LED tails? (Update: LED reverse lights installed!)

[e28Sean]

Has anyone ever come up with an LED based tail light solution for our cars that looks stock but provides brighter tail/brake/reverse lamps?

Besides the usual "I don't wanna get rear ended" concerns, I often park in a poorly lit car park, and, quite frankly. The stock reverse lights leave a lot to be desired.

I'm aware of Shawn D's setup, but, my understanding is he hasn't produced a set in a while.


Update: Scroll down. LEDs installed. Other upgrades coming soon.

[mooseheadm5]

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=109181

You can start here. Not LED, but better than stock.

There are halogen lights you can install in place of your reverse lights.

[bojangles]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=led+p21w+12v

[e28Sean]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=led+p21w+12v

Thanks for that bo

I am painfully aware of the ebay LED bulbs. 99% of these, quite frankly, are crap, which is why i was soliciting recommendations.

That said. I ordered up some LED bulbs that look promising. Once they arrive and I get 'em installed, i will report back.

[LandCruzer94]

I recall a few years ago stumbling across a youtube video of a guy with a full LED tail conversion for an e30 that used a stock housing. In addition, he had modifications that allowed them to strobe much like a police/service vehicle in a couple of different patterns.

I can't remember where it was though. Maybe that will help.

[867535i]

I just did a lighting project for school and through a lot of research, I found a really nice linear COB LED. Google Edison Opto Ediline4. I ordered the 6 watt warm white versionwhich are insanely bright if you look at it, like welding flash bright where you see spots for ten minutes. The manufacturer stopped making them and came out with a newer version but you can still get them at led tech in Germany. The newer version which I think they call the plcc is super bright as well.
Being over 3 watts, the general rule is that you'll need a heat sink and I can attest that these get HOT. You'll also need to make a few things using a few parts from radio crap. The size of the portion that lights up is 1/4" x 1 3/8" with a 120 degree viewing angle, perfect size for tail lights. Even though looking straight at them was painfully bright, three of them casting light into a room (where a shade obstructed a direct view) was about the equivalent to a 100 watts light bulb.

[rollcentre]

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=109181

You can start here. Not LED, but better than stock.

There are halogen lights you can install in place of your reverse lights.

I'll plus one to this.

I noticed a huge difference when I went to the high output and added the extra bulb in the tail light housings. It's as bright (if not a tad bit brighter) than any other late model car on the street.

[Mike W.]

I went low tech and just replaced the old (and they do dim some with age) 5W bulbs with new 10W bulbs which was a nice upgrade. Some guys were thinking the sky would fall, the tail light would overheat and melt, but they were thinking of the brake/backup 18 or 21 watt bulbs. I had no issues in 3 years.

[e28Sean]

The LED lamps i ordered should be here the first week of January... For what i spent, they either work well, or they don't. We'll see.

[e28Sean]

The USPS man dropped off a pile of goodies for me today, including these 12v led.. ... fixtures? lamps? lights? It doesn't feel right calling 'em "bulbs"...


Got these off of Amazon. They are chinese, and they were suspiciously cheap, but, so far i am impressed. The bodies are milled out of some pretty decent aluminum, and they are kinda heavy in the hand (i was expecting crap plastic). (and yes, i ordered 2 pair intentionally... You'll see why... eventually.)


Another pic, next to my Nexus 4, for scale.




Before any changes. They look bright in this pic, but they are actually pretty dim (cheap camera). Kinda hard to tell if they are even on, some nights, from inside the car.


Left, LED. Right, incandescent.



Signaling ET!


Unlike a lot of LED lamps, these shine light straight back, and to the sides, so, the entire housing is illuminated. I'm gonna wait for it to get good and dark, and go have a play, but i am pretty pleased, so far.

[MIK911]

Pretty impressive!
What other bulbs are you going to replace w/ the LED's?

Can you post the link of the seller/item # on ebay?

thanks

[Jelmer538i]

I've tried some Chinese ones from Ebay and they suck but this looks very good! What "bulbs" did you use from Amazon?

[e28Sean]

Correction, these came from ebay, not Amazon. I have a few tricks up my sleeve from Amazon, though, which i'll be posting about at some point.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 1054998051


I have a 2nd pair sitting on my desk to experiment with, and plan to order more so long as these hold up and don't fail within the next couple of weeks. My plans, for now, are to also use these bulbs in the brake and rear fog positions, with the rear fog positions set up as an extra pair of brake lights.

