Member Since: 05 Oct 2008
Location: North East
Posts: 149
Front and rear light guards....do they actually work?
Considering the front and rear light guards for the 05.
For those that have them - do they actually protect the headlights/taillights - or are they more cosmetic?
Do they hinder the cleaning of the lights back and front?.....
....and are they easy to fit?.........no drilling I hope!
4th Feb 2009 7:41 pm
Wex
Member Since: 16 Apr 2007
Location: Knackeragua
Posts: 5173
Re: Front and rear light guards....do they actually work?
dealmaker wrote:
Considering the front and rear light guards for the 05.
For those that have them - do they actually protect the headlights/taillights - or are they more cosmetic?Protect to a small degree but are more cosmetic IMO
Do they hinder the cleaning of the lights back and front?.....No
....and are they easy to fit?Yes.........no drilling I hope! Front - No , Rear -Yes
Download the fitting instructions here http://www.ownerinfo.landrover.com/extfree2viewlrprod/index.jsp and see for yourself.ISTR that the wrong hole size might be shown in the instructions so check the diameter of the riv-nut with a micrometer before you drill.If you don't feel confident of it yourself then give 10forCash a shout.
4th Feb 2009 7:48 pm
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
You can get away without rivnuts on the rear (since these things are so light) - just drill hole small enough for the screws to 'self tap' and bung a bit of mastic or sealant around them to keep the tinworm at bay
But generally beware the back ones - they vibrate and if you fit them too close to the body work they rub the paintwork BADLY
Here's a shot of the marks on my Blue D3 after I'd took the rear guards off - I'd positioned them nice and tight against the body. These marks would NOT come out and were proper 'ruts' in the paint - fortunately the "hand back inspector" didn't make any fuss over them.
Click image to enlarge
Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
4th Feb 2009 9:31 pm
mehari
Member Since: 14 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Belgium and often in Brittany
Posts: 91
Went near the trees.. slipped... the rear lampguard touched the tree: broken; the light: broken... but they sure look good...
My take: there are two models (at least I've seen two): plastic and aluminium... If it was to be done again, I'd go for the aluminium...A second D3 ! This time with all whistles and bells (Auto, 7seats, Diff Lock, RAI, all kinds of protections, winch, Extended range tank, iPod adapter....)
First time twice the same car ! and first time third car of the same brand !
I'm loving it !
4th Feb 2009 10:02 pm
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
But the aluminium ones are not OEM and look.... well yack quite frankly
S'pose you could spray them matt black Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
Re: Front and rear light guards....do they actually work?
dealmaker wrote:
do they actually protect the headlights/taillights
About as much as an airbag in a 70mph head-on
dealmaker wrote:
are they more cosmetic?
Yes - and they do look good IMO
dealmaker wrote:
Do they hinder the cleaning of the lights back and front?.....
Yes, but how much cleaning do you do? Dirt behind the guards doesn't obstruct light any more than the guard itself does
dealmaker wrote:
and are they easy to fit?
Yes. The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
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4th Feb 2009 10:24 pm
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
I've fitted loads - but not on mine......
Never had an issue with damaged lights either
4th Feb 2009 10:41 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
Well I'd say they work - got them fitted and never had a damaged light
Last edited by DiscoStu on 5th Feb 2009 10:25 am. Edited 1 time in total
4th Feb 2009 11:39 pm
Popelka
Member Since: 31 May 2008
Location: Praha (Prague)
Posts: 2430
SN wrote:
just drill hole small enough for the screws to 'self tap' and bung a bit of mastic or sealant around them to keep the tinworm at bay
could they not be fixed on with carfull application of mastic, this could also act as a cushion if hit??
5th Feb 2009 9:42 am
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
probably but they're quite a tight fit and you need some kind of anchoring of the bracket behind the light (onto which you bolt the plastic guard).Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
I've got front and rear guards on mine, and only consider them a cosmetic mod. But today, on a narrow country road, a young girl was riding past my D3 when the horse tripped slightly and smacked the stirrup into my rear light. Luckily, it hit the guard and didn't damage the light unit itself, so it looks like they do sort of work .Previously:
2005 D3 2.7 TDV6 S
1984 90 2.25 Petrol CSW
1992 90 200TDi Hard Top
1995 Discovery ES 300TDi
2003 90 TD5 Truck Cab
7th Feb 2009 9:35 pm
biggless
Member Since: 19 Oct 2007
Location: Durham
Posts: 37
Lights guards
I have the front LR light guards but for the rear I got these -
They are well clear of the paint work and don't need any drilling to fit. Made of polished SS. It is a shame that the engineers at LR don't seem to put much thought in to some of the accessories. ! Cost about £100.
Twice I've hit a parrot on the front headlight guard (birds here are as dim-witted as hopping species) and it cracked the guard, not the headlight. (Had another one hit the front guard over the radiator, it broke the guard but protected the radiator fins). About 18 months ago a Hilux decided to slide into my front end and his ensurer discovered that the plastic case cost A$1200 + installation. If you think you might colllide with dim-hit small objects (not specifically a Hilux driver ) then the front guards are more than cosmetic. I find that my front ones do tend to come off with sideways winds and need a bit of black duct tape to secure in place (it happens to not look out of place on a black ARB roo bar).Jim Dowell - D4 HSE TDi, 12,000 hydraulic winch & hidden winch mount, MTRs, TyreDog, Traxide 2 x aux battery system, fixed air compressor, Dolium roof rack, MitchHitch.
RIP 2005 D3 HSE V8 5 seater gold (stolen and torched)
16th Feb 2009 3:05 am
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi Jim,
Like you I have the front light guards and the ARB bar (although not the winch version). I haven't found that the LR light guards move at all (although maybe there are more strong winds in WA).
Alternatively, is it possible that your LR light guards haven't be fitted properly?
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) then the front guards are more than cosmetic. I find that my front ones do tend to come off with sideways winds and need a bit of black duct tape to secure in place (it happens to not look out of place on a black ARB roo bar).
