Replaceing standard light with LED's

[RCN]

Can anyone reccommend a good company/website that sells LED bulbs that can replace standard bulbs (brake, turn signals, back up, ect)
Thinking of doing this. The cost of the bulds are a bit dear, but i think that the life expectency and the low amp/watt useage will make it worthwhile in the long run. HAs anyone done this and have suggestions?
Cheers

[kevtherev]

To be honest pal the alternator can cope with your bulbs very easily.
If your lights are dimming then the brushes need replacing or the battery is on it's last legs.

I changed ALL the rear lights to led AND changed the clusters, but I have now reverted back to standard.
It was an expensive adventure not worth repeating... the indicator needs a resistor wired in or the flasher relay doesn't flash, the sidelight was illegally bright, and the brake light was blindingly bright very good for safety though
The company I bought it all from S.V.C. has now withdrawn most of their led stuff
the fog lamp has to be an incandescent bulb and that's a legal requirement.
With just led bulbs the light is thrown in all directions and bleeds into the surrounding lenses, Some bulbs look awfull as you can see all the light sources.
So I changed the clusters for led friendly ones.. £250 later and it lasted a year before I got fed up with the indicator resistor constantly not connecting.



Sorry I didn't mean to pee on your chips
spend the money on new light boxes where the reflective chrome hasn't flaked off

[RCN]

thanks kev. I was interested because of the ammount of light the LED's can produce, but I'll keep things asd they are and spend the money on beer instead.

[Porkscratching]

.Kev, you've made my chips a bit soggy. I've recently bought some expensive replacement LED reverse bulbs from Campervan Culture (cost aside, very good). Curiosity got the better of me and I tried them in the indicators. I thought they were really good, not too bright but sharp and clear with no 'light spillage'. So much so I thought I might treat the van and myself to a set of four one day. The one thing that put me off was the issue of resistance, ie would a full set work. I think because of the cost, I'll hang fire until someone can give a definitive answer.
So cheers Kev, you may have saved me £60.

[kevtherev]

your led bulbs may have the resistor already in the bulb..
I have to say I did all this four/five years ago so the technology may well have improved.

here's the prototype



and the finished article with full led

[Porkscratching]

I bought my LED's after reading a thread and a link off 80-90. They were specificly offered as superior replacement reverse lights. However, when I can afford to chuck £30 away I might risk buying anoyher two and experiment with them. If / when I do, I'll post yhe outcome.

[pionte]

personally I dont like LED lights on cars, even New BMW etc that are built with them , I dont like the harshness how the indicators turn on and off I prefer the softer effect by the lamp glowing brighter then dimmer.

Inside I can see the benefit, but when the engines running the alternator wouldnt even notice .

[Porkscratching]

Hi Pionte, I sort of agree. Especially when vehicles like bus's have combined LED tail/indicator lights. For my ageing eyes there seems to be little clarity between the two. However, with my little experiment with LED rear indicators on my van I was happy with the result. Can I add, I'm not personally a fan of Lexus or most any other 'bling' (personal taste). It just seemed to be an enhancement and a general improvement.