LED Sidelight bulbs

Frozennova · 29 Nov 2010 at 18:21

Quick question on the legalities of LED sidelight bulbs as one needs replacing on my '89 Golf and would like to avoid any hassle

Defcon5 · 29 Nov 2010 at 18:28

Soooooo, whats the question?

Lopéz · 29 Nov 2010 at 18:30

They are fine. Finding ones that are genuinely white (rather than having a slight blue tint) is incredibly difficult though.

Frozennova · 29 Nov 2010 at 18:35

I'm assuming they are only legal if they're pure white.
Are they worth it over standard bulbs?

Clarkey · 29 Nov 2010 at 18:40

Why do you want them anyway? It looks so gash when people put modern stuff on old cars, keep it period correct.

In fact, even on modern stuff LED lights look awful, can't see the appeal at all.

dwarf · 29 Nov 2010 at 18:40

I have ones like these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-5-LED-Xen...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cb2e078ed. They are pure white and brighter than standard bulbs.

L0rdMike · 29 Nov 2010 at 18:41

I had some awesome ones in my MR2 till one blew then every pair I bought were never as good.

Haze · 29 Nov 2010 at 18:50

Clarkey said:
Why do you want them anyway? It looks so gash when people put modern stuff on old cars, keep it period correct.

In fact, even on modern stuff LED lights look awful, can't see the appeal at all.

i think he wants to replace just the bulb not the whole unit,,

Mucky_Pup · 29 Nov 2010 at 18:59

I've got these ones on mine: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-X-VERY-HIGH...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item588ac60792

White, not a hint of blue in them, and miles better than the standard 501 sidelights.

mjt · 29 Nov 2010 at 19:00

This will look naff IMO, especially on such an old car which doesn't have particularly bright bulbs to begin with.

Frozennova · 29 Nov 2010 at 21:05

Was just a curiosity more than anything. i fully agree with them looking silly on something so old. Would look more so out of place with standard headlight bulbs.

realscot · 29 Nov 2010 at 21:13

On some cars yes it looks a little strange, however on a car that has HID's that are clearly in the white/blue end of the spectrum and not yellowish like all normal lights it looks horrid when they have plain old 501's in as sidelights. Make it all the same, looks better.
Aren't BMW and the likes using LED numberplate bulbs now adays, that is if Audi hasn't bought all the bulbs on the market.

Gaijin · 29 Nov 2010 at 21:28

I've done it to mine, as realscot says it looks dump with 501 yellows mixed with HID's.

It's funny as mine actually look purple in the pics i've taken but look slightly blue to the naked eye.

I do think its easier to get away with such things with Jap Crap and if it looks Gay, well thats not such a poor result for me

mrk · 30 Nov 2010 at 10:42

If you have Xenons then the normal sidelight bulbs make the Xenons look even nicer as the bulbs are yellowish and bring out the Xenons brightness and whiteness even more - Looks great