TransporterHQ LED Headlights - Upgrade

SpuffingtonMe

SpuffingtonMe

Lifetime VIP Member
Messages
103
Location
Saffron Walden, Essex
Vehicle
Grand California 600
I thought this might be useful for some folk.

When I bought my Knaus BoxDrive 600XL last year, the one thing I was unhappy with from the outset was the headlights. Having owned a T6 (Westfalia KeplerOne) with halogens whilst living in Germany and having tried to navigate the Austrian Alps at night, I knew I would have to do something about removing the stock headlights and improving them. The rest of the van was a super spec, so not to be missed.

I looked at HazyDayz and their list of OEM upgrades. However, having just dropped £96k on the van itself, the thought of spending another £3.5k was a little unappetising. So I thought I'd keep that as a backup plan if Plan A didn't work. Plan A then was TransporterHQ's own LED headlight upgrade which at £600 (then - I think they're a little more expensive now), seemed like a good starting point.

9ABA0A13-14AC-49BC-8CDF-750B50372D24_1_201_a.jpeg

Initially, although being handy at home DIY but not hugely technically minded with vehicles, I decided to get my friendly Auto Electrician on the case. He installed the lights but couldn't get them to work - one worked perfectly, the other kept skipping between sidelights & main beam. Initially thinking it was the Light Control Module which wasn't probably relayed, he added a relay to that - still didn't fix the issue. The lights are supposed to be plug & play so I called TransporterHQ and after a lot of head-scratching but genuinely within 24hrs of calling, they decided it could be an issue with the lights themselves. They sent me a new set and two days later they arrived - I tested them with the old ones in situ (i.e resting them on the existing lights and just plugging new ones in) and voila(!) - they worked! :)

Being an impatient so & so, I decided to give it a go myself. TransporterHQ had put a really useful YouTube tutorial on about how to remove the Crafter/TGE bumper and headlights, so I used that as my guide and within 90mins I had everything done. No warning lights, faults or flickering.

IMG_7681.jpeg

I'm now 1.5yrs on and I can thoroughly recommend them. I don't think they are quite as bright as OEM LED headlights, there are small dark patches which perhaps you wouldn't be there in factory units but overall they're an enormous improvement over halogens, particularly on high beam - plus they really look the part. I kind of felt the halogens look cheap, whereas these are really quite special.

Do I feel the need to go for OEM lights? Absolutely not. These really have been a super upgrade and I'd recommend them to anyone who is looking for brighter lights and better aesthetics.

04A9AED3-55AB-4F07-B98D-DF56FF2D87EA_1_201_a.jpeg3A049EC4-C2D8-4262-89D6-1EA7C783BA09.jpeg
 
thanks so much I'll take a look into these!!
 
Luckily for me the previous owner of my 600 went down the Hazydayz route, but on my previous T6.1 I had the Transporter HQ LED Headlight units fitted and the difference was quite literally night and day!
 
I thought this might be useful for some folk.

When I bought my Knaus BoxDrive 600XL last year, the one thing I was unhappy with from the outset was the headlights. Having owned a T6 (Westfalia KeplerOne) with halogens whilst living in Germany and having tried to navigate the Austrian Alps at night, I knew I would have to do something about removing the stock headlights and improving them. The rest of the van was a super spec, so not to be missed.

I looked at HazyDayz and their list of OEM upgrades. However, having just dropped £96k on the van itself, the thought of spending another £3.5k was a little unappetising. So I thought I'd keep that as a backup plan if Plan A didn't work. Plan A then was TransporterHQ's own LED headlight upgrade which at £600 (then - I think they're a little more expensive now), seemed like a good starting point.

View attachment 129925

Initially, although being handy at home DIY but not hugely technically minded with vehicles, I decided to get my friendly Auto Electrician on the case. He installed the lights but couldn't get them to work - one worked perfectly, the other kept skipping between sidelights & main beam. Initially thinking it was the Light Control Module which wasn't probably relayed, he added a relay to that - still didn't fix the issue. The lights are supposed to be plug & play so I called TransporterHQ and after a lot of head-scratching but genuinely within 24hrs of calling, they decided it could be an issue with the lights themselves. They sent me a new set and two days later they arrived - I tested them with the old ones in situ (i.e resting them on the existing lights and just plugging new ones in) and voila(!) - they worked! :)

Being an impatient so & so, I decided to give it a go myself. TransporterHQ had put a really useful YouTube tutorial on about how to remove the Crafter/TGE bumper and headlights, so I used that as my guide and within 90mins I had everything done. No warning lights, faults or flickering.