[e28Sean]

I tossed the 2nd pair of these into the taillights this morning (park / running light positions) before work. They without a doubt make the vehicle more visible while retaining a stock appearance.

I just ordered enough additional units to fill out the rest of the taillights (including doing the double brake lamp mod w/ the rear fog positions). Should be here in about a week.

EDIT: These lights do not trigger a check system warning.

[pennybond]

Looks great, Sean.

I just order myself a pair! Can't wait to try them.

[e28Sean]

Looks great, Sean.

I just order myself a pair! Can't wait to try them.

Thanks!
Hope they work out for ya! I'm pretty happy with them. I've got the rear park / running lights and reverse lights done, and ordered enough additional LED bulbs to do the rest of the rear lights.

Oh, and i also LED'd the rear side markers.

[B Dot]

Would any of these 1156 lights work in the reverse lamps? The first 2 closest resemble the ones you purchased off ebay. I would like to do this upgrade as well. Thanks in advance!

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Catego ... ignal/1156

[e28Sean]

B Dot,

I posted a link to these guys above:


They work fantastically well in the reverse lamp position, and the rear park / running lamp position (i removed the end lens for the park position, for a more dispersed pattern).

[pennybond]

Sean, did the side marker leds above come with the bulb base adapter?? Were these ebay specials as well?

Thanks!

[e28Sean]

Sean, did the side marker leds above come with the bulb base adapter?? Were these ebay specials as well?

Thanks!

They were from Amazon, and yes, they did come with a selection of bulb adapters.

[pennybond]

Thanks, again.

[e28Sean]

I never updated this thread when i did it, so, i'm updating it now. I've used the same LED units in the front and rear turn signals as well. This DID require changing the turn signal flasher to an LED comparable unit. Note: These lamps juuuust fit in the euro front turn signal housings. I do not believe they will in the US front turn signals, but, I have no way of confirming that myself. YMMV.

Video

[tig]

Based on this thread I decided to give some LED lights another try.

Previously I had purchased these:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F23 ... UTF8&psc=1



For some very strange reason I could only get one of them to work at a time. Both bulbs worked fine if only one was installed, but if both were installed, only one would light. I tried them in the backup lights, blinkers, and tails. Very weird. I gave up $20 poorer.

Then I saw this thread and bought a set of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-S25-1156-P2 ... 19?vxp=mtr



Here's these new ones installed. In the first pic the one above is on the left and the higher-quality feeling eBay ones is on the right.


This is what it looks like with both the eBay ones installed:


I'll update this thread once I try backing up in the dark :-).

FWIW, here's what these bulbs look like in the center tail light spot compared to OEM:


LED on the left.

[Gustav129]

What color LED "bulbs" are you using? I found in my CRX, if I ran a white "bulb", it washed out the red lenses, so I matched all the colors with respective lenses.

I'll probably go with Superbrightleds.com, as they sponsor a friend's ChumpCar team.

[e28Sean]

All of the one's I'm running are white... I haven't noticed any "Washing out" of color.

[Shawn D.]

You should use red LEDs for red lenses. A colored lens is a filter, which eliminates the majority of all other colors. So, you're wasting the majority of the light output by using white LEDs behind a red lens. Red LEDs will (mostly) not be filtered, providing near-full output.

[Gustav129]

What happens on many of the older cars, the white bulbs appear white at night. Lens thickness and lens fade has alot to do with it.

I'll stick with my original plan and match led's with lenses.

[trevmmeister]

Got some of the exact white LEDs as the OP coming in the mail.

Next week I'll be ordering six reds and two ambers. Gonna rock the whole shebang.

[e28Sean]

Got some of the exact white LEDs as the OP coming in the mail.

Next week I'll be ordering six reds and two ambers. Gonna rock the whole shebang.

Excellent. Just an FYI... I am not running them in the brake lamp position, as per an earlier post of mine. YMMV.
As well, I'm running white ones in the running lamp, reverse, and turn signal positions, and have no issues w/ "white bleed" or "fade" using the white LEDs in the colored lamps. Just my .02

[trevmmeister]

I gotcha. I figured, while a lens is still a lens, I didnt want to take the risk so I just found a few appropriately colored ones. I figure itll just make the red REALLY red and the amber REALLY amber.

