Grateful for any advice from those that might have trodden this path.

I have owned my 2011 Freely HSE for nearly 11 years and love it. I intend to keep rather than replace, but would like to upgrade to the LED lighting that came with the 2012-14 models.

The rear is not a problem; I can get these from Powerful UK and they come with a conversion loom to make them plug and play.

The front is where I really need advice. There were essentially three versions of the LED headlight produced: halogen without signature strip; halogen with signature strip, and HID with signature strip. I am interested in the halogen with signature strip.

Simon on Powerful UK has done a Youtube video on changing the lights, but he says that the conversion loom has not been tested with the signature strip version.

These are my initial questions that I hope someone might have knowledge of:

-- does the signature strip work with the changeover loom produced by Powerful UK?

-- does the DRL (inc signature strip) come on with engine start, or as a sidelight (in which case the rear lights would also be on)?

-- does the DRL go off when the headlights are switched on?

Any answers may lead to further questions/discussion!

Regards,
Rocky

Not sure if this answers your question but if your FL2 has projector lens and uses HB3 single bulb then a HiD conversion kit is the way to go and at c£50 will be the best mod ever made. My 64 plate has HiD conversion kit and the signature lights are ok and has just passed its MOT for the 3rd consecutive year. MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

Rocky wrote:

Grateful for any advice from those that might have trodden this path.

I have owned my 2011 Freely HSE for nearly 11 years and love it. I intend to keep rather than replace, but would like to upgrade to the LED lighting that came with the 2012-14 models.

The rear is not a problem; I can get these from Powerful UK and they come with a conversion loom to make them plug and play.

The front is where I really need advice. There were essentially three versions of the LED headlight produced: halogen without signature strip; halogen with signature strip, and HID with signature strip. I am interested in the halogen with signature strip.

Simon on Powerful UK has done a Youtube video on changing the lights, but he says that the conversion loom has not been tested with the signature strip version.

These are my initial questions that I hope someone might have knowledge of:

-- does the signature strip work with the changeover loom produced by Powerful UK?

-- does the DRL (inc signature strip) come on with engine start, or as a sidelight (in which case the rear lights would also be on)?

-- does the DRL go off when the headlights are switched on?

Any answers may lead to further questions/discussion!

Regards,
Rocky

Lakelander, many thanks for response.

Am I right, however, that your 2013 model came with the new LED lights fitted? If so, I understand the interaction of the DRL's with the light switching - but I don't think this would be the same when old (pre-2012) lights are exchanged for new LED's because the wiring is different. I think the Powerful UK loom overcomes some of these issues, but not all, and DRL's may work/switch differently - this is what I am trying to find out.

I am looking for answers from anyone that has actually changed old lights for new LED's - that is, if anyone has done it!

Regards,
Rocky

I'm sure owners have swapped to the later lights, but it's not straightforward, as the 2012 facelift has many changes over the pre 2012 model.

I was looking to do it on mine a while back, so investigated in depth what was needed to carry out the swap.
I decided it wasn't worth the effort for me, as the gains were minor in real terms, when the cost of the conversion was factored in.

The DRLs on the facelift are powered by the CJB, but there's no output or wiring to carry out this task on the pre-facelift. So additional DRL control wiring and a control unit will need to be added. It's no big deal as my foglight DRLs are powered by such a system.
The facelift headlamps themselves don't actually fit the pre-facelift as a straight swap. You need the front bumper assembly to accommodate the facelift lights, and you'll need the headlamp mounting tray from the facelift too.

It's not impossible to overcome, but it's not a straightforward swap. 2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Soon to be sold.
Hyundai Ionic 5 Ultimate on order.
Gone. 2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE.

Nodge - thank you. Much more for me to think about.

Regards,
Rocky

I do have a pair of facelift headlight mounts available if you do decide to go ahead. FL2 SD4 XS 2013 Orkney Grey

Lakelander - thank you. More thought on this needed first!

You don`t need a different bumper or any mods to it either as I fitted the hid signature lights to mine. (2012 pre facelift.) and it was reasonably straightforward. They came with the mounting tray. I bought a conversion loom from a seller on Ebay which from memory was plug and play and made the lights work as they should in terms of how the DLRs operated/dimmed etc. I got member Mikey to program the car to let it know about the light changes.
Had a look at the Powerful UK harness and it jogged my memory about my set up. The loom I bought is almost plug and play but needs a positive and negative connection at the battery as it had a voltage sensitive DLR controller as part of the loom. I had a quick search on Ebay but could not find the one, only the Powerful UK one which looks to involve a bit more DIY

Don - useful, thank you.
Rocky