought another set which look very similar to the ones you link to above - but I bought mine direct from Hong Kong as they were a bit cheaper, and slightly brighter again.

I did a test fit, and the beam pattern is a lot better, but not quite exact replica of H4 Halogen beam pattern, from when I tested them on the bench.

I keep meaning to find a proper time to install them in the RR and point them at a wall/white garage door and see what they actually look like compared to the standard halogens. I did briefly try them on the road but the RH one was out of alignment, so I pulled them back out and put it in the too hard basket... after doing that I realised that I had preset the alignment of both lamps on the bench in a LH housing, and typically after I'd removed the LH one from the vehicle, found that twisting the RH one aligned it better...

By then I was 'over it' and gave up as I had other things to do and it was getting late! But I do believe after thinking about it more since then, that even though the spread is not 100% that of H4 Halogens - if I took the time to park it up against a proper surface and fiddle with them a bit more, I could get them lined up to a point where the cutoff on the RHS will not dazzle other drivers, unlike the first set I bought would have.

Also given how badly a lot of other vehicles headlights seem to be aligned, and how much dazzle I seem to get even in the higher position in the RR from some other vehicles that have been driving towards me before - I think that the LED cutoff is a lot sharper, so even if it's not perfect - it will still be good enough to not spray light everywhere into the wrong side of the road.

The verdict for me will obviously be once I've had the chance to fit and line them up properly! but the ones you link to do look like they are the best to go for at the moment! I think the second set I bought which are the same design but different colour (physically, not light output!) were about £10 cheaper - but I had to wait 3 weeks for them to arrive from the East!

Took the plunge and bought a set of the H4 LED 4000 ones from Powerful UK as I can't live through another winter with the crappy dip beam (even with my currently fitted Nightbreakers).
While I was at it bought a set of Nightbreaker H1's for the inner main, even though didn't really need them as mains, in combination with my KC Daylighters, were already pretty good. It's a shame your night vision goes to sh!t as you get old!
Will report back on the results once I've got round to fitting. That might take a while as I've got to replace a headlight wiper motor at the same time, which will mean repairing the fixings for the brush guard as well...

Anymore info on the LED's?

Feedback via Gilbert was that he could really see the difference between Orangebean's lights and my stock setup.

I could when the pair of you were following me. OB's headlights were a bright white but not dazzling in my mirror (so obviously set up properly) whereas yours were decidedly yellow looking. A bit too yellow looking I thought, are you sure you've got bulbs in there and not candles?

They're a much brighter white than stock. Make the driving/main beam lights beside them look yellow by comparison, even though they're fitted with Nightbreakers.
Need to be properly set up (there's a vernier adjustment on the bulb itself) with a beamsetter at your friendly MOT garage to avoid light scatter and get a sharp cut off within MOT legality standards. Not something you can be sure of doing yourself at home against the shed wall.
Rubber dirt shield at back of headlight needed trimming to clear the large heat sink.
No BECM errors.
Really good upgrade- at a price. However Powerful UK no longer seem to sell them so no idea where you'd buy them from now :(
http://www.powerfuluk.com/vehicles/range-rover-full-size/p38/exterior-accessories/h4-led-4000-lm-headlight-bulbs-range-rover-p38-white-pair.html
EDIT- these look identical to the one's I bought. No guarantee of that though as they're from China...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/a-pair-of-50W-4000LM-LED-headlight-Kit-H4-Hi-low-Beams-6000K-White-bulbs-L9V6-/263008237534?

Gilbertd wrote:

I could when the pair of you were following me. OB's headlights were a bright white but not dazzling in my mirror (so obviously set up properly) whereas yours were decidedly yellow looking. A bit too yellow looking I thought, are you sure you've got bulbs in there and not candles?

Tallow candles :)

Probably just filthy, and I was behind two dust clouds instead of just one :P

Morat wrote:

Probably just filthy, and I was behind two dust clouds instead of just one :P

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Doesn't your headlight wash/ wipe work then Morat? :) :)
Reminds me, these (any- don't know?) LED lights are only approved for UK use if fitted to a vehicle with light levelling and headlamp washers, both of which the P38 has, so if the Man from the Ministry is standing behind your MOT tester you're OK although I suspect an advisory could in theory be issued if your headlight washers didn't work, although as they're not part of the test, how would they know?!

Orangebean wrote:

EDIT- these look identical to the one's I bought. No guarantee of that though as they're from China...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/a-pair-of-50W-4000LM-LED-headlight-Kit-H4-Hi-low-Beams-6000K-White-bulbs-L9V6-/263008237534?

So this replaces both high and low beam? In just 1 bulb?