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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
Thanks to Daniel Stern for recommending these new LED light's to me. I have put them in both of the 93 500GE's that my Son and Daughter drive. I must say that these are great, very bright white lights and are both DOT and US Military approved. Lot's of deer around where we live, my daughters friend really messed up her toyota last week hitting one on a dark road. The stock euro headlights on my Son's G and the DOT headlights on my daughters truck were both very poor. One thing to note is that you have to have the DOT headlight mounting buckets to attach these. FYI, the buckets are also used on porsche 911 and 944 and can be found in junk yard's.
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Attachments
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 Lights 1.jpg (36KB - 7 downloads)
Lights 2 of 3.png (110KB - 6 downloads)
Light 3 of 3.png (82KB - 5 downloads)
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or_550i
Veteran
Date registered: Oct 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Vehicle(s): 1984 280GE Europa, 2003 G500
Posts: 264
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
Wow. For $535 each I sure hope they look good! |
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Inkblotz
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Georgia
Vehicle(s): 90 300GD "Thundering Turtle II", w/ 603A turbo
Posts: 3186
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
I it possible to get a night shot from the drivers seat to see the illumination?
Mark |
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shochu
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Vehicle(s): indonesian-assembled '97 G300
Posts: 452
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
i'm not too sureon the looks department..
too funky for the old-school styled G |
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
I will get a night time picture and post it tonight, from inside the driver seat.
They did not cost $535 each. They did cost $375.00 each. I was comparing them to the Truck-Lite LED and Daniel Stern said these are much better lights.
While I do think they look cool, I did it for safety reasons only. You can't put a price on that. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
AGuess - 11/21/2011 8:27 AM
They did not cost $535 each. They did cost $375.00 each. I was comparing them to the Truck-Lite LED and Daniel Stern said these are much better lights.
Did you get them from Daniel? |
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
No, he does not carry them, I am working with him on some other lighting improvements that he does carry. He sent me to the manufacturer and they sent me to a discount Chrome Shop. These are used on 18 wheelers.
Easy to put in, plug and play. All you need is the headlight bucket's if your G is not already using US Dot headlights. It only took about 5 minutes to install. Then I went and had them put on a headlight machine to make sure they were lined up. They were. |
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or_550i
Veteran
Date registered: Oct 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Vehicle(s): 1984 280GE Europa, 2003 G500
Posts: 264
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
AGuess - 11/21/2011 5:27 AM
I will get a night time picture and post it tonight, from inside the driver seat.
They did not cost $535 each. They did cost $375.00 each. I was comparing them to the Truck-Lite LED and Daniel Stern said these are much better lights.
While I do think they look cool, I did it for safety reasons only. You can't put a price on that.
There are a few youtube video's that show the night time comparison - they are _really_ bright and have a great cut off pattern.
I think they look cool and I like that LEDs are finally getting to the point where they are used for general illumination rather than indicator lights.
Safety does not have a price, that is true. |
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Night Time pictures
Here are a few pictures in my driveway.
# 1 is on low beam,
# 2 is on High Beam, distance about 105 feet +
#3 is low beam from about end of bright distance (aprox 60 ft), note still further light, just not as bright.
I did not measure with tape line, just steped off, joints in drive way are 10 - 15 feet apart.
 (LIghting - night 1 of 3.png)
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LIghting - night 1 of 3.png (204KB - 4 downloads)
lighting - night 2 of 3.png (264KB - 2 downloads)
Lighting - night 3 of 3.png (253KB - 5 downloads)
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Inkblotz
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Georgia
Vehicle(s): 90 300GD "Thundering Turtle II", w/ 603A turbo
Posts: 3186
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
Those do a real nice job. I noticed there are 4 pods inside the lens. Do 2 of the pods light up for low and 4 for high?
Edited by Inkblotz 11/21/2011 9:22 PM
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ewalberg
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Past: San Francisco. Present: Germany
Vehicle(s): 2000 g500
Posts: 1887
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
i had the same question, he's done a whole write up a while back totally roasting LED headlights as being inconsistent performing at different temperatures, super expensive, very innefficient and therefore potentially generating enough heat to be problmatic depending on your climate, and then mediocre performing. From Alex's response to this question, sounds more like he simply pointed alex in the direction of where he could buy LED headlights than that he actually recommended them. He has had a policy where unless he's comfortable recommending something, he wont sell it. There are a host of hot selling, poor performing lights he refuses to sell.
I'd be curious if he's evaluated these. I personally hate bluish colored lights and it think the police "love" to profile them, so i wouldn't be interested in them even if they were free and great performing. One other issue that has been mentioned before is that a headlamp that looks as great on low beam as the old stuff on high... kinda sorta implies you're effectively driving around blasting oncoming traffic with the functional equivalent of your brights on... even if you feel good about yourself running with your low beams on... owning a lotus elise in which your head is about as low to the ground as you can get in a road legal car, i'm keenly aware and have experience with this.
