21 replies to this topic

[Anarchy]

I have found this list of bulbs and have already changed headlights to HIDS and sidelights to white LEDs which both look a lot better. Dipped beams: 448/H1 Full Beams: 499/H7 Side lights: BA9s/233/T4W Front indicators: 581 - 'Offset' Pins Front fogs: H3 Side indicators (repeaters) 501 Brake and Tail light 380 Reverse 382 Rear Fog 382 Rear indicator 581 - 'Offset' Pins Is it worth changing any of the others, would the bright LED effect be noticed through Red/Amber/Opaque lens covers? Do LED bulbs work on the indicators? Anyone bought any and can recommend a supplier?

Edited by Anarchy, 16 September 2009 - 07:53 PM.

[Anarchy]

How about the interior bulb and rear plate bulbs, anyone know what size these are?

[starlight]

Is it worth changing any of the others, would the bright LED effect be noticed through Red/Amber/Opaque lens covers? Do LED bulbs work on the indicators?

Don't think they will work on indicator bulbs due to the low current draw of the led - the indicator relay works the time interval between flashes by the current draw - if the current draw decreases, the indicators flash too quickly, like when a bulb blows

[Anarchy]

I kind of suspected this, some bulb sellers reckon they have some sort of resistor with them to combat it. I have bought a bunch of LED bulbs, will post some before and after pics up soon.

[Decky]

I have ebay LED pug 307 side repeaters on mine which are orange, flash perfectly and fit perfectly. can also recommend some audi day time lights for under the dash wired into the existing interior light and replace the interior light with an 8 LED festoon also available for peanuts on ebay. put a light in the boot.

[Anarchy]

Well here is what I ended up with, photography skills are useless but you get a slight idea of the difference. And I probably should have taken the pictures in similar light

Old bulbs:










New LED









The stop/rears were these, with hindsight I would have gone for the multi type with some LEDs pointing sideways onto the reflective dome. but they are very bright and more distinction between brakes on and off than the old bulbs.



But I must add I sent them back because they fell apart in my hands.

Festoon internal and No plate bulbs were these:





The end result is that I quite like them, with hindsight only the white bulbs are really worth changing, coloured ones seem very similar.

[Bobo82]

I have found this list of bulbs and have already changed headlights to HIDS and sidelights to white LEDs which both look a lot better.

Dipped beams: 448/H1
Full Beams: 499/H7
Side lights: BA9s/233/T4W

Did you upgrade the Side lamps to a proper HID kit with balast and all or did you just buy LED bulbs for them? If so which HID kit did you buy for Side lights: BA9s/233/T4W ?

[Strugs]

Quite like the LED number plate lights.. very new shape 3 series BMW.. Where did you source those, and what size/type?

[Anarchy]

Quite like the LED number plate lights.. very new shape 3 series BMW..

Where did you source those, and what size/type?

Thats the bit I am most impressed with, link to the ones I got off ebay below, though I suspect theres many more places to get them.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT

If anything they are a little short I would get next size up around 40mm.

At first I thought they did not work but turns out they're polarity sensitive.

[Anarchy]

I have found this list of bulbs and have already changed headlights to HIDS and sidelights to white LEDs which both look a lot better.

Dipped beams: 448/H1
Full Beams: 499/H7
Side lights: BA9s/233/T4W

Did you upgrade the Side lamps to a proper HID kit with balast and all or did you just buy LED bulbs for them? If so which HID kit did you buy for Side lights: BA9s/233/T4W ?

No need for HIDS for the side lights, if they will pysically fit I would try something like these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/...sQ5fAccessories

[Strugs]

Quite like the LED number plate lights.. very new shape 3 series BMW..

Where did you source those, and what size/type?

Thats the bit I am most impressed with, link to the ones I got off ebay below, though I suspect theres many more places to get them.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT

If anything they are a little short I would get next size up around 40mm.

At first I thought they did not work but turns out they're polarity sensitive.

Cool.. Just ordered some from Aceparts on ebay - they supplied my sidelights..

[savvy]

Becareful when ordering sidelight LEDs, I ordered some similar to the last eBay link and found they wouldn't go into the back of the lens as the LED was too big, only just though.

Edited by savvy, 12 October 2009 - 08:51 AM.

[Kenni]

Sorry for the negitivity, but heres my experiances: I had led tail/brake bulbs and got shot of 'em after a few months. Had the really bright led's but still didnt find them as bright as the normal bulbs. Also, the led bulbs use very little power so therefore any of the excess power that was meant for the normal bulbs was diverted to the centre brake light. This partly lit up the centre brake light and looked pretty crap whilst the engine is started. Indicator leds are really good, but only go for the side and rear leave the fronts. For some reason, i had leds front, side and rear, if i indicated to got left, the front right would light up...strange! You will also need a resistor for the rears. Also the number plate led bulbs, started flickering like mad after a few months of use.......leds meant to last 50,000 hours of use......b*ll*cks

[Bobo82]

Anyone know if the side lights bayonet or screw fit and does anyone know the length of the fitment?

