Upgrading bulbs, LED's

[Metblackrat]

So, for example, you replace the bulb and holder for an LED bulb and holder (from one of the newer VAGs) all is good?

What about "non-road" lights, such as puddle-lights?

It's only the obligatory lamps it applies to. Puddle lamps, interior lamps etc are fine and on most cars a blind eye would be turned. A taxi however is carrying a fare paying passenger and as such would come under greater scrutiny.

Don't assume your average bobby would necessarily know what they should about traffic law. It's only when you have been stopped by a true traffic officer that you know if the car is 100%.

BTW, an MOT it not a test to check legality, its a safety check. The above legislation applies to cars made post 1986 and is what makes aftermarket HID kits illegal.

[uma1998]

hi there i have just started to convert to leds done all the felicia switchs on dash just got to do heater controls and dash and mirror switch e/w switchs and the two aircon ones. i have leds in my number plate lights and leds in my front indicators and no bulbs in head lights i only ever got pulled for having blue led side lights i now have none but do have HID's going to make new headlights projector ones

[uma1998]

I would be interested to hear about anyone using led in the headlights. I know they make the bulbs, but bet they cannot be very bright, can they?

lots of canbus error free led 501 on ebay, as I was looking for some too....

sent via Playbook and Tapatalk

there rubbish and not enough light had some fog light ones ended up making it fit my high level break light in a transit

[uma1998]

you need to use a resistor to by pass the can bus as it reads the wattage off bulbs and leds are less thats why you get bulb failers.....

[big_tex_uk]

Just fitted my LED dome lights from SS but foolishly managed to detach the main light switch from the front light cluster (not two side lights). It seems to have blown the 7.5 amp fuse as none of the front/back interior lights work now....

I removed the front light unit by taking out the two small phillips screws and found the brass plate and spring had become detached that the main light switch fits into. Does anyone know which way round this brass plate fits back on and does the car have any spare fuses in the fuse board in the engine or interior fuse board.

[mattytemp]

Id say your light will need replacing. Because that brass plate is what carries the electricity to the bulbs.

[nickguzzi]

Ryan - just noticed your question re LED headlamps. Can't remember off hand but will have a look through my browsing history.

[big_tex_uk]

Id say your light will need replacing. Because that brass plate is what carries the electricity to the bulbs.

Thankfully i managed to sort the brass plate out and replace the blown fuse and its all now sorted!!

[Flyfisherman]

I would be interested to hear about anyone using led in the headlights. I know they make the bulbs, but bet they cannot be very bright, can they?

lots of canbus error free led 501 on ebay, as I was looking for some too....

sent via Playbook and Tapatalk

LED lamps are very bright to look at, but useless as headlights - no light penetration.

As for the remaining lamps - all are led - front side light, front and rear indicators, rear tail lights / fog lamp, brake lights, reversing lights, all interior lights and boot lights. Well please with the transfer to LED

Regards

[ryan-re]

LED lamps are very bright to look at, but useless as headlights - no light penetration.

Thats a very sweeping statement and wrong. As I said earlier, Philips make some very bright LED headlights for Mercedes and other manufacturers who use LED's as headlights.

LED headlights are the future, it wont be long before they trickle down to the mainstream brands just like reversing sensors did and before that electric windows

[Phil-E]

Aren't Toyota or Nissan using LED's in their Hybrid/Electric car headlamps?

I'm pretty sure they are so it's already filtering through.

Phil

[ryan-re]

they certainly have always used led's in the brake lights etc not sure about the headlights though

[DaveyBoyWonder]

LED lamps are very bright to look at, but useless as headlights - no light penetration.

So my 900 and 1200 lumen LED biking lights have no penetration? They penetrate pitch black woodland singletrack better than most car lights I've seen!

[Danvrs09]

Lexus rx have led headlights if you go for the top spec one.

[Taxi_G]

Ordered a few bulbs from fizzmo on eBay, the two he recommended me for my reg plate ( they have heat sink ) don't actually fit but put them into the interior & they are super bright, makes it look as if its daylight outside.

The other two festoon type he recommended are too small in length, so I've to send them back for a refund or exchange. No bad service tbh.

Need to actually measure the side of the festoon type bulbs, can't remember if its 39 or 41mm

G

[D@z]

just found this thread again, what bulbs do you still need to fit and I will tell you what ones I ordered

[Taxi_G]

just found this thread again, what bulbs do you still need to fit and I will tell you what ones I ordered

Need 2x 501 interior boot lights,

1x glove box light,

2 x 501 for map reading lights,

2 x 501 puddle lights

2 x front door curtsey lights

G

[Perc]

So my 900 and 1200 lumen LED biking lights have no penetration? They penetrate pitch black woodland singletrack better than most car lights I've seen!

LED requires a whole different type of engineering. You can't just drop LED into a car's headlights and expect a powerful and correct beam pattern.

I did buy a pair of parking light LEDs from ebay germany and they arrived today. I just hate how brown the parking lights look next to the xenons, even though it's the factory blue-coated bulbs that came with the car. Will install them tomorrow.

[RainbowFire]

Need 2x 501 interior boot lights,

1x glove box light,

2 x 501 for map reading lights,

2 x 501 puddle lights

2 x front door curtsey lights

2 x interior light (1 front {between map lights}, 1 back)

[Taxi_G]

2 x interior light (1 front {between map lights}, 1 back)

Got those already!

List above is what I now need

G

[D@z]

Need 2x 501 interior boot lights,

1x glove box light, Havent changed this

2 x 501 for map reading lights,

2 x 501 puddle lights

2 x front door curtsey lights

G

got most of them from fizzmo on Ebay:

boot lights: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290732679882

glove box light: forgot about this! Ill have to look into it, maybe someone else can chime in on this!

map reading lights: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5x-5-SMD-LED-XENON-WHITE-SIDE-LIGHT-BULB-501-W5W-T10-PUSH-WEDGE-360-DEG-UK-/290635604591?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item43ab3b626f

bottom of door (courtesy?) lights: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120911058507

Puddle lights: if you mean the ones on the mirrors, Im afraid I dont have them

[john.errington]

"LED lamps are very bright to look at, but useless as headlights"

for two reasons:

1: a HID 35W lamp emits 2800 lumens from a very compact isotropic source - which is easy to focus accurately

to get a similar light output from a LED you need a larger source. Its VERY expensive; and because of the size beam control is not as good.

You CANNOT use a LED lamp in a headlamp unit designed for a filament lamp - the beam pattern will be cr*p.

2: when you are using 55W in a small space it gets HOT. a HID or high-efficiency Xenon filament bulb will run happily at well over 1000C. An LED will burn out if the die reaches 120C. Keeping the die cool is a problem.

http://www.durhambats.org.uk/about_torch.htm

http://megamanlighting.com/Technology/Thermal-Consideration

[Brettreading]

Fitted two canbus LEDs to the number plate. With one fitted it was fine. With both fitted I got an error message on the dash. Do I need to install the resistors fizzmo sell?

Car is 2012 model.

[Brettreading]

got most of them from fizzmo on Ebay:

boot lights: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290732679882

glove box light: forgot about this! Ill have to look into it, maybe someone else can chime in on this!

map reading lights: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5x-5-SMD-LED-XENON-WHITE-SIDE-LIGHT-BULB-501-W5W-T10-PUSH-WEDGE-360-DEG-UK-/290635604591?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item43ab3b626f

bottom of door (courtesy?) lights: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120911058507

Puddle lights: if you mean the ones on the mirrors, Im afraid I dont have them

This is the one that fits the glove box

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290626716615?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649