Not saying stock is great except for the color temperature... which is fundamentally better for the eyes... the bluer the light the more it scatters in the eye.
Edited by ewalberg 11/21/2011 11:43 PM
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Reckless
Date registered: Jul 2011
Location: Chicago
Vehicle(s): S600, 280GE, QX4
| RE: Night Time pictures
AGuess - 11/21/2011 8:04 PM
Here are a few pictures in my driveway.
# 1 is on low beam,
# 2 is on High Beam, distance about 105 feet +
#3 is low beam from about end of bright distance (aprox 60 ft), note still further light, just not as bright.
I did not measure with tape line, just steped off, joints in drive way are 10 - 15 feet apart.
Thanks for taking the pics... I really want to upgrade the g class 460 headlights (I currently have HIDs but want even more light). #1 looks much better than stock but I want something comparable to the S550, is there anything on the market that can give more light than 60'? The high beams are good but don't want to blind on coming drivers. /i think fog lights would improve peripheral vision. |
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
Ok, email from Daniel Stern Lighting follows.
On 8/11/11 13:17, Alexander Guess wrote:
> Hello Mr. Stern,
> Both Dutch from Atlanta and Cole from Miami have told me to
> contact you regarding upgrading my lighting. I have two 1993
> Mercedes 500GE (G500) trucks. They have the 7" round head
> lights.
Okeh...
> One truck still has the European style light (flat front)
> with the H4 bulb. The second has the US type light (curved
> front). Both project poor lighting compared to my third
> Mercedes G500 which is a 2002.
Yup, the headlamps got very much better for '02.
> My two children drive the 93 G's and I want to upgrade to
> the best possible head light for them as it is a safety
> issue. Cost is really not a factor, quality and the best
> light projection is.
OK. In that case, you'd want the J.W. Speaker LED headlamp,
model 8700:
http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/headlights/#product=100159
These lamps are costly but quite excellent, and they fit in place of a standard 7"
round lamp. They are the only 7" LED lamp worth buying;
there is one other on the market (from Truck-Lite) but it is
junk.
> Final item. I would also like to upgrade their rear lights
> to LED if it would result in a brighter light
You would have to rework the rear lamp system more
extensively than you probably have in mind. The original
lamps, I agree, are rather small and dim. "LED bulbs",
however, do not work safely or effectively, which is why
(despite their wide availability) they are illegal. I can
get into the detailed technical info if you'd like, but the
takeaway point is that "LED bulbs" just don't work -- none
of them.
If you are willing to install different rear lamp assemblies
I can make some suggestions; there's no direct-fit upgrade
so as I say some reworking would be necessary.
Next round of questions is yours...!
Best DS
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
Three lights - top and two small on side, light up on low, all 4 on High.
OK, these are white light, not colored. Took photo's off cell phone. Lights look much better in real life.
Low beam is much better than original OEM regular low beam light and the Bright is also much better.
You do not and would not want to drive at on coming traffic with these on High as it would blind them. The low beam does not and it must be aligned correctly. I put them in and then went to a state inspection station to confirm alignment and have not had anyone flash at me while driving.
These are DOT and US Military approved and used by semi truck "18 wheelers" for better lighting. They are solid, heavy sealed lights. I can not say why Mr. Stern does not carry them as he did not say. I simply asked him what was the best lighting and he said this. I agree that they are great and yes they are expensive but that is ok for me.
Hope this info helps.
Alex.
Edited by AGuess 11/22/2011 9:56 AM
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
I am sure that Mr. Stern would answer any questions about better lighting.
However, I would note that he does not ask for any payment for his time and he only makes money if you buy something from his web site.
Therefore I asked for his paypal address and sent him money to pay him for his knowledge. We all either sell goods or services in life and our time is money. Please pay him something if you contact him. He won't ask. |
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ewalberg
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Past: San Francisco. Present: Germany
Vehicle(s): 2000 g500
Posts: 1887
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
Thanks for posting this... i think it's valuable to know that he actually endorses them because of the level of detail he tends to go through in evaluating products. ...and it is therefore is odd that he doesn't sell them. Also good to know about the color temperature. Particularly good on you for tipping him for his service.
Edited by ewalberg 11/22/2011 1:01 PM
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
Alex,
Did you have to modify the electrical plugs from the original H4? |
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
No, this was plug and play. It only took 5 minutes to install the first set as that G already had the "DOT Brackets".
The second one had the european headlights back in, so I had to put the DOT brackets back in first.
Very easy to install, direct fit, no issues.
Alex. |
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dalexa001
Veteran
Date registered: Feb 2008
Location: Anniston, Alabama, USA
Vehicle(s): 2011 G550, 2012 Sequoia
Posts: 157
| Re: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
I'm very interested. |
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daniel87
New user
Date registered: Dec 2011
Location:
Vehicle(s):
Posts: 1
| RE: New J.W Speaker 8700 LED Headlights.
They look great. I think I'll consider getting some for mine. |
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