[Gustav129]

Got some of the exact white LEDs as the OP coming in the mail.

Next week I'll be ordering six reds and two ambers. Gonna rock the whole shebang.

Excellent. Just an FYI... I am not running them in the brake lamp position, as per an earlier post of mine. YMMV.
As well, I'm running white ones in the running lamp, reverse, and turn signal positions, and have no issues w/ "white bleed" or "fade" using the white LEDs in the colored lamps. Just my .02

I have read the thread a few times. I don't see why you are not running LED's in Brake lights.

[e28Sean]

I have read the thread a few times. I don't see why you are not running LED's in Brake lights.

I apologize... I thought i'd posted it. I wasn't pleased with the performance of these particular LEDs in the brake positions. I'm not sure if it was due to the smaller light segment or what, but, although they were brighter, the light coverage was not as good as with an incandescent bulb.

[Gustav129]

So I bought two pair of white LED, Pilot brand from Walmart. No biggie.

-Both in Running and Brake positions, the white "bulbs" do wash out some. They look Pumpkin Orange instead of red at night. In the running positions, they ended up brighter than the Brake lights with incandescent bulbs, and the same brightness with LED's for brakes (like mentioned before, light didn't fill whole lens).

In Turn Signal positions, the white look great, but I nee to replace the flasher relay to use them.

The other pair are in the reverse position, but only one side works. That's a different issue.

Interesting setup how to wire lights..... what I may do.is rewire the running lights to the fog positions, and rewire the driving lights to be second brake lights.

Also, I notice the housings are black on the insides. On the old Scouts, the inside of light housings were white, and it was very popular to spray paint the housings chrome silver to reflect more light. Also, with the CRX's (I have a real set of EDM headlights on one), people bake the housings to soften glue and split them open, then paint the insides half black to make them look like EDM/JDM headlights. They also do it to tint the insides of tail lights.
Has anybody opened thier housings and paint the.insides silver before?

[Shawn D.]

Also, I notice the housings are black on the insides. On the old Scouts, the inside of light housings were white, and it was very popular to spray paint the housings chrome silver to reflect more light. Also, with the CRX's (I have a real set of EDM headlights on one), people bake the housings to soften glue and split them open, then paint the insides half black to make them look like EDM/JDM headlights. They also do it to tint the insides of tail lights.
Has anybody opened thier housings and paint the.insides silver before?

They are originally plated with reflective metal. Repeated soaking in water or high humidity removes the plating (you can often see the water line), so your lights have had leaks before. These housings are melted together, so you can't do it the CRX way.

[Gustav129]

Also, I notice the housings are black on the insides. On the old Scouts, the inside of light housings were white, and it was very popular to spray paint the housings chrome silver to reflect more light. Also, with the CRX's (I have a real set of EDM headlights on one), people bake the housings to soften glue and split them open, then paint the insides half black to make them look like EDM/JDM headlights. They also do it to tint the insides of tail lights.
Has anybody opened thier housings and paint the.insides silver before?

They are originally plated with reflective metal. Repeated soaking in water or high humidity removes the plating (you can often see the water line), so your lights have had leaks before. These housings are melted together, so you can't do it the CRX way.

Thank you for the info. I wanted to make sure before I gave it a try.

I will go back to.the original plan of red LED's.

BTW, I notice you are from Alpharetta. I grew up in Roswell in the Crabapple area. Maybe I will bump into.you someday. Perhaps the Mitty?

[psbirch]

FWIW, here's what these bulbs look like in the center tail light spot compared to OEM:

Completely off topic, but that is the best license plate ever, cek!

[trevmmeister]

Would it be lame if I bought a custom plate with E28_1 on it?

On topic, my lights got here today, and its dark out so I will post a pic in a bit.

Btw, Shawn I didnt know you were that close, a good 45-60 min drive depending if traffic in the city is good. Or would you take the perimeter to alpharetta... been a while since ive driven to the city. Had job training in alpharetta, about a year ago.

[Shawn D.]

Btw, Shawn I didnt know you were that close, a good 45-60 min drive depending if traffic in the city is good. Or would you take the perimeter to alpharetta... been a while since ive driven to the city. Had job training in alpharetta, about a year ago.

