Has anyone tried swapping the standard filament bulbs on their 2f with LEDs?

The cost of LED replacement bulbs has fallen recently. I was thinking over time about swapping the standard filament bulbs with LED replacements. You can get LEDs for:

front side (233)

numberplate (501)

rear tail (245)

rear indicator (382)

rear brake (382)

You can get a pair on ebay for about £3, which is a good deal if they work, as they have a lifespan of 50,000 hours.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=233&...;_osacat=174060

Anyone tried them? If so how did you get on?

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by schneil

Recently changed reg plate, front sides and interior bulbs to LED.

Really happy with results. Much brighter, with a nice cool tint.

I have tried a few different 233 LED's off ebay, all worked well.

Edited 27 January, 201313 yr by Matty_26

Recently changed reg plate, front sides and interior bulbs to LED.

Really happy with results. Much brighter, with a nice cool tint.

I have tried a few different 233 LED's off ebay, all worked well.

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/233-T4W/?...4&end=front

There's a few different types listed here. Did you use the single led, 4 leds on the end, or ones with leds on the sides and end?

I'm thinking about beam patterns.

Singles are the cheapest, but might just give a weedy spot

there sidelights what has beam pattern got to do with it?

there sidelights what has beam pattern got to do with it?

From memory LEDs can be more directional than an incandescent bulb.

You want a nice spread of light if the bulb is lighting up a numberplate.

I have used the single LED's and the ones with four small LED's on the end.

Beam pattern is almost non existent, although, for reg plate lights I would say the ones with 4 LED's in the end, the throw on these is a little narrower, lights up the plate better. For sides it wouldn't really matter.

The single LED ones have a little more floody pattern, but with the silver paint inside the reg plate bulb housing, it doesn't really help to light up the plate IMO.

I had considered this, but I couldnt commit the time into researhing the bulbs so didnt bother in the end.

if people have pics and reviews. Id be happy to look at them

Got some in my rear number plate's and i love them!

much better as i went for a white/ ice blue stage with it (replaced all lights) apart from my headlights which are a bit shitty

but number plate ligths etc would be a good buy!

Got some in my rear number plate's and i love them!

much better as i went for a white/ ice blue stage with it (replaced all lights) apart from my headlights which are a bit shitty

but number plate ligths etc would be a good buy!

Which type did you use for the number plate?

I have LED bulbs in the G40...had no issues with them at all.

These are better than the single LED ones, these are what I use.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-4-LED-Xenon-W...=item2eb7323c18

Although, the single LED ones are still much better than standard bulb.

I have some single LED's you could have if you were closer!

These are better than the single LED ones, these are what I use.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-4-LED-Xenon-W...=item2eb7323c18

Although, the single LED ones are still much better than standard bulb.

I have some single LED's you could have if you were closer!

I'm gonna give these ones a shot

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-5-LED-XENON-W...=item45fcc369a0

5 leds in the fitting should give out a good spread, I'll try them in the number plate.

I thought the number plate ones were capless type. W5W?

I thought the number plate ones were capless type. W5W?

yes the numberplate bulbs on a mk2f polo are capless 501's think someone may havew just ordered the wrong ones

They will with a bit of fiddling fit into the sidelights so not all lost. only issue is theres a chance of the led braking off when you try to remove it.

For the brake and tail lights, I wouldn't bother trying to use a replacement led bulb, as the majority of them don't make more light then the standard bulbs, plus the beam/aim leaves a lot to be desired, not to mention they are usally red leds, to get a clean red light through red lens you need slightly orange led, red leds make the light purple.

There are some good ones, but they are at least £20 a pair, and even then they could be better. The best route is to go the custom route, you can make up a circuit board the same size as the bulb reflector and have patterns, ie vertical, horizontal or diagonal line of leds, so you would get the look of the new bmw's and mercs, plus no doubt a much better lifespan then the cheaper stuff.

There is a member on here that was selling pre made boards for the 6n/2 so maybe they can make these up for the mk2?

Search Google for DIY led tail lights, they do look quite nice imo and will deffinarly be a one off.

