LED Bulbs

[alexinessex]

I have to replace some bulbs on my 04 CLK and had a good read up on here about peoples experiences with LED bulbs. Are they really much brighter than a standard bulb (I dont have Xenon's) and surly if they were it would mean they are not road legal? I see you can also buy "super white" bulbs with the same wattage of a normal bulb do these look "nicer"

Apologies for the post but GB v Brazil is a very poor game!

Alex

 

[grumpyoldgit]

I've seen one write up on LED headlight bulbs and it read that they were brighter and ok if you wanted to be seen, but not a lot of good if you wanted to see where you were going, as there isn't a beam like halogen bulbs, it's just a spread light.

Osram & Philips extra bright (legal) are good, I had those in my last car and will replace the current bulbs with the same when the bog standard ones fail. One of them is called Night Breaker but I can't remember which one. Halfords also do their own, but I think they are more expensive.

 

[alexinessex]

Many thanks for the info

Kind regards

Alex

 

[Starky]

Try talking with killerHERTZ. I purchased some LEDs from him and there great. Im Sure he will be able to answer your questions.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Try talking with killerHERTZ. I purchased some LEDs from him and there great. Im Sure he will be able to answer your questions.

Were they headlight bulbs Starky? I'd be interested to know what you think of them.

 

[Starky]

They were the side lights. And as said they look realy good they complement the Xeon look perfectly. I have taken some photos on my I phone but can't figure out how to upload.

 

[GordonTarling]

With so many light sources distributed around the 'lamp' as per the photo, they're never going to work properly in a lamp housing/reflector that's not designed for them. You won't get a proper beam from them and glare to oncoming traffic will be a real problem.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Well there seems to be an overall opinion that as a direct replacement in headlights designed for halogen bulbs, LED are absolute sh** and potentially dangerous for night driving, which let's face it, is when you're going to use headlights. They just don't project any light in a beam onto the road where it is needed. Good at blinding on coming drivers though. (Like those that seem to be all the craze for pedal cyclists now).
They may be ok as DRL or sidelights, or indeed in vehicles with specially designed reflectors when fitted by the manufacturer such as Audi in their R8.

I've checked on several motoring forums about these and I would advise anyone thinking of getting these LED replacement bulbs to do the same before wasting their hard earned cash.

I tried to find a video of these being used at night and compared with halogen bulbs in the same vehicle, but couldn't find any. That must tell us something!!

TEST H4 LED.MOV - YouTube

 

[Chrishazle]

I've replaced the side and parking lights in my S204 with W5W 8sm LED's (canbus error free) and really like the bright white look. The main and dip beams are now Osram Nightbreaker plus, which are also quite good. However, I got a shock when I looked at replacing the 21W bulbs in the rear clusters - total of 8 white and 2 yellow. I found the yellows at £8 a pair, but the whites were about £16 a pair. Guess who's sticking to conventional bulbs in the rear clusters!

 

[markjay]

I am thinking of replacing the side lights on my W203 with W5W LED.

I am looking for bright white to match the Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited H7 55W.

Not looking for blue tint... just bright white.

Which of these two will be better fit for the Nightbreakers? And are they canbus error-free on the Merc?

Thank you in advance....

4000k Warm White:

or

6000k Cool White:

 

[markjay]

Looking at the Osram Nightbreakers spec:

'Color temperature 3600 K'

So it would seem that the 4000k w5w will be a better match?

 

[markjay]

More questions...

Some eBay adverts say:

'Road Legal: No (for interior use)'

Though there is no mentioning of this on the Osram package in the phto.

Are LED sidelights not road legal in UK?

 

[Ted]

Careful - check they are canbus compatible or they will trigger the bulb failure. I had some from Killerhertz and they were an excellent match for my oem hids on my w208

Pretty sure they are legal - mine passed an mot with them it.

 

[markjay]

..also this:

'Legal advice:

Not ECE conform

Only for off-road use, not approved for use on public roads

Illegal use leads to cancellation of vehicle operating licence and loss of insurance cover'

 

[m2287]

Speak to killerhertz... I have some led number plate bulbs from him and they are amazing quality.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Bare in mind that those OSRAM ones are not error free... One or two eBay ads claim they are.

Never had a single MOT issue reported with any I sell as long as they aren't at all blue then there is no problem.

 

[b1g1an]

It is a shame, as you say the Osrams are useless for most modern cars, but they're the only ones that don't look like a school electronics project when they aren't lit up. Surprised no one has come up with better ones that do work given how clear lenses are nowadays.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

It is a shame, as you say the Osrams are useless for most modern cars, but they're the only ones that don't look like a school electronics project when they aren't lit up. Surprised no one has come up with better ones that do work given how clear lenses are nowadays.

I have! Mine are same colour and brightness as OEM DRLs

 

[b1g1an]

I have! Mine are same colour and brightness as OEM DRLs

No mate, I said when they're NOT lit, don't doubt yours are good when they're on

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Sorry, I miss read your message

Ive seen a thread where someone dismantled one. Virtually identical to my GCSE project ones under the 'lense'