LED Tail Light Bulbs?

[qwks4]

My brake light burned out and I'd like to replace the pair (as well as turn signals) with LED bulbs. I'm not intersted in changing the actual tail light housings, just think the LED bulb is more responsive and will give better light than the stock bulbs.

Have others done this? Any links to purchase the appropriate bulbs?

[SilverSurferS4]

Yea the LED bulbs are brighter...
YOu can get them from a local auto store like pepboys, autozone, maybe canadian tire??

[Nein7Oh]

The problem I've noticed is that the LED bulbs are very direction and very focused. They won't light up the tail light evenly since they don't put out any light on the sides. You'll have glowing red/white/orange dots. The 194 wedge bulbs are great replacements for side markers and stuff. I would check around online and see if anyone sells LED bulbs that use the wider angle bulbs. I've seen anywhere from 45 - 10 degree.

I made a pseudo lava lamp out of an old computer monitor for a class project in high school.

[qwks4]

^^^ Yes, I agree that bulbs with a wider angle would be best.

I was just hoping someone has done this and could direct me to the exact bulbs, as I know nothing about LEDs

[WingsnHorns]

Wouldn't replacing the bulbs with their LED equivalents trigger the bulb out light in the dash due to the reduced current used by them, just like how LED replacements for turn signals causes them to flash faster?

[raketeS4]

WingsnHorns - you are correct, in order to avoid this, one would have to splice in a load simulator (resistor) that would trick the car into thinking an ordinary bulb was in place

[Nein7Oh]

Indeed. They sell THOSE are your local auto parts store. They usually want something ridiculous like $11 for one, so you're looking $25 out the door to do both sides on top of the price of the bulbs. I would find the load simulators online too. I haven't done any parts hunting yet, but when I do I'll try my luck at a write up. You've gotta remember to do the 3rd brake light if you are going to replace the tail bulbs with LEDs otherwise it'll will look bad. Are there B5 LED tail lights? Are they ricey eBay kind, because if they look decent it'd probably be the simplest and best looking result. I don't know about cost though, everything associated with the 4 rings costs atleast double what it did for my truck.

[Nein7Oh]

I did a search and I guess the B7 guys used this company for their license place LED upgrades. 42 Draft Designs They have you covered for the side markers but not the ones in the tail light.
Sylvania has a bulb size chart http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...lacementGuide/

Then just shop around looking for LED versions of whatever sizes it says you need. I guess I need the 3457 and the 7528.

[detroittechno]

go here --->http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...4.24391&next=0
They have everything you need. Just make sure you get one load resistor for each side so the turn signals are not turbo and you will not get bulb out warning. I did complete LED conversion to all my exterior bulbs.

[qwks4]

go here --->http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...4.24391&next=0
They have everything you need. Just make sure you get one load resistor for each side so the turn signals are not turbo and you will not get bulb out warning. I did complete LED conversion to all my exterior bulbs.

For your tails, did you get the bulbs with 12, 19, 24 or 30 LEDs? Did you put red bulbs in the rear or just white shining through the red housing was fine (like stock)?

[YZracer]

I would like to know about the above as well.

[detroittechno]

Actually I bought mine from http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm

For my brake lights I put "The braker" Flashing brake light bulbs in red. These are cool because when you hit the brakes the light flashes 20 times super fast then goes solid. Supposed to be on the new MB S600 next year. Here is a you tube video---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhomxdWKZhA They actually flash way faster than shown in the video, can't see too well.

For my fronts I used the switchback bulbs. They match my 6000k HID and when you turn on blinker they flash yellow. Make sure you buy the resistors so they all flash correctly. I bought one for each corner and was not needed for side blinkers, I swapped my side blinkers with LEDs as well. The 4 that are the corners are enough. Hope I helped.

[YZracer]

Can the tail light bulbs just plug into the old bulbs spot? I don't know exactly how to go about this because I only need taillight bulbs.

[detroittechno]

Can the tail light bulbs just plug into the old bulbs spot? I don't know exactly how to go about this because I only need taillight bulbs.

Yes if you are just replacing brake light bulbs these work.

[qwks4]

^^^

So the resisters are only needed for the lights that blink (rear & front)?

Interested in the blinking tails... On the 300C video the lights appear to go on full, then blink, then go on full again. Is that how they operate?

[detroittechno]

^^^

So the resisters are only needed for the lights that blink (rear & front)?

Interested in the blinking tails... On the 300C video the lights appear to go on full, then blink, then go on full again. Is that how they operate?

Resistors are needed for the LED brakes as well. The LED's are low voltage so it will throw a bulb out warning if you don't use a resistor. They are only a couple bucks and take literally 2 secs to install, come with ez splice adapters. The bulbs flashes for 2 secs first then stays on. Video doesn't pick up the flashing well at all. You will love them. And they ARE LEGAL.

[Reich]

Do you think Carquest would sell them?

[qwks4]

I think it's a decent idea (flashing brake lights) but think it should be reserved for when you brake really hard, instead of everytime you touch the brakes.

[Motorat]

thats why they come on for a sec incase you just tap the brake in traffic. I can still see cops pulling you over for this all the time.

[diaftia]

What bulb #'s do we need where? Seems like the 1156-1157 page was posted.

Does anyone have pictures of what these look like when illuminated in the housing?

[detroittechno]

I have run these for over a year and have never gotten pulled over for them. I have gotten pulled over for speeding once and the cop asked me about them and I explained that they are coming out on the S600 Benz and that they are a safety upgrade. They get the persons attention behind you when you are braking and they respond faster. Cop gave me no trouble. I don't remember bulb #'s