LED lights ?

[nikwax]

The HID/LED headlight thread got me started on replacing my incandescent lamps with LEDs. I started with the backup lights, big improvement in output and they look kinda cool even when they're not turned on.


Does anyone have experience with the other lights (turn signals, brake lights, etc) that could be replaced with LED? Issues with the CAN, with flashers, whatever?



What I think I know: match the color of the LED to the color of the lens.

 

[NORTON]

I replaced the dome light with a blue led for less glare at night and to go with the blue theme of the interior.
I also changed my reverse lights with much brighter LEDs and the license plate light. I agree, this is a useful mod.
I am not going to mess with the turn signals at all because of possible flashing issues and there is not much energy savings with those.
The rear park lights and brake lights are next but I'm not too concerned about those.

I just did a 42 mile trip to the airport in the dark and the one HID headlight is awesome and I think it has the proper Lo and Hi beam patterns. I'll post pics of that.
I'm going forward with replacing both headlights to HID.

This is such a great car for my needs. A 10-15 minute stop at a DCFC before or after is all I need to make the Airport Run with a big reserve range.

 

[nikwax]

license plate lights...yes, that would be a good next step.


I'd love to see your HID photos. Someone had good luck with LED headlights as well, I'd like to see photos of those.

 

[nozferatu]

The HID/LED headlight thread got me started on replacing my incandescent lamps with LEDs. I started with the backup lights, big improvement in output and they look kinda cool even when they're not turned on.


Does anyone have experience with the other lights (turn signals, brake lights, etc) that could be replaced with LED? Issues with the CAN, with flashers, whatever?



What I think I know: match the color of the LED to the color of the lens.

Could you kindly direct us to the site where you got your LED lights and maybe the link to the actual product?? Thanks!

 

[nozferatu]

I replaced the dome light with a blue led for less glare at night and to go with the blue theme of the interior.
I also changed my reverse lights with much brighter LEDs and the license plate light. I agree, this is a useful mod.
I am not going to mess with the turn signals at all because of possible flashing issues and there is not much energy savings with those.
The rear park lights and brake lights are next but I'm not too concerned about those.

I just did a 42 mile trip to the airport in the dark and the one HID headlight is awesome and I think it has the proper Lo and Hi beam patterns. I'll post pics of that.
I'm going forward with replacing both headlights to HID.

This is such a great car for my needs. A 10-15 minute stop at a DCFC before or after is all I need to make the Airport Run with a big reserve range.

I sent my LED headlights back. Not because they were bad...or the light output was low. The pattern was spot on. I just didn't like the very blue hue. Now I know you need to get around 5K temperature to get a true OEM type lighting color. Anything above that makes the whole thing look cheap and pretty ghetto IMO.

 

[nikwax]

Dingo had good things to say about his LED lights from xenondepot.com....that's what I'd like to see.

 

[Sparkler]

...

What I think I know: match the color of the LED to the color of the lens.

This is true, if the lenses are the correct color. Clear lenses are an obvious exception to the rule.

And sometimes it is a rule to be broken. For example, I have a classic German car that had red turn signal lenses. A popular "upgrade" is to sub the Euro amber lenses, which makes for a more visible turn light. However, the Euro cars were not required to have side marker lights back then, so the US lights cause the amber section to be lit with the tail lights. I noticed this while following another car and decided to do something about it on my car. The solution was red LEDs for the side maker lights, behind the amber lens. Makes the tail lights red as they should be, only the turn signals blink amber...

 

[nikwax]

Could you kindly direct us to the site where you got your LED lights and maybe the link to the actual product?? Thanks!

JDM ASTAR brand lamps from Amazon. I used 921's for backup lights, and ordered 194's for the license plate lights. I'll try to get some photos up this weekend, I want to do side by side photos for clarity.


backup lights: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FTDJ9FA


license plate lights: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JIEX722

 

[nozferatu]

Could you kindly direct us to the site where you got your LED lights and maybe the link to the actual product?? Thanks!