Newnan to Alpharetta? Stay away from 285 -- you'd be traveling on the more-congested side both going and returning. Go through the city and get up earlier than you expect. You can always eat breakfast up here and catch up on your reading if you get up this way early.

[trevmmeister]

We should see if anyone else is close to us and do a meet and greet one day and start a convoy. By nature, I would have to roll my windows down and blast http://youtu.be/EnJEeHND_lQ on my speakers.

Seems like it would be a fun time

Also, now that I think more back on it, I remember coming back home every day with one of my buddies who was getting hired with me. I remember a good 2 hour drive in rush hour traffic on the perimeter. Took the city on the first day, but I didnt do too well on the drive, and I know 285 better as ive driven it much more. Its more scenic, too, when youre only going 25 mph.

If you ever come down this way, make sure to stop by the Discount Tire in Peachtree City, hopefully ill be working, and ill do an R&B. Ill take good care of her

[trevmmeister]

The picture makes them look more blue than they are.

[Shawn D.]

BTW, I notice you are from Alpharetta. I grew up in Roswell in the Crabapple area. Maybe I will bump into.you someday. Perhaps the Mitty?

I'll be there.

[KrautnotRice]

We should see if anyone else is close to us and do a meet and greet one day and start a convoy. By nature, I would have to roll my windows down and blast http://youtu.be/EnJEeHND_lQ on my speakers.

I'm in (southwest) South Carolina. We could caravan part of the way to Vintage? But I'll be playing this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax68rWI4Tuk
While laughing about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EPURKWo2vU

Also, I've been waiting patiently for someone to post pics of their LED tail lights installed. Wondering how it looks once all 3 spots on each tail light are lit up. Like one fat stripe, the whole lower section of the assembly in all red.

[trevmmeister]

We should see if anyone else is close to us and do a meet and greet one day and start a convoy. By nature, I would have to roll my windows down and blast http://youtu.be/EnJEeHND_lQ on my speakers.

I'm in (southwest) South Carolina. We could caravan part of the way to Vintage? But I'll be playing this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax68rWI4Tuk
While laughing about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EPURKWo2vU

Also, I've been waiting patiently for someone to post pics of their LED tail lights installed. Wondering how it looks once all 3 spots on each tail light are lit up. Like on fat stripe, the whole lower section of the assembly in all red.

We will figure out all who is close and plan something up.

In a couple days I will be ordering the rest of the LEDs for then full setup.

[5timesturbo]

Hey, I wanna see the rear with ALL LEDs.
I live in Atlanta too!!

I REALLY wanna know are there any LED options for the interior lights?????
Please let me know

[tig]

Hey, I wanna see the rear with ALL LEDs.
I live in Atlanta too!!

I REALLY wanna know are there any LED options for the interior lights?????
Please let me know

These: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YOR96Q

Very bright, very white; very cold. Each kit will replace two bulbs; you need two kits for the interior lights. I currently have one of these and one of the originals in each side. Looks silly. They don't fit very well because of the wires.

These are on the way: http://www.ebay.com/itm/301515037801

They should fit better. Will likely also be just as obnoxiously bright and white.

[Shawn D.]

Wondering how it looks once all 3 spots on each tail light are lit up. Like one fat stripe, the whole lower section of the assembly in all red.

Mine does not look like one fat stripe, and it'd be hard to make it so. The brake sections are a different brightness and the lens configuration is different. Maybe when it's not 20F outside I'll do some pics.

[KrautnotRice]

Gotcha, thanks for the info. Looking forward to the pics AND warmer weather haha

[trevmmeister]

Found a pack of ten red LEDs for $15. Too good to be true? Maybe but I will see how they are when they get here. Will update.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281516210484

Also ordered some turn signals: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191385649831?it ... m=&vxp=mtr

[tig]

These: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YOR96Q

Very bright, very white; very cold. Each kit will replace two bulbs; you need two kits for the interior lights. I currently have one of these and one of the originals in each side. Looks silly. They don't fit very well because of the wires.

These are on the way: http://www.ebay.com/itm/301515037801

They should fit better. Will likely also be just as obnoxiously bright and white.

These arrived today:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/301515037801

Brighter than stock, but such a cold, cold, white light. I'll keep em in the car for a while and see if I get used to them.

[trevmmeister]

I have that same set coming in the mail right now, so thanks for those pics. I also dont know if I will keep them, but all the same I will see how I like them after theyve been installed for a month or two.