going LED??!!

[dave-brown]

Ok 1st off - Should I go LED or not -

I'm running a 2003, 307 pain in the head!

Indicator bulbs - Due to the way ECU's reads the current resistance on the circuit once you change to LED you get the annoying fast flashing on indicator bulbs.
581 BAU15s PY21 Amber/Yellow/orange 24LED indicator bulbs PAIR | eBay

Forcing you to compensate with a Flasher Relay to fix the problem.
3 Pin Car Flasher Relay to Fix LED Light Blink Flash | eBay

First off - If I change the relay for this one will I blow the system or cause a fire??

Second - Will I bother?? -
LED's basically never need changing! (Probability change the car long before the bulb!)
Low power (Oh the poor battery!!)

I think if I go LED I will change everything,
H7's, H4's, H EVERYTHING'S!!

Anyone any suggestions?

Thanks folks.
Regards
Dave

[davidireland]

You need a load resistor to overcome the fast flashing by the indicator relay.

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/LED...-kit-pair.html

http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/L...or_Pack_RESPAK

[battlestar]

Sign me up for this one too! I want to change H everythings too, albeit on 407. Would i need the resistor too? The w5w replacemend leds work mighty fine tho.

[davidphilips]

changing the bulbs to leds has some advantages and they should last the life of a car but why brother if you have a 2003 car how many times have the bulbs been changed once or twice ? fit good quality bulbs and change in pairs and they should last for years. good luck.

[dave-brown]

Originally Posted by davidireland

You need a load resistor to overcome the fast flashing by the indicator relay.

LED Resistor kit (pair)

Led Indicator Resistor Pack - RESPAK

Would this not be easier to change the Flasher Relay rather than adding LED Resistor to all four bulbs?
I would need 4 LED Resistor and would have to add them to the wiring somewhere along the car.
As apposed to just fitting in 1x Pin-Car-Flasher-Relay that would do the whole car.
(Link below)

(Or am I mistaken?)

3 Pin Car Flasher Relay to Fix LED Light Blink Flash | eBay

Also for head lights (dipped/driving) - H7's
Depending on your brightness because you don't want to blind the other drivers while you drive and you have to have a E-approved bulb -
(E-Approved bulbs are within a certain brightness range, don't go too bright and don't get hassled)

I have noticed there the SMD on bulbs go way up (SMD I think is the number of light sources on the bulb) -
And the light is white of course.

Normal (I think) 18 SMD
Bright 68 SMD
Ultra Bright 102 SMD

I wonder what is too bright to drive with?
Is the 18SMD equal to normal 50w H7 filament bulbs?
And if I fit a the 102 SMD bulbs in am I going to blind everyone within a 3 mile radius (so to speck.)

Head lights are a different story but I don't want my driving bulbs too bright.
I get pulled over all the time.

Heat Output:

Some normal H7's and have gotten got hot - (I think I put 100W in them once) that they melted the connecters and left what I can only say to be slag in the head lamp unit.
Anyone else have this problem??

But apparently LED lights solve this problem because of the power consumption and low heat production.

Also H7 LED's will last 5 years+ and don't require any modifications other that plugging out the old bulbs and plugging in the new ones.

Anyone any thoughts on this?

Regards
Dave

[dave-brown]

Originally Posted by davidphilips

changing the bulbs to leds has some advantages and they should last the life of a car but why brother if you have a 2003 car how many times have the bulbs been changed once or twice ? fit good quality bulbs and change in pairs and they should last for years. good luck.

Ha - 2 or 3 times - LOL (I really wish that was the case) -

My car I think must has some sort of electrical fault somewhere along the line because I change them about twice every 5 months.

A real pain in the head!

[battlestar]

Originally Posted by dave-brown

I have noticed there the SMD on bulbs go way up (SMD I think is the number of light sources on the bulb) -
And the light is white of course.

SMD stands for surface mount diode, its just the type of LED, but you are on the right track, when they say 102 SMD's it just means that there is 102 LED's on it. Also pay attention to what format the SMD's are, 5050 are the usual ones whereas 3528 are smaller etc. naturally the larger ones will give brighter light.

One thing to keep in mind that here you need to look at the lumionus output, usualy measured in lumens. Thats the closest comparison you will be able to find, and LED bulbs arent usualy measured in watts. And keep in mind that although they might say its white light, cheap LED's will usualy be closer to blue, so if you buy cheap, dont expect miracles.

[davidireland]

You will need a resistor for all the indicator lights, 6 or the bulb warning system will think there are blown bulbs somewhere.
As regards using a seperate flasher relay on a full multiplex car i wouldn't do it.
First of all it'll be a nightmare digging out all the wiring and second I reckon it won't work as there are so many things tied into the wiring system, you'll only drive it mad.

[battlestar]

Originally Posted by davidireland

You will need a resistor for all the indicator lights, 6 or the bulb warning system will think there are blown bulbs somewhere.

wouldnt buying canbus compatible LED's with resistor inbuilt fix this problem?

[davidireland]

Originally Posted by battlestar

wouldnt buying canbus compatible LED's with resistor inbuilt fix this problem?

Yes. in short.