Trying the find the right LED bulbs to replace the standard bulbs for the rear numberplate light.

Ebay is giving me two types, festoon style and 501 style.

Can anyone point me in the right bulb direction?

The estate has 501 capless.

I never understand why people want LED numberplate lights, I would prefer my number plate was as least visible as possible... :-)

In that case, stop cleaning your car.

The main reason I changed mine to LED's was because I got fed up of changing them all the time on the Volvo, on which the lights were constantly on. Old habits die hard.

Yeah 501's (sidelight) are what you need

In that case, stop cleaning your car.

The back of the car is quite dirty at the moment :think:

Yeah 501's (sidelight) are what you need

Cheers, any recommendations for some that are bright enough?

I bought some cheap ones from eBay

I went back to the standard bulbs after getting sick of the led ones blowing all the time and having to change them.

I just put it down to cheap egay merchandise from the outer regions of Mongolia or where ever they are made

Edited 9 January, 201313 yr by tin0

I had the SMD ones with one on each 'side', they blew once and I complained and got some free replacements. The best ones to get are from ultra leds.co.uk - only thing is they ain't cheap, but they are the best for quality/longevity.

I got some cheap 501s from eBay. Fit fine and have lasted not far off 2 years now. Luck of the draw maybe!

I just buy the Philips ones. Expensive, yes. But there's nothing to touch them for reliabilty. I have bought many of the cheaper types before, more often than not the festoon types are more reliable than most of the 501 types.

The cheaper Eastern made ones are designed by people with very little thought as to their actual purpose. They are designed for 12V operation. Of course a healthy battery alone is between 13.8 and 14.4V and an alternator screaming away can easily exceed that (especially if the regulator is a bit iffy), so these often need the current draw measuring so you can accurately calculate for a current dropping resistor. But nobody really wants to modify their wiring loom by having to splice a resistor in for stupid aftermarket bulbs.

I had to resort to this when customising the back end of my bike. The number plate lights were stupid leds that were mounted on the number plate, pointing STRAIGHT BACKWARDS. Amazed the previous owner never got stopped. I bought some of thesehttp://www.demon-twe...r-plate-light-2 because they were the right angle to stick on my undertray and point at the number plate. You would expect these to be suitable really, wouldn't you. Well, I blew one within the first day, so ordered another pair and had to install resistors for these. But since the wiring is no longer standard on my bike (and unless forced to, I never intend parting with it) it wasn't really an issue. Of course it didn't help that my Suzuki typically kicked out a bit more than any self respecting regulator ought to...

Anyway, sorry for the rant... my point is... buy cheap, buy twice.

search osram 4000k led or 501 on ebay dude i have these really white not blue or yellow and been in 6 months so far with no issue got in side lights and interior too but erm pricey but very good quality

I hadn't realised Osram were "in the game" now. Bound to be much like the Philips in terms of quality, I suspect. Good to know there's another option. More competition can only mean that the prices will come down. Yay!

even the little heat sink is awesome lol they do a festton for inside too did cost me 80 quid to change them all to led including the boot and doors though :p

Which reminds me, my glovebox light has stopped working, so I might as well replace that piddly little 20mm one with an LED to match rest of car.

Check your switch is ok! Mine wasn't working but switch was jammed, also glovebox light only works when lights are turned on!!

better than the philips for build in my opinion

they do a 6000k one too

Can anyone confirm if this is the same for the hatchback? its raining and my sofa is too comfy for me to go out and check. if 501's that helpful as i need a sidelight bulb as well.

Yeah its 501 style.

I got these, nice and bright. Not sure how long they will last, time will tell.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390522535750