Real-World Lighting Upgrade Tested by Rough Restos
When it comes to Land Rover builds, few people are more hands-on than Rough Restos.
Known for his honest reviews and practical approach to vehicle modifications, he's never been one to recommend products simply because they're new or popular. If something works, he'll tell you. If it doesn't, he'll tell you that too.
Over the years, he's tested his fair share of cheap no-name lights from online marketplaces. While they may seem like a bargain at first, the reality is often disappointing—poor durability, limited beam patterns, and performance that rarely lasts beyond a few trips before needing replacement.
This time, Colight teamed up with Rough Restos to upgrade his Range Rover with the new Diamond Series Side Shooters.
If you've ever found yourself wishing for more usable light, better side visibility, or simply more confidence driving at night, this review will show you why more Land Rover owners are making the switch to the Diamond Series.
From Daily Driving to Weekend Adventures
Not every Land Rover owner spends every weekend tackling extreme off-road terrain.Many drivers are just like Rough Restos—using their vehicles for daily driving, road trips, green lanes, and occasional off-road adventures.
That was exactly the goal with this build:
Improve usable visibility without compromising the vehicle's appearance.
Before the upgrade, the factory headlights performed reasonably well inside the workshop. But like many OEM lighting systems, there were still noticeable dark areas and limited peripheral visibility.
OEM
Once the Diamond Series Side Shooter were installed, the difference was immediately obvious.
Diamond Series
The overall brightness increased dramatically, while the side spread illuminated areas that previously disappeared into darkness.
Side Shooter Lighting
Objects stored around the garage walls became clearly visible, and that's before even taking the vehicle onto the road.
Side view
If the improvement is this noticeable in a controlled environment, imagine the difference on dark country roads or remote trails.
So how does it achieve that?Let's take a closer look.
Choosing the Right Mounting Position
One of the first decisions Rough Restos faced was where to mount the lights.Like many Land Rover owners, he considered several options:
- A-pillar mounts
- Roof-mounted light bars
- Front bumper installation
After weighing up the pros and cons, he opted to mount the Diamond Series alongside the factory headlights.
This position offered several advantages:
✔ Improved forward illumination
✔ Increased side visibility
✔ Better integration with the factory lighting system
✔ Cleaner overall appearance
Rather than simply adding more light, the goal was to create a more balanced and effective beam pattern.
Built for Real Off-Road Conditions
As an experienced mechanic, Rough Restos immediately noticed one feature many people overlook:
The integrated waterproof breather valve.
This allows pressure equalisation inside the housing while helping prevent moisture build-up.
Even in harsh weather conditions or unexpected water exposure, the system is designed to maintain reliability and long-term performance.
It's a small detail—but often the difference between lights that last for years and lights that fail after a season.
OEM-Style Wiring Made Simple
Another feature that stood out was the included DT waterproof wiring harness.
The installation is largely plug-and-play, making it approachable even for first-time installers.
For this build, Rough Restos connected the Diamond Series backlight function to the vehicle's indicators, allowing the lights to flash in sync with the turn signals.
The result is a cleaner, more integrated look that feels almost factory-spec.
Beam Pattern Review
Now for the part every lighting enthusiast wants to see.
Diamond Series Side Shooters Output
The beam pattern delivers:
- Wide-angle side illumination
- Smooth light distribution
- Strong central hotspot
- Excellent foreground visibility
Instead of creating harsh concentrated spots with dark gaps around them, the Diamond Series provides a balanced combination of distance and peripheral coverage.
For country lanes, overlanding routes, and technical off-road driving, that extra side visibility can make a huge difference.
Installation Without Drilling
One clever aspect of this build was the mounting solution.
Rather than drilling into the vehicle and potentially affecting future modifications, Rough Restos temporarily removed the factory trim and used VHB mounting tape to secure the setup to the bumper.
This approach allowed him to:
- Avoid permanent modifications
- Maintain a clean appearance
- Keep future upgrade options open
A practical solution many Land Rover owners will appreciate.
Outdoor Testing
Workshop testing is useful.
Real-world testing is what really matters.
Side View Performance
The side-shooting design becomes immediately apparent once outside, providing additional visibility far beyond the factory beam pattern.
Driver's Perspective
Factory sidelights.
Factory headlights.
Then the Diamond Series activated.
The difference is dramatic.
The beam extends significantly further while also lighting up the surrounding environment.
Grass, bushes, trail edges, and roadside obstacles become much easier to identify.
This is exactly the kind of visibility improvement that gives drivers more confidence on dark roads and remote tracks.
Diamond Series Only
Running solely on the Diamond Series produces a surprisingly uniform beam pattern.
The light transitions smoothly across the field of view, creating depth and definition without harsh hotspots.
Side View Test
Before
After
Simply put: It looks as good as it performs.
Final Thoughts
As a professional mechanic, Rough Restos only recommends products that offer genuine value, durability, and real-world performance.
If you're tired of replacing cheap lights every season but don't want to pay premium-brand prices purely for a logo, the Colight Diamond Series sits comfortably in the sweet spot.
Available in both 3-inch and 5-inch versions, with upgraded RGB options now available, there's a setup to suit almost any Land Rover build.
Whether you're mounting them on:
- The roof
- A-pillars
- Front bumper
- Or even as rock lights
The Diamond Series gives you the flexibility to build your vehicle your way.
How would you mount yours?
Roof setup or bumper setup?
Let us know how you'd build your ultimate Land Rover lighting setup.
Shop the Diamond Series Here today and see what you've been missing after dark.