JDM ASTAR brand lamps from Amazon. I used 921's for backup lights, and ordered 194's for the license plate lights. I'll try to get some photos up this weekend, I want to do side by side photos for clarity.


backup lights: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FTDJ9FA


license plate lights: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JIEX722

Cheers man!

 

[nikwax]

I think I'll do the cargo area light next. Does anyone know offhand what type it is? The gas Spark uses a 194.

 

[Dinoco]

Sorry have been offline for a while. Work has left me with very little time all summer.

These are the LED H13 bulbs I purchased.

http://www.xenondepot.com/H13-LED-Headlight-Kit-p/h13-led-hl.htm

I was worried the 6000k color temp would be bluish which I DID NOT want. Installed simply and are white in color temp. No blue at all. The light pattern is excellent. No issues. You really have to take your time and fiddle with positioning the bulbs.

Have replaced all lights in the car with LED. Just need to get the CANBUS corrected turn signal bulbs to avoid the fast flash. The backup lights are phenomenal. Light output has easily doubled so now its seems as it should have come from the factory. Backing up with the OEM bulbs was pointless.

These are the backup bulbs.

http://www.xenondepot.com/921-Philips-X-treme-Vision-LED-Replacement-Bulb-p/12832x1.htm


These are the turn signal bulbs.

http://www.xenondepot.com/7443-LED-Philips-12835B2-Bulb-p/12835b2.htm

DO NOT BUY the 7440 bulbs. They list them as fitting in the rear and they don't. It takes 7443 all around. The philips do not come in amber. At least when I ordered mine they didn't. So I purchased an amber set locally. Did not want to run the reds in the front.

I realize I owe a picture. Will get to it soon I hope. Not sure how it will help since it isn't a good representation of actual pattern and light output at all.

Is it dangerous? No.
Does it blind oncoming traffic? no
Is the light throw/pattern correct? yes

Far better than using an HID kit not meant for non projector housings.

Tailwinds.

 

[NORTON]

Yep, I owe pictures of my HID patterns, also.
I'm not making claims about oncoming traffic because,, how do you know?
Only decent wall pictures tell the tale.

HID's throw 360° of light, just like the stock incandescent bulbs. But the light source is probably not as pinpoint as a filament.
I'm pretty sure I have too much 'spillage' above the Lo beam cutoff line.
I have awesome Hi beams when I'm out in the country!

I will be removing the HID system after I get the pictures. I'll go back to the stock bulbs for a while. I only spent $30 to add the Hi/Lo HID bulbs and relay kit to existing ballasts I had. No big loss.
I'll wait on someone to show good results with an LED H13 .

I will be out tonight watching the Lunar Eclipse ! So I'll try to find some place with a decent wall.

 

[nozferatu]

Sorry have been offline for a while. Work has left me with very little time all summer.

These are the LED H13 bulbs I purchased.

http://www.xenondepot.com/H13-LED-Headlight-Kit-p/h13-led-hl.htm

I was worried the 6000k color temp would be bluish which I DID NOT want. Installed simply and are white in color temp. No blue at all. The light pattern is excellent. No issues. You really have to take your time and fiddle with positioning the bulbs.

Have replaced all lights in the car with LED. Just need to get the CANBUS corrected turn signal bulbs to avoid the fast flash. The backup lights are phenomenal. Light output has easily doubled so now its seems as it should have come from the factory. Backing up with the OEM bulbs was pointless.

These are the backup bulbs.

http://www.xenondepot.com/921-Philips-X-treme-Vision-LED-Replacement-Bulb-p/12832x1.htm


These are the turn signal bulbs.

http://www.xenondepot.com/7443-LED-Philips-12835B2-Bulb-p/12835b2.htm

DO NOT BUY the 7440 bulbs. They list them as fitting in the rear and they don't. It takes 7443 all around. The philips do not come in amber. At least when I ordered mine they didn't. So I purchased an amber set locally. Did not want to run the reds in the front.