[Anarchy]

They are like the ones in the link above, just need to be sure they will fit through the hole.

[Anarchy]

Another weird thing with LED bulbs. My internal light stays on now when I shut the door with engine and all other lights off, only a tiny little bit you can only see it in the dark. So I checked it with a meter and there is a tiny amount of voltage there, enough to light the LED but not a normal bulb, in fact when you connect the meter or turn on other lights the LED bulb goes out. What might be causing this, would you expect tiny amount of power there? Would a resistor type thing be of benefit here, will my battery run flat really slowly? Any ideas?

[Decky]

Another weird thing with LED bulbs. My internal light stays on now when I shut the door with engine and all other lights off, only a tiny little bit you can only see it in the dark. So I checked it with a meter and there is a tiny amount of voltage there, enough to light the LED but not a normal bulb, in fact when you connect the meter or turn on other lights the LED bulb goes out. What might be causing this, would you expect tiny amount of power there? Would a resistor type thing be of benefit here, will my battery run flat really slowly?

Any ideas?

Ive had this with several LED setups now and have found that a resistor will stop the light lighting. It wont run your battery flat as it draws a minute amount of current, your alarm etc draw much much more.

To the people saying they couldnt get the LED sidelights to fit, I had this problem too and used a bench grinder (for sharpening tools) to just file off the metal ring of the bulb so that it was a tiny amount thinner and it fitted perfectly, if you used the same technique you could file it off with a file, the side of an angle grinder or something similarly abrasive and then they will fit no problem

[Strugs]

Another weird thing with LED bulbs. My internal light stays on now when I shut the door with engine and all other lights off, only a tiny little bit you can only see it in the dark. So I checked it with a meter and there is a tiny amount of voltage there, enough to light the LED but not a normal bulb, in fact when you connect the meter or turn on other lights the LED bulb goes out. What might be causing this, would you expect tiny amount of power there? Would a resistor type thing be of benefit here, will my battery run flat really slowly?

Any ideas?

Tried fitting mine today, and found exactly the same thing so swapped it back for the standard bulb for now. Let me know if you find a reliable cure!

Got one of the numberplate LEDs in and it looks ace, but the other cover the screw is so rusty I can't undo it - so one looks quality, the other sh1t!

[I Need My Fix!]

I have found this list of bulbs and have already changed headlights to HIDS and sidelights to white LEDs which both look a lot better.

Dipped beams: 448/H1
Full Beams: 499/H7
Side lights: BA9s/233/T4W
Front indicators: 581 - 'Offset' Pins
Front fogs: H3

Side indicators (repeaters) 501
Brake and Tail light 380
Reverse 382
Rear Fog 382
Rear indicator 581 - 'Offset' Pins

Is it worth changing any of the others, would the bright LED effect be noticed through Red/Amber/Opaque lens covers? Do LED bulbs work on the indicators?

Anyone bought any and can recommend a supplier?

My 2 pence:

HID conversion on H1 (Dipped), H7 (Full) & H3 (Fogs) front lights. Mighty improvement. However i highly recommend the 55w HID for H7 & H3 as i originally fitted 35w H7 which were shite. Now with 55w H7 i can not only see where im going at night (on country roads) i can actually go crazy! So dont waste money on 35w just go straight for the 55w as they are different ballasts and bulbs.
Maybe stay with 35w for H1 (dipped) so as not to dazzle other drivers?

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...#ht_5622wt_1163

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...#ht_5593wt_1163


LED side lights. Careful with these as some are rubbish. Try get ones that are a few watts. 1st ones i bought i binned so i ended up finding the highest powered ones i could (4w) which are linked below. They now look great. Keep them on every time i drive so 4x4's dont run me down!

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...#ht_2006wt_1163

I also changed the number plate bulbs and internal light (festoon bulbs). Both great but i do have the problem of the internal light staying on slightly if not turned off. No biggy tho, just turn it off every time or fit resistor.

As for the rest of the bulbs.... Dont bother! You can only tell brightness and not colour difference as the lenses are coloured! Also as has been mentioned. LED & HID from fleabay can be of dubious quality. Only time will tell. Dont want to have to keep changing the bulbs every 6 months! Or as they say, if its not broke don't fix it.

My 2 pence cost me more than 2 pence! Shes worth it tho

[TheRealVXed]

In relation to tail light bulbs. presumably the indicator bulb lenses and be used to replace the red lenses on the rear allowing the red led bulbs to be used? anyone got any donor lights so I can try this?