LED taillights

[Inspar8r]

The best chance of something usable from that site would be the board with the Luxeon LEDs set back as far as possible with the reflector cut off the back of the taillight, and a recess made in the removable light panel to get it as close to flush as possible.

It must be the Luxeons, the cheap ones will NOT work right. The Luxeons might. You'll notice there also the most expensive. There is a very good reason for that.


Personally, for the expense, possibility of failure, and amount of work needed to get it in there, what the hell is so wrong with a bulb that works pretty damn well? If there was some amazing benefit, sure, but what? You dont like replacing $2 lightbulbs roughly once a year?

Because most people don't like the "dot" of light coming from the middle of replacement bulbs.

That said, like I've posted before, I'm not here to convince anyone. My work speaks for itself, as will thousands of other customers who have purchased my products.

I build things that suck, so if in the end, they end up sucking, you'll simply see a post saying it didn't go as planned. Luxeons are an option, but at this point, it's not necessary.

For those who want LED tails, great. For those who don't, great. People will want them because they are rare, they give you 15ft of additional reaction time @60 mph. But most of all, because they are cool.

By your logic no one should mod their car because the car already does it's intended function.

[84E30]

hey guys where can i pick up some of
those led lights for the back
n signal lights?
hit me up ppl

[nando]

The best chance of something usable from that site would be the board with the Luxeon LEDs set back as far as possible with the reflector cut off the back of the taillight, and a recess made in the removable light panel to get it as close to flush as possible.

It must be the Luxeons, the cheap ones will NOT work right. The Luxeons might. You'll notice there also the most expensive. There is a very good reason for that.


Personally, for the expense, possibility of failure, and amount of work needed to get it in there, what the hell is so wrong with a bulb that works pretty damn well? If there was some amazing benefit, sure, but what? You dont like replacing $2 lightbulbs roughly once a year?

once a year? in 6 years/75k I've only replaced one.

basically, it's just for looks.. and after you have the same car for a while, it gets boring. :p

[DaveSmed]

The best chance of something usable from that site would be the board with the Luxeon LEDs set back as far as possible with the reflector cut off the back of the taillight, and a recess made in the removable light panel to get it as close to flush as possible.

It must be the Luxeons, the cheap ones will NOT work right. The Luxeons might. You'll notice there also the most expensive. There is a very good reason for that.


Personally, for the expense, possibility of failure, and amount of work needed to get it in there, what the hell is so wrong with a bulb that works pretty damn well? If there was some amazing benefit, sure, but what? You dont like replacing $2 lightbulbs roughly once a year?

[nando]

Eta?

[grib]

yea? but they have the LED Pads with multiple LEDS on them that you can jsut hot wire, and cut the opening on the housing. Basically the same thing that these guys are going to sell for 500 bucks right? if I'm wrong correct me :P .

Very, very different.

The pattern and brightness of the LEDs, plus the reflector/lens which focuses that light have a huge impact on how well the whole system works together. A simple LED bulb will not have a light pattern that is compatible with the stock lens. Remember that an incandescent bulb scatters light in almost all directions, so the stock reflector is designed to take advantage of that. LEDs create light differently as there will be dozens of LEDs in the tail lights, each much dimmer than a single incandescent bulb - but properly focused they are much brighter.

What Nick will build is a custom board with a custom reflector/lens, packed into the e30 housing. Check out the different designs he has on his web site for the Lexus is300 and you'll get the idea.

http://mmsport.s5.com/ledtails.htm

[george graves]

I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't be quite that easy. Usually something(s) go wrong...

It would be hit or miss ... most likely a miss.

[sweetride01]

yea? but they have the LED Pads with multiple LEDS on them that you can jsut hot wire, and cut the opening on the housing. Basically the same thing that these guys are going to sell for 500 bucks right? if I'm wrong correct me :P .

I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't be quite that easy. Usually something(s) go wrong...

[thereisnoyun]

LED replacement bulbs suck for tail/brake/turn lights FYI.

yea? but they have the LED Pads with multiple LEDS on them that you can jsut hot wire, and cut the opening on the housing. Basically the same thing that these guys are going to sell for 500 bucks right? if I'm wrong correct me :P .

[DaveSmed]

LED replacement bulbs suck for tail/brake/turn lights FYI.

[thereisnoyun]

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...gi?product=CAR

this seems like a winner.

this site seems like it is the winner for DIYs or just LED bulb replacement. Someone tried it yet?

[BeirBrennerE30]

updates chris and inspar8r???

i am very much looking forward to these... my taillights are the only things on my car that arent fully led cuz i am waiting to see what you guys put out.

[NC325iC]

it does, i wonder if those instrument cluster lights would fit an e30, they look to be the right style, and some of the festoon? bulbs should fit in the verts map light

[moatilliatta]

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=CAR

this seems like a winner.

[Mfever]

i found a good link on a saab forum, which someone had done to their lights. i thought it might help. i think its a pretty good write up.

http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113964

scroll down a bit.