I realize I owe a picture. Will get to it soon I hope. Not sure how it will help since it isn't a good representation of actual pattern and light output at all.

Is it dangerous? No.
Does it blind oncoming traffic? no
Is the light throw/pattern correct? yes

Far better than using an HID kit not meant for non projector housings.

Tailwinds.

Pics??? We need pics!!! lol

Front and rear please!

Interesting that you view the 6000k as not being blue...mine were 6000k and were quite blue. I returned them for that reason.

Here are a couple of charts showing colors:

 

[nikwax]

6000k is defined as "vertical daylight", which is pretty close to the center of the color spectrum.


Note that we all perceive colors differently, and that the color temperature of a lighting product is usually more marketing than science. And photographs, unless they are precisely color adjusted, are fairly worthless.

 

[nikwax]

Could you kindly direct us to the site where you got your LED lights and maybe the link to the actual product?? Thanks!

JDM ASTAR brand lamps from Amazon. I used 921's for backup lights, and ordered 194's for the license plate lights. I'll try to get some photos up this weekend, I want to do side by side photos for clarity.


backup lights: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FTDJ9FA


license plate lights: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JIEX722

Update: All of the JDM ASTAR units have segments that are flickering. Which isn't a really big deal with backup or license plate lights, but I won't be ordering any more of this brand.

 

[nikwax]

Sorry have been offline for a while. Work has left me with very little time all summer.

These are the LED H13 bulbs I purchased.

http://www.xenondepot.com/H13-LED-Headlight-Kit-p/h13-led-hl.htm

I was worried the 6000k color temp would be bluish which I DID NOT want. Installed simply and are white in color temp. No blue at all. The light pattern is excellent. No issues. You really have to take your time and fiddle with positioning the bulbs.

Have replaced all lights in the car with LED. Just need to get the CANBUS corrected turn signal bulbs to avoid the fast flash. The backup lights are phenomenal. Light output has easily doubled so now its seems as it should have come from the factory. Backing up with the OEM bulbs was pointless.

These are the backup bulbs.

http://www.xenondepot.com/921-Philips-X-treme-Vision-LED-Replacement-Bulb-p/12832x1.htm


These are the turn signal bulbs.

http://www.xenondepot.com/7443-LED-Philips-12835B2-Bulb-p/12835b2.htm

DO NOT BUY the 7440 bulbs. They list them as fitting in the rear and they don't. It takes 7443 all around. The philips do not come in amber. At least when I ordered mine they didn't. So I purchased an amber set locally. Did not want to run the reds in the front.

I realize I owe a picture. Will get to it soon I hope. Not sure how it will help since it isn't a good representation of actual pattern and light output at all.

Is it dangerous? No.
Does it blind oncoming traffic? no
Is the light throw/pattern correct? yes

Far better than using an HID kit not meant for non projector housings.

Tailwinds.

now that my JDM ASTAR LED backup lights have failed completely, I've replaced them. I'm vera happy with the Xenon Depot product and service.

 

[Sross222]

Just leased a Spark EV and thinking about upgrades. I see the LED headlights cost ~ $100 more than HID. Are they worth it? Also, how easy is the installation? Plug and play?

 

[Dinoco]

Plug and play and super easy.

 

[NORTON]

Plug and play and super easy.

Yes, but is it putting out a proper flat top pattern on the Lo Beams?

H13 replacements are touchy because the stock bulbs have no internal mirror to separate Lo and Hi. They depend on the placement of the 2 different filaments in the headlight assembly.

Post a picture of your Lo and Hi patterns against a wall, please.

You see some people with LED or HID kits and they are blinding everyone because it looks like they always have Hi beams on.

 

[EldRitch]

Do you need canbus versions for the backup and brake lights?