LED bulbs upgrade.

I'm thinking about updating my break lights, side lights and indicators. Looking on line the prices for the new LED replacement units are horrifically expensive in comparison to just updating basic light units with LED bulbs.

Has anyone done this, if so how many and what type of relay did you use?!

Afaik it is not legal to fit LED bulbs into standard holders, not to mention due to the lower current draw they play havoc with the rest of the leccy bits.

£125 for a full set of Wipacs is hardly horrifically expensive as youll never need another bulb. They are very well made and worth every penny.

bankz5152 said:

Afaik it is not legal to fit LED bulbs into standard holders, not to mention due to the lower current draw they play havoc with the rest of the leccy bits.

£125 for a full set of Wipacs is hardly horrifically expensive as youll never need another bulb. They are very well made and worth every penny.

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You don't replace bulbs..?! That doesn't make sense as there are numerous posts online where these have give up.

If this isn't the case, then you are correct, £125 is well worth it!

Obligatory vehicle lights have to be type approved by law. This basically means E marked these days. The light manufacturers have to spend £££ to get their light units through type approval. Now if a light unit has a filament bulb in from new then the type approval is for that light unit with a filament bulb in.

Fit a LED into a type approved light unit with a filament bulb and the type approval is void as it has NOT been tested with one in. It is an unauthorised modification.

Try speaking to companies such as Wipac and ask them if their type approval applies to unauthorised modification. Before anyone ask I have!

Now assume you are an electrician or plumber and have said a system conforms to regulations and is safe. Would you be happy to say your safety/conformity certificate still applies to unauthorised modifications to your workmanship?

Now some sellers say that their unauthorised units will pass MOT. The MOT is a safety check, do the lights work, correct colour/pattern it does NOT check on LEGALITY of the light unit.

Try telling your insurance company that you are using non type approved obligatory lights and see what they say about the insurance policy.

Yes spend a few more £ and get E marked, road legal LED units and know you are legal.


Brendan

Landyfox said:

You don't replace bulbs..?! That doesn't make sense as there are numerous posts online where these have give up.

If this isn't the case, then you are correct, £125 is well worth it!

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Ive had my Wipac ones for maybe 3 years, on road, off road, lights have been submerged, jet washed, even knocked a couple times. They still look new and ive never had a problem with them. Theres no way I would ever go back to holders, lenses and bulbs.

And to be honest ive never seen a post about them failing, not on here anyway.

bankz5152 said:

Ive had my Wipac ones for maybe 3 years, on road, off road, lights have been submerged, jet washed, even knocked a couple times. They still look new and ive never had a problem with them. Theres no way I would ever go back to holders, lenses and bulbs.

And to be honest ive never seen a post about them failing, not on here anyway.

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Cheers fella

Landyfox said:

I'm thinking about updating my break lights, side lights and indicators. Looking on line the prices for the new LED replacement units are horrifically expensive in comparison to just updating basic light units with LED bulbs.

Has anyone done this, if so how many and what type of relay did you use?!

Click to expand...

I put JW speakers in. The relay that came with them didn't work on its own so I had to Wang some diodes in to add resistance.

I've got some Chinese ebay specials in my clear lens indicators to avoid the egg yolk look of using amber bulbs and I just added a ballast resistor. It's passed its mot for the last three years like it. Personally I don't like the look of the wipac or similar 'proper' led lights

Mine are bolt on bits RDX, loads better than standard lights

I used RDX LEDs on my rebuild too, I did try faffing about with the original holders but in the end bit the bullet and put full sealed LED units in, and the new flasher relay. I think they look reasonably stock and are nice and bright.

bankz5152 said:

Afaik it is not legal to fit LED bulbs into standard holders, not to mention due to the lower current draw they play havoc with the rest of the leccy bits.

£125 for a full set of Wipacs is hardly horrifically expensive as youll never need another bulb. They are very well made and worth every penny.

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If you kept a car for ten years you would spend nothing like £125.00 on replacement bulbs. So LEDs being well worth it is debatable.

Apart from being brighter, more reliable, clearer, dont corrode, harder to break and dont die when they get wet.

Plus the added bonus of mr MOT man not being able to say you had 5 lights out and charges £2.50/bulb

I've put LED bulbs in a lot of cars I have had. The only problem is they don't take to being wet as well as normal bulbs. My side lights in my wipac crystal headlights are LED and it makes it look a lot more modern.
Personally I don't see the problem with using them

Well my plenty cheapness ones are coming up for three years old in normal holders which have nearly always got condensation inside

bankz5152 said:

Apart from being brighter, more reliable, clearer, dont corrode, harder to break and dont die when they get wet.

Plus the added bonus of mr MOT man not being able to say you had 5 lights out and charges £2.50/bulb

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I get my stuff trade, you can get a box of bulbs for not a lot more than £2.50 depending what bulbs you are after. Plus check your lighting BEFORE you go for MOT. A bulb can go at any time but it's pretty unusual for five to go as you drive into the MOT station.

Marmaduke said:

Well my plenty cheapness ones are coming up for three years old in normal holders which have nearly always got condensation inside

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I went through 4 sets of side light bulbs in my last mazda 6. Gave up in the end. Could have been something else I guess

Indicator

Side light with normal bulb

wammers said:

I get my stuff trade, you can get a box of bulbs for not a lot more than £2.50 depending what bulbs you are after. Plus check your lighting BEFORE you go for MOT. A bulb can go at any time but it's pretty unusual for five to go as you drive into the MOT station.

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I always do! They are always fine but half of them are replaced anyway! Cheeky sods