Hi all,
As per the title, has anyone gone this way? Vast array of bulbs at hugely varying prices.
Pop LED Bulbs in the search box, select topics the search and you will get a list with a number of discussions.
Good LED bulbs are much better than old style in both light output and reach.
My understanding is that current MoT test guidelines make fitting a LED bulb in a non-LED approved headlamp is instant fail. On on the road it probably isn't an issue so long as the beam pattern is correct. Decent LEDs will give the correct pattern, or one near enough not to make a difference as the emitters will be arranged to mimic the shield on a H4 bulb. Cheapy "made for the American market" crap throws light everywhere and will get you stopped.
I believe the Osram LEDs are in the process of getting German TuV approval as replacements. Already done for some of the single filament replacement range.
However I suspect this is really for projector lights such as the Hella "90 mm" pair my Norton now wears which were designed for commercial vehicle use. I've been told that LED in a good projector light will not be questioned at MoT time. Which doesn't help matters on P38.
All my interior lights are LED and much better for it. LEDs in the reversing lights too which are an improvement. Youthful bursting with energy glow-worm rather than old arthritic glow-worm so objectively still rather crap.
Dunno about the P38 but LED in the red reversing lights and flashers can look odd due to spectral effects. Depends on the dyes and lens materials. Whatever it looks like it certainly won't match the official spectral standards, which are surprisingly tight for something so apparently minor. But who is equipped to measure that on a car.
Clive
Fail para 4.1.4(c) from the MoT testers manual:
Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.
The cheapo eBay Chinese LED bulbs chuck light everywhere other than where you want it. PowerfulUK used to supply some good ones (about £50 each though) that worked well but in view of the above, not really worth it unless you want to swap the bulbs every year for the test. I use Osram Nightbreakers in mine and they are pretty good, far better than standard Halogen anyway.
- 1 on the Osrams
Yes, LEDs everywhere, headlights, dash, interior etc. Vast improvement. Only hasssle is having to pop the old halogens back in (main, dip and fogs) for the annual MOT. ALso lots of extra lighting in the load bay. As Clive says do a search.
You shouldn't need to swap the fogs as they aren't part of the MoT test, only headlights.
Original headlights with halogen bulbs are really quite good if you have a pair with good reflectors. I've managed to find some.
Right pain finding them though.
tanis8472 wrote:
Original headlights with halogen bulbs are really quite good if you have a pair with good reflectors. I've managed to find some.
Right pain finding them though.
Yeah, +1 on having good reflectors. I noticed a surprising difference after changing the headlights on my 1995 model to a facelifted pair with the black surrounds (with the same bulbs).
I used to have xenon, but was always being flashed by oncoming cars, I swapped to the powerfuluk bulbs, best thing I ever did, never been flashed and I can see where I’m going..
I had HID in my BMW E30. They had early projector lamps and it all worked perfectly - I wasn't flashed in 4 years. The MOT guy hated them, but there wasn't any specific rule against it back then. He would always give an advisory with something like "headlights take a long time to warm up" 😀
If the beam pattern had been 1mm off I'm sure I'd have had a fail.