LED Bulbs

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 12:49 am

Modern cars dont have hand brakes, they have parking brakes, which as the name suggests, are for parking, and not worth the hassle of trying to get on and off qucikly at the lights. This includes the C4, C5 and Ds4 i've driven in the last two weeks.

As we see more 'parking brakes' and more automatics on the road, we're going to see more and more brake lights when cars are stopped, and i'm afraid we're going to have to get used to them. Holding the car on the brake is not illegal, nor is it unsafe in most instances. Glare off the lights is magnified massively by your scratched windscreen. So be careful with your windscreen from new and keep some more distance at the lights, its the only way.

Pisses me off too, but spending 3 months of the year in the States, its par for the course with all the automatics, and you've just got to get used to it!

Matt H · Post by **Matt H** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:33 am

I noticed in a Passat Bluemotion a few weeks ago that as well as an E parking brake, it had an 'auto hold' button. When you come to a dead stop at the lights/wherever, the parking brake kicks in automatically, and as soon as the system feels the car try to move, it releases the brake.

A very clever system that takes a fair bit of getting used to, but it works. Takes a little while to trust it too. especially when manoeuvring into a tight parking space on a very steep hill

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:58 pm

Thought i'd resurect this old thread, however, i've gone off the idea of led's as there are too many out there so i've no idea which one's are best? So, i'm sticking with normal types, however, i would be grateful if someone could let me know what size types i need for:

1) Rear number plate lights?

2) Front dipped lights?

Cheers

I ordered some for 2, however when i got them they were the wrong type & wouldn't fit my car, even though i'd gone onto a car site which said what types of bulbs the BX had fitted

electrokid · Post by **electrokid** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:51 am

I usually check the listings in Halfords Matthew - not always right but a good enough guide.

I noticed in a Passat Bluemotion a few weeks ago that as well as an E parking brake, it had an 'auto hold' button. When you come to a dead stop at the lights/wherever, the parking brake kicks in automatically, and as soon as the system feels the car try to move, it releases the brake.

A very clever system that takes a fair bit of getting used to, but it works. Takes a little while to trust it too. especially when manoeuvring into a tight parking space on a very steep hill

Some models of Jaguar MK2 with auto box had an 'electrically defeatable one way valve' in the hydraulic line to the rear brakes so the rear brakes stayed on and kept the car still until the throttle was used. A microswitch on the throttle operated the valve 'defeat' and released the pressure in the rear brakes - 1950s design !

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:08 am

MULLEY wrote:1) Rear number plate lights?

233/T4W (same thing) from memory, at least on the estate - mini bayonet connector, 4 watts.

MULLEY wrote:2) Front dipped lights?

Main & dipped are within same bulb (H4 P43t), do you mean the sidelight? All the sidelights I've seen have been 501/W5W - wedge type, 5 watts. However I think that some had a different type fitted, from a hazy memory of a pair of second hand headlights I bought.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:02 pm

Yeah, sidelight bulbs is what i meant

Cheers for the specs, i wanted to fit some slightly brighter one's than are currently fitted if any are available?

Cheers for the Halfords tip Brian, i try never to visit the place

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:19 pm

This do you? Twice the wattage, and halogen too so a greater output per watt. I've got one in the boot light for better illumination.

electrokid · Post by **electrokid** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:59 pm

Cheers for the Halfords tip Brian, i try never to visit the place

Message received and understood

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:18 pm

mat_fenwick wrote:This do you? Twice the wattage, and halogen too so a greater output per watt. I've got one in the boot light for better illumination.

Cheers Mat, just the job

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:22 pm

Ordered some yesterday, they are on e-bay at the same price as the website (they have a different name, but address is the same), so thought i might as well get some feedback etc...

I'll report back on how they are.

I must admit, since i fitted those Osram Nightbreaker +90 bulbs, they are awesome. I've even had a few cars flash me

They soon realise they were on dipped when i put the main beam on

Not in the xenon light brightness, but a good step up from the +50 bulbs i had in before, which they themselves were miles better than the standard bulbs.

I've seen some +110 bulbs, when will it all end

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:45 pm

MULLEY wrote:when will it all end

Here?

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:14 pm

Probably not as bright as my osrams

Oilyspanner · Post by **Oilyspanner** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 1:41 pm

I used to have a problem on my MK1 where it used to heat up the headlight switchgear, I cured it by fitting relays to the headlight circuit, even with regular H4s it was the best lit BX I ever had, I use LED bulbs on my bike, I have had a 48LED stop and tail bulb for about four years now, slightly brighter than a regular bulb, I had a multi Led sidelight one but it started a high frequency flashing and has since been replaced with a single Led car one, not as bright but reliable so far, I also have some daytime running lights with 28 Leds in each, ten quid from Ebay, though part of one of them has also started to do the high frequency flashing thing after only a year.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:01 pm

Are these a good idea?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Isuzu-472-55w ... 20c2b5b7be

Oilyspanner · Post by **Oilyspanner** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:17 pm

MULLEY wrote:Are these a good idea?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Isuzu-472-55w ... 20c2b5b7be

They will not help with voltage drop, they seem to be heatproof for people using brighter/hotter incandescent bulbs.