Cheap vs. Expensive Lights

[Maxcollins]

I’ve been looking at adding lights to my new Bronco and am blown away by how expensive the name-brand options are. I also saw that there are a number of sellers on Amazon (see Auxbeam, Nilite, and Lasfit) who offer very reasonably priced alternatives. While I’m sure the quality is much lower, they can be replaced many times over for less than the cost of name brands.

4” ditch light pods for $90: https://a.co/d/3hk8qtO
52“ Light bar for $170: https://a.co/d/0fEdrg7
Fog pocket lights for $150: Light https://a.co/d/8CXpOQS

This setup from amazon would cost ~$410 (and given prime day sales, actually much less).

Baja Designs has a somewhat similar (though obviously much nicer) set up on their website for $4,398.85 (https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/ford-bronco-stage-3-light-bundle-kit/?vid=169469).

I’d like to see if I’m missing something about the value proposition of the bigger brands and why I should be paying thousands instead of hundreds. $4,400 for lights just seems outrageous.

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[EgreenBadSquatch]

If you spend 50-60k on a vehicle adding lights isn’t a place to cheap out. If Baja Designs are too much then try Diode Dynamics for a good middle ground. You will notice a quality difference between the cheap ones.

 

[Maxcollins]

If you spend 50-60k on a vehicle adding lights isn’t a place to cheap out. If Baja Designs are too much then try Diode Dynamics for a good middle ground. You will notice a quality difference between the cheap ones.

Can you be more specific about what the value of my vehicle has to do with what I spend on lights? What is the specific performance difference between the Amazon brands and Baja / Diode?

Diode ditch lights are approx. $260 (https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage...itch-light-kit-for-2021-2024-ford-bronco.html)
Diode lightbar kit is approx. $1,700 (https://www.diodedynamics.com/ss5-windshield-crosslink-lightbar-kit-for-2021-2024-ford-bronco.html)
Diode pocket fog lights are approx. $869 (https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage...for-2021-2024-ford-bronco-w-steel-bumper.html)

So again the question is why should I spend $2,829 instead of $400? I could replace the amazon kit 7 times for the cost of buying from Diode once.

 

[EgreenBadSquatch]

The value of the vehicle means if you buy cheap lights that don’t have quality wiring and have way lighter casings mean that if something happens to the light due to that bad wiring then you are out a lot more money. If you have a beat up Toyota from the 80’s if something bad happens you aren’t out much. I waited a long time for my Bronco so I’d rather not risk it.

 

[CarmeloS]

I had a set up cheap pods from a friend as a gift for her, ran them for ages until one day it mysteriously just was gone, one side snapped off clean. One also had condensation issues

Running Diodes now, well worth every penny

 

[dgorsett]

I have cheap ass lights on my cheap ass (37K) Bronco and most of my other vehicles and utv and I can say: I seldom use them, modern OEM lights are awesome. The cheap lights work well, have never failed me. Most come with switches, relays and mounting hardware. They look as nice as fancy ones.

They say buy once cry once.

I say buy once don't cry at all.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

You get what you pay for. You'll see what happens in a few months with the cheaper lights failing, getting water/moisture in them, rusting, etc..

We do offer some great options from Diode Dynamics that are not too bad on the wallet. $199.95 for a complete A-Pillar kit that includes USA made lights... that's a pretty good deal for some USA quality lights

https://www.4x4truckleds.com/vehicle-specific/ford-bronco/2021-bronco/

 

[Hemisfear]

I have cheap ass lights on my cheap ass (37K) Bronco and most of my other vehicles and utv and I can say: I seldom use them, modern OEM lights are awesome. The cheap lights work well, have never failed me. Most come with switches, relays and mounting hardware. They look as nice as fancy ones.

They say buy once cry once.

I say buy once don't cry at all.

I'd just cry LAUGHING!

 

[Maxcollins]

You get what you pay for. You'll see what happens in a few months with the cheaper lights failing, getting water/moisture in them, rusting, etc..

