LED Bulbs... Worth it??

Hi ive got clear lenses on my 90 and the brake lights are looking a little pink for my liking and was thinking of upgrading to LED bulbs, have many people tried them and are they any brighter or more visible than standard bulbs??

Ollie

just be careful with LED's they have to be stamped to EU specs to be road legal, i work in a motor spares shop and am constantly telling chavs the risk of cheap LED's for cars,

its to do with how much they flicker, red LED's are one of the worst for it, i would recommend checking out ledcar.com or tssc - Re:LED Red legal or not - MessageBoard hope this helps some

D4m13nB3rry said:

its to do with how much they flicker, red LED's are one of the worst for it, i would recommend checking out ledcar.com or tssc - Re:LED Red legal or not - MessageBoard hope this helps some

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I wouldnt have thought that would really be a problem with continuous current being applied. Because i know clear leds can be turned on and off up to about 20-25 times per second, above that they emit a consistant output, and compared to incandecant bulbs i would have thought they would flicker less??

Ollie

I've used LED bulbs in both my previous landys.

It is however illegal to do so if the vehicle was registered after 1986. You can change the complete light unit to an led unit but if you fit an LED bulb into a holder that is designed for a filament bulb it's illegal irrespective of wether it's E marked or not.

Glad I read this fred.... was gonna change all of mine to LED except the headlamps. Bit more wedge for beer I spose.

ratty said:

It is however illegal to do so if the vehicle was registered after 1986. You can change the complete light unit to an led unit but if you fit an LED bulb into a holder that is designed for a filament bulb it's illegal irrespective of wether it's E marked or not.

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That does seem like a pretty random policy because its completley irrespective of any tech input at all. I'd have thought as long as the bulbs emited a consistant (non flickering) output of the correct hue it would be fine. It seems odd you can fit "led bulb holders" but not fit them into existing bayonet fittings, because as long as the bulbs were within the current rating of the wiring they would operate fine.

Although you can fit led bulbs in a holder designed for them, are there any olders designed to specificically take led bulbs? or is that basically an excuse to make the bulbs illeagal through and through..

Ollie

discobill said:

Glad I read this fred.... was gonna change all of mine to LED except the headlamps. Bit more wedge for beer I spose.

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olmasters said:

That does seem like a pretty random policy because its completley irrespective of any tech input at all. I'd have thought as long as the bulbs emited a consistant (non flickering) output of the correct hue it would be fine. It seems odd you can fit "led bulb holders" but not fit them into existing bayonet fittings, because as long as the bulbs were within the current rating of the wiring they would operate fine.

Although you can fit led bulbs in a holder designed for them, are there any olders designed to specificically take led bulbs? or is that basically an excuse to make the bulbs illeagal through and through..

Ollie

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I gotta be honest I don't know whats so bad about fitting em and why they are illegal.

Like I say I've run both my previous landys on them and had no problems with the old bill. I WOULD fit them again too. I just thought that I'd make you aware that it is illegal to fit them. It then gives you the information to make your own call.

The brake/tail lights don't appear to be as bright during daylight hours but do appear brighter when it is dark. The indicators do flash much crisper in relation to a normal filament bulb. If the led bulbs are used for indicators then resistors will need to be fitted otherwise your indicators will flash double speed.

ratty said:

If the led bulbs are used for indicators then resistors will need to be fitted otherwise your indicators will flash double speed.

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or fit a solid-state relay.

380/1157 6 Led Red Stop And Tail Bulb 6W by Ultra Leds U.K

Use a reputable company like ultraleds above as they stock the best newest types available especially with Luxeon LEDs.
Don't by cheap ones or you'll find them dull with a poor light spread.
You can buy filament bulbs coloured red cheaply though which might also solve your problem.

2 X 382 STOP TAIL FOG BULB 12v - 21w SCC BA15S RED on eBay (end time 14-Jul-09 09:11:39 BST)

STOP & TAIL BULB RED 380 21/5W 12V BAYI5D 380R PAIR on eBay (end time 14-Jul-09 09:11:40 BST)

the problem all lies with a little bit of european legislation which loosley translates to using the vehicle with accessories other than the manufacturer originally intended.

Before you all jump on me about this, I am the messenger, not the writer. I know lots of aftermarket accessories fall foul of this law.

The problem with LED bulbs is the quality can't be guaranteed, and it would introduce the element of reasonable doubt into whether they are acceptable or not, so it's safer to rule them out all together.

The actual lamp holders and reflectors are designed with filament lamps in mind, and reflect the light in a certain pattern to maximimse the visible effect in all conditions, and generally, the filaments are usually in the same place on e stamped bulbs and emit light equally in all directions, which can then be reflected forward.

LED's by contrast are very directional, and appear very bright when viewed end on, but not so good from the side. If you look at how a filament sidelight bulb mounts into the headlight enclosure, 9 times out of 10 if reflects light from the side of the bulb not the end. With an LED replacement, most of the light goes straight up, not out of the side.

just my two penneth based on personal experience