Changing rear light cluster bulbs for LEDs

[nfarmer]

Has anyone done this, in my simple way I thought it would be easy!!! But the LEDs I have are the wrong polarity for the car which requires +ve to the case and-ve to the centre connector. So they dont work.

Testing the LED by taking a lead to the battery with +ve the centre and -ve to the case the bulb works fine.

So I need LEDs +ve to case and -ve to centre pin. Has anyone sourced any

Norman

 

[RedSox]

Hi mate. I did this via ebay, searching for cabus LED's for E85. No probs. i'll try and dig out the seller's details and post them up later.

Cheers.

 

[nfarmer]

Hi mate. I did this via ebay, searching for cabus LED's for E85. No probs. i'll try and dig out the seller's details and post them up later.

Cheers.

Thanks

 

[RedSox]

So the description is "Car Back LED Tail Light Bulbs BA15S [382, P21W] SMD Canbus No Error Free 12V RED". Seller is "mylitco". Very happy with their service and the bulbs work perfectly. Obviously, I bought red LED's but they sell amber and white too. Good luck.

Cheers.

 

[Toe-side]

Thanks also good info

 

[LukeMace]

Do you have pictures RedSox of before with standard bulbs and after with the LEDs?

 

[Ewazix]

Forgive my ignorance, but given the 3 x cost and fuss is there any real advantage in swapping to LED rear lights?

Presumably the LED integrated resistors are there to fool the canbus in to thinking the standard lights are in place and working by consuming the same current, and as far as I can see my bulbs are the 10 year old originals so longevity isn't really an issue - just wondering? :scratchhead:

 

[nfarmer]

Forgive my ignorance, but given the 3 x cost and fuss is there any real advantage in swapping to LED rear lights?

Nope except the reversing light and the red high intensity rear (fog) light where enhanced output would be a self evident benefit!

I will post photos of before and after in due course so that you can make up your own mind as to the benefits (or not).

Norman

 

[RedSox]

If you!re at SantaPod tomorriw, I can show you. Otherwise I'll post some pics if I can beat Norman to it at some point in the week - afters only tho, I'm afraid.

 

[nfarmer]

In daylight, note I have fitted a LHD rear light unit on the drivers side as I HATED the asymetrical look so the high intensity red rear light is provided by a chromed red 'normal' bulb in the second picture and a red led in the third.


Before


After


Excellent bulbs from CarModShop on eBay, these photos dont do justice to the increase, difficult to look at the reversing light now.

Reversing light
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350753195227?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

High Intensity Light
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300811936...eName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Both these bulbs have 'Intelligent identification of the polarity' and just work when you plug them in!! Not only that they do NOT give a 'bulb out' and load resistors are not needed.

Fantastic result

Norman

 

[Ewazix]

Forgive my ignorance, but given the 3 x cost and fuss is there any real advantage in swapping to LED rear lights?

Nope except the reversing light and the red high intensity rear (fog) light where enhanced output would be a self evident benefit!

I will post photos of before and after in due course so that you can make up your own mind as to the benefits (or not).

Norman

Right, brighter then, not a bad thing since the single reversing lamp is pretty dim which is annoying if you leave the mesh wind deflector in place all the time like I do which reduces rear visibility, cheers

 

[nfarmer]

Please note I have edited my post above to reflect the revised rear light unit I have fitted