We do offer some great options from Diode Dynamics that are not too bad on the wallet. $199.95 for a complete A-Pillar kit that includes USA made lights... that's a pretty good deal for some USA quality lights

https://www.4x4truckleds.com/vehicle-specific/ford-bronco/2021-bronco/

I’m genuinely trying to understand - could I not just replace them at that point and still be ahead? And then when those rust out and fail, replace them again? And then 4 more times on top of that? I‘m just struggling to see how the name brand lights are worth so much more - I’d happily pay 2-3x the cheap options for better quality.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

I’m genuinely trying to understand - could I not just replace them at that point and still be ahead? And then when those rust out and fail, replace them again? And then 4 more times on top of that? I‘m just struggling to see how the name brand lights are worth so much more - I’d happily pay 2-3x the cheap options for better quality.

It's your money and if you are happy buying the same lights over and over to keep replacing them that's up to you. But me personally... I've ran the cheap lights before (when I first got a truck) and hated them. Ever since going to a QUALITY brand I'm much happier because I know they'll work and last.

You can spend $199.95 now for a quality set of USA made lights that will last the life of your truck.

OR

You can spend $71.99, have to modify the included harness only to have to replace them within a year because the power coating will flake off and the lights will start to rust and/or get water in them. So you'll then be at $144.

You really do get what you pay for. At the end fo the day, an LED diode is an LED diode. But what makes the lights different/worth more is the manufacturing process and the components used in production.

We've had customers come in here with cheap lights that wanted to upgrade to better lights and OHH MYY the condition of the cheaper lights is just TERRIBLE. It's so bad we almost never want to touch them from all of the oxidation and rust and the wiring falling apart.

 

[Agrod]

You DO get what you pay for... BUT I do agree that the name brand ones are way too expensive.

I wanted some fog lamps for my mod bumper, and the three pod kits were $1,100+. I got a cheaper kit from Oracle ($321 @ Amazon) and got Morimoto XRGB headlights to complement them with what I "saved".

 

[Callelk]

I’ve been looking at adding lights to my new Bronco and am blown away by how expensive the name-brand options are. I also saw that there are a number of sellers on Amazon (see Auxbeam, Nilite, and Lasfit) who offer very reasonably priced alternatives. While I’m sure the quality is much lower, they can be replaced many times over for less than the cost of name brands.

4” ditch light pods for $90: https://a.co/d/3hk8qtO
52“ Light bar for $170: https://a.co/d/0fEdrg7
Fog pocket lights for $150: Light https://a.co/d/8CXpOQS

This setup from amazon would cost ~$410 (and given prime day sales, actually much less).

Baja Designs has a somewhat similar (though obviously much nicer) set up on their website for $4,398.85 (https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/ford-bronco-stage-3-light-bundle-kit/?vid=169469).

I’d like to see if I’m missing something about the value proposition of the bigger brands and why I should be paying thousands instead of hundreds. $4,400 for lights just seems outrageous.

I ran mid-priced Amazon LED's which had good reviews on my Jeep which is why I have Diode Dynamics now. And by the way, similar in size and shape, not similar in quality/light output, etc. There is no Auxbeam, Nilight, ect.. that compare to their output but especially their beam pattern.

 

[Blackcat]

I put some cheap LED's on my F150 and they were nothing but problems. Crapped out on me and did some damage to the PCM.....

 

[helifino16]

I went very cheap on the a-pillar lights because I knew they were really just for show. (I don't even think I spent $20 on the pair). I have $300 DD and BDs on the shelf if these ever give out or rust away. I spend good money on the light bar and it does give a ton of light, but rarely gets used because it's not (exactly) street legal.

 

[ScLeCo]

I think aftermarket lights in general are a pointless waste of money. I cannot think of a singe instance in 40 years of off roading that I ever had a situation where I could not go on because I needed more lights.
If I have or do need more light hand held flashlights work just fine, are cheap, and portable.

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