View attachment 129928

I'm now 1.5yrs on and I can thoroughly recommend them. I don't think they are quite as bright as OEM LED headlights, there are small dark patches which perhaps you wouldn't be there in factory units but overall they're an enormous improvement over halogens, particularly on high beam - plus they really look the part. I kind of felt the halogens look cheap, whereas these are really quite special.

Do I feel the need to go for OEM lights? Absolutely not. These really have been a super upgrade and I'd recommend them to anyone who is looking for brighter lights and better aesthetics.

View attachment 129926View attachment 129927
I've ordered some thanks!!
 
Let me know how you get on with them! :)

I went for the super bright LEDs.
yeah they are amazing, ordered them on Monday, they arrived yesterday and fitted today, very simple to install, I havent tried them at night but even in the day they look way more powerful than the standard units (I went with the HQ7 LED bulbs too).
 
Brilliant - so pleased you're as happy with them as I am mine. Now we're coming into the darker evenings, they'll come into their own, I promise!
 
Brilliant - so pleased you're as happy with them as I am mine. Now we're coming into the darker evenings, they'll come into their own, I promise!
Thanks! Yeah just tried them on a long drive! Wow as you say, massive difference!!
 
For anyone who has fitted LED bulbs into aftermarket headlamps or headlamps designed for halogen bulbs, while they may pass an MOT, they are likely to invalidate your insurance in the event of a claim or a third party claim against you. Use them at your own risk.
 
For anyone who has fitted LED bulbs into aftermarket headlamps or headlamps designed for halogen bulbs, while they may pass an MOT, they are likely to invalidate your insurance in the event of a claim or a third party claim against you. Use them at your own risk.

As will anyone who fits seat covers that have not been airbag tested, forget to fill their screen wash, don’t check their tyre pressures, or those that choose to drive over the speed limit….

Most would argue that decent Led upgrades make driving safer at night.
 
As will anyone who fits seat covers that have not been airbag tested, forget to fill their screen wash, don’t check their tyre pressures, or those that choose to drive over the speed limit….

Most would argue that decent Led upgrades make driving safer at night.
Or in my case the VW dealership that fitted the front seat covers on the wrong seats!

I agree that LED headlamps can make night driving safer, but using aftermarket LED bulbs are illegal in the UK. They could potentially blind an oncoming driver and cause a serious accident.
 
. They could potentially blind an oncoming driver and cause a serious accident.

Had Transporter HQ headlights on our old Beach.Currently have the Philips bulbs in ‘H4’ headlight unit in the Joker which are legal in some European countries, (not UK) - see below:


Have never been flashed by other motorists in UK or abroad in the Joker, but get flashed now & again when driving our EV which has full LED matrix headlights, which to me suggests I’m blinding other drivers…but they are approved / UK Road legal.
 
My Mercedes regularly gets flashed when its adaptive full beam doesn't put the oncoming car in the dark spot quick enough, but it is great when it illuminates behind the oncoming vehicle and you can see the dark spot moving with the oncoming vehicle, that's progress for you
 
Or in my case the VW dealership that fitted the front seat covers on the wrong seats!

I agree that LED headlamps can make night driving safer, but using aftermarket LED bulbs are illegal in the UK. They could potentially blind an oncoming driver and cause a serious accident.
Can you point me to any info about aftermarket LED bulbs being illegal please? THQ say this isnt the case? Is that they are using approved LEDs or something?

UPDATE: I've done a bit of google'ing and it looks like I need to check with THQ, maybe I confused what they were saying about MOT compliant, didnt know about this issue, thanks for pointing it out!
 
Last edited:
Can you point me to any info about aftermarket LED bulbs being illegal please? THQ say this isnt the case? Is that they are using approved LEDs or something?

UPDATE: I've done a bit of google'ing and it looks like its a grey area? didnt know about this issue, thanks for pointing it out!

I cannot vouch for the UK but here in Germany the bulbs have to be approved for use. I have fitted approved for use LED bulbs (OSRAM Night Breaker H7-LED) and have the certificate in the my handbook to prove they are legal. No idea how to check if they are approved for use in the UK.
 
Can you point me to any info about aftermarket LED bulbs being illegal please? THQ say this isnt the case? Is that they are using approved LEDs or something?

UPDATE: I've done a bit of google'ing and it looks like I need to check with THQ, maybe I confused what they were saying about MOT compliant, didnt know about this issue, thanks for pointing it out!

Transporter HQ Led bulbs will pass an MOT beam test, plus the led part is enclosed within the bulb unit so cannot be seen by the tester.
However they are not legal for road use in the UK as no headlamp units have the necessary approval / ‘rubber stamp’ for retrofit LED bulbs at the moment for use in the UK.

(That said your Van will pass an MOT with them fitted, and you will be able to see where you are going at night without blinding other motorists)
 

Similar threads

Back
Top