LED indicators and side lights

Relentless81 · 21 Feb 2011 at 15:17

Does anyone know of a quality brand/supplier?

I'd like to avoid the cheap stuff as fitting them is a pain

Thanks

eXist · 21 Feb 2011 at 15:53

cree leds from the bay.......most come with 1 yr warrenty

Lyle44 · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:10

I use Ultra leds for some bulbs - http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/automotive-bulbs-c-101.html?osCsid=hn56qocot2mkrs24tr6c2vksd4

or Auto Bulbs Direct

Finglonga · 21 Feb 2011 at 18:55

I have used Ultraleds as well for the motorbikes brake/tail light and the indicator bulbs with great service.

Phil W · 21 Feb 2011 at 19:03

Ultra LED's are where you need to go if you want great customer service, quick delivery and reliable parts. They are a little more expensive than eBay alternatives but they are very good.

Sin_Chase · 21 Feb 2011 at 23:03

Does not matter if you spend £1 or £40, they will all fail at some point. 1 of my £40 PIAAs is fading and about to die.

mrk · 21 Feb 2011 at 23:44

Don't get LED sidelights, they look gash unless the DRLs came out of the factory...

Sin_Chase · 21 Feb 2011 at 23:56

Khaaan! said:
Don't get LED sidelights, they look gash unless the DRLs came out of the factory...

Only if you mis-match the colour temps by a HUGE margin.

Incandescent sidelights have the same gash effect with HIDs in the opposite end of the spectrum.

It's just a source of light, assuming you are smart with the temperatures does it really matter if it's LED or not?

mrk · 22 Feb 2011 at 00:10

Sin_Chase said:
Only if you mis-match the colour temps by a HUGE margin.

Incandescent sidelights have the same gash effect with HIDs in the opposite end of the spectrum.

It's just a source of light, assuming you are smart with the temperatures does it really matter if it's LED or not?

To me they don't! I have PIAA white sidelight bulbs on my car and when I see Xenon powered E46 facelift coupes on the road I think I much prefer that look as the Xenon balls of light stand out much nicer against the stock sidelights - Gives it a nice effect just like how on the 5 series the soft yellow angel eyes surround the Xenons.

LED sidelights just look a bit odd as they just look like single dots of light from a distance like how those washer jet LED lights do that Halfords fanboys attach to their cars.

Yeah it's preference I suppose but they (LED sidelights) look rubbish on more cars than they look good as an aftermarket replacement. Keep those stock but LED indicators and brake bulbs look fine mostly

Flukester · 22 Feb 2011 at 09:06

eXist said:
cree leds from the bay.......most come with 1 yr warrenty

I don't think you'll find 'cree' sidelight bulbs... reason being high power cree LEDs require current control circuitry rather than passive current / voltage control (resistors)

Many might be badged 'cree', but probaly not as cree's main business is high power emitters

tbh I didn't know they sold low current LEDs...

lordrobs · 22 Feb 2011 at 10:18

I've had LED sidelights in the past, don't think I'll ever bother again. If they are part of the main light cluster the heat from the headlights will probably kill them off pretty quickly anyway. The Philips blue vision ones I get free with my headlights are good enough for me these days.

LED indicators can look weird too because the flash delay takes into account the warm up and cool down time of a regular bulb. With an LED they tend to appear to flash a little quick.

Only LED lights that I have on my car now are numberplate lights which I still think look quite good.

Vita · 22 Feb 2011 at 10:21

Khaaan! said:
LED sidelights just look a bit odd as they just look like single dots of light from a distance like how those washer jet LED lights do that Halfords fanboys attach to their cars.

This. This why I haven't got them. I rather have the brownish sidelight bulbs in my car with xenons on either side.

Flukester · 22 Feb 2011 at 10:30

lordrobs said:
hts are good enough for me these days.

LED indicators can look weird too because the flash delay takes into account the warm up and cool down time of a regular bulb. With an LED they tend to appear to flash a little quick.

On older cars they will flash too quick or not at all due to lesser current than stock filament bulbs. This is down to the mechanical operation of the flasher unit (heating / cooling of contact actuator)

Relentless81 · 22 Feb 2011 at 11:32

Thanks chaps, interesting reading. I've decided to go for some decent silver bulbs as I originally was going to but thought i'd look into LED. Ultimatley I just want to de-orange the headlights

Does anyone know if of any E Marked silver painted bulbs, are Philips Silvervison E marked?

Howard · 22 Feb 2011 at 11:37

Relentless81 said:
Does anyone know if of any E Marked silver painted bulbs, are Philips Silvervison E marked?

They should be, or they'd have to be sold as "for off-road use only" as they wouldn't technically be road-legal.

Mucky_Pup · 22 Feb 2011 at 11:37

I just got some off eBay either ultra LEDs or aceparts, done me well so far and certainly look better than the standard 501's that were in there to start with.