LED upgrade

esson

esson

Member
Hi,
I've started a LED upgrade for my A2, and wanted to check if my bulb type list is okay before I get to it.

interior front and rear, glovebox, boot - 272 Festoon
numberplates - 501/W5W (are they the same kind as sidelights?)
reverse - 382
stop/tail - 380

I wanted to ask how long it must be, and if the front middle light is supposed to be a different one than the other 272 Festoons?

Can I use this as a stop+tail light? Will it light up more when I brake ?
http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/380-LED-360-Degree-Stop-Tail-Light-PAIR.html

Cheers!
 
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you read this already: http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8729 ?

Be careful doing this. If you have FIS, LEDs will confuse the "lamp broken" system, too. You are also, strictly speaking, no longer legally insured if you have an accident caused by non-e-marked parts, i.e. those linked LEDs.

Change the numberplate lights to the ones BMW use, by all means, and the interior lights too, just don't expect it to work 100% correctly without quite a lot of time, effort and electronics.

Bret
 
trouble

tell me about it!

spent 2 1/2 hours out in the cold on the 23rd decemeber for my numberplate light screws to shear off in my hand, and the interior led's all flickering once id changed them.

number plates ones are same as interior festoons 36m, apart from the front centre which is a 44mm festoon.

ive got it working now but had to replace the map ights with the standard bulbs until i can work out why they cause the others to flicker.
 
Looks like you did your homework. I think you have all the right sizes. Im not sure about the stop+tail light as Ive never sold them. The only way to find out if regular aftermarket replacement LEDs will give error warnings is to try them! If it does there are fixes. The website you are considering offers LED flasher units or resistor kits that when fitted will cancel the error. They go for £6-10.. when you consider this on top of the price of the LED you may be better going for LED with built in error cancelers and save the hassle and some money too. I have had great experience with Blesk error canceling LEDs T10 size (@£13) will fit your 501/W5W spots and the 37mm LED (@£13) festoon should fit your 272 festoon spot. Do some research, they fair well and you will avoid those error issues. I hope this was informative, Good luck.
 
stephensm said:
tell me about it!

spent 2 1/2 hours out in the cold on the 23rd decemeber for my numberplate light screws to shear off in my hand, and the interior led's all flickering once id changed them.

number plates ones are same as interior festoons 36m, apart from the front centre which is a 44mm festoon.

ive got it working now but had to replace the map ights with the standard bulbs until i can work out why they cause the others to flicker.
Click to expand...


I had the exact same problem changing my rear plate bulbs to LED. I had to drill the sheared screws out and use new self tappers instead. All worked well in the end and was done in just over an hour...still way too long for a quick bulb change but thankfully not as long as your experience. The final result is well worth the effort and the BMW style plate lighting just makes the A2look reall y smart and high tech. Well worth while upgrade as long as you are patient and carefull with those screws.
 
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I got all my LED's from the Car Mod Shop.

I have had no flickering problems at all. Straight swapped the whole lot, rewired the map LED's and jobs a good'n.

John
 
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