When I got the truck it had two large aux driving lights but they were old, mismatched, didn’t work, and were HUGE. The only thing I liked about them was that they were Hella which was the official brand Land Rover used back in the day for their Camel Trophy trucks. In fact there was even 4 special edition Hella Defenders made. So one might say Hella and Defenders are intertwined and thus when I pick out lights for the D90 I only use Hella.
1994 Hella Defender #1515
1994 Hella Defender #1235
The original Hella lights used on Defenders were the 3000 series, but I find those a bit big at 7.6 inches tall and I am not a fan of the chrome housing. So I went with the 4000 compact black series which are 6.7 inches tall, thinner, with a black metal housing. I could have gone LED but I went with Halogen to keep a more retro look. I wired these up to the ARB bumper and put them on a new dedicated circuit using a fused relay and Carling switch. They are great lights but not as driving lights on the bumper. First off they are too bright if you want to use them on-road, they are really an off-road light only. Second, I wish they came with a rock guard versus a complete rock shield. I also wish you could get them in amber so they could act as a good fog light.
Original Hella 3000 lights
Hella 4000 compact black Halogen
Hella 500 amber driving light
After lots of debating (with myself) I have decided to switch out my setup. I bought some Hella 500 amber lights which are 6.8 inches tall, very thin, with a black plastic housing. These do support rock guards and rock shields so you have options. Being amber will make them a bit more useful on the front bumper during storms or off-road driving in dust. And since the 500s are halogen they have a nice retro look and feel. They will be bright but not as bright as the 4000 series. I don’t love the plastic housing but its not a big deal and maybe an advantage because these lights are not expensive and thus very replaceable in case they get damaged.
Hella 500 amber driving lights test fitted
This allows me to move the 4000s I have to the top NAS roll cage and add two more which will mimic the Hella Defenders. I know the more modern solution would be to get an LED light bar but I think that would look odd on a 1994 Defender that has maintained its retro look. The 4000’s don’t need the rock guards only the rock shields because of the high placement. Fun fact, in CA you are required to have full covers (rock shields) for off-road lights when driving on-road to prevent accidentally turning on the lights and blinding other drivers. These off-road lights are on their own switch separate from the amber driving lights. I made a wire loom with waterproof plugs for easy repairs. The switch for the 4000’s is next to the fog light switch by the steering wheel.