For the side lights, either a 1w led, or if you can find it, a 3w led (sometimes called Cree) are very good, the 3w are brighter then the dipped beams at times. Or a tower bulb, ie multi levels, and forward facing leds together are also good and produce a great beam.

I deffinarly wouldn't bother with bulbs for the indicators, as these are mostly terrible and will mess up the relay as they have less resistance. Best way is to go the custom route again, if you use many leds, the indicators will be visible from far and haves clean on/off effect (no dimming)

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by dixy

I thought the number plate ones were capless type. W5W?

yes the numberplate bulbs on a mk2f polo are capless 501's think someone may havew just ordered the wrong ones

Ah doh, got my numbers mixed up. Yes they are 501's. I'm going to see if I can swap.

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by schneil

I've experimented with LEDs over the years. (not LSD) I like the new 'warm white' ones you can get now. They look much closer to the light of a standard bulb than the 'xenon' white ones.

I've found that the SMT LEDs are usually brigher than standard filamnet bulbs even single ones used for sidelights. I'm not sure about using them as number plate lights though, I'd rather they were the festoon type. I bought a 6 LED festoon for the interior light and that's extremely bright, and because it's warm white, the interior is lit in a better shade.

I got some SMT stop and tail bulbs from ultraleds a few years ago for my saloon. Only 4 bulbs in them but they are very bright, brighter than a normal stop and tail anyway. Technology has come a long way. I bought some a few years before that made of about 50 conventional LEDs and they were rubbish.

The BA9s will fit in the front sidelight holders, assuming they then fit through the hole into the headlights.

For the brake and tail lights, I wouldn't bother trying to use a replacement led bulb, as the majority of them don't make more light then the standard bulbs, plus the beam/aim leaves a lot to be desired, not to mention they are usally red leds, to get a clean red light through red lens you need slightly orange led, red leds make the light purple.

There are some good ones, but they are at least £20 a pair, and even then they could be better. The best route is to go the custom route, you can make up a circuit board the same size as the bulb reflector and have patterns, ie vertical, horizontal or diagonal line of leds, so you would get the look of the new bmw's and mercs, plus no doubt a much better lifespan then the cheaper stuff.

There is a member on here that was selling pre made boards for the 6n/2 so maybe they can make these up for the mk2?

Search Google for DIY led tail lights, they do look quite nice imo and will deffinarly be a one off.

For the side lights, either a 1w led, or if you can find it, a 3w led (sometimes called Cree) are very good, the 3w are brighter then the dipped beams at times. Or a tower bulb, ie multi levels, and forward facing leds together are also good and produce a great beam.

I deffinarly wouldn't bother with bulbs for the indicators, as these are mostly terrible and will mess up the relay as they have less resistance. Best way is to go the custom route again, if you use many leds, the indicators will be visible from far and haves clean on/off effect (no dimming)

The LEDs are much better than they used to be. I had a look in about 2005, and they were pretty poor and expensive. They're much better and cheaper now.

I'd only use white LEDs on the car if it was going through a red lens. If I used a red LED and a red lens (like the brake), if the wavelengths don't match you'll get an odd colour!

For the indicators I'd get one's with a resistor, so I don't fool the relay.

On my bike I've got a magicshine mj808, 1 LED, I think it's a cree, it's nearly as bright as a car headlight!

Gaz,

Just for clarification, you mean SMD (Surface Mount Diode) not SMT.

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by Duey

I've experimented with LEDs over the years. (not LSD) I like the new 'warm white' ones you can get now. They look much closer to the light of a standard bulb than the 'xenon' white ones.

I've found that the SMT LEDs are usually brigher than standard filamnet bulbs even single ones used for sidelights. I'm not sure about using them as number plate lights though, I'd rather they were the festoon type. I bought a 6 LED festoon for the interior light and that's extremely bright, and because it's warm white, the interior is lit in a better shade.

I got some SMT stop and tail bulbs from ultraleds a few years ago for my saloon. Only 4 bulbs in them but they are very bright, brighter than a normal stop and tail anyway. Technology has come a long way. I bought some a few years before that made of about 50 conventional LEDs and they were rubbish.

The BA9s will fit in the front sidelight holders, assuming they then fit through the hole into the headlights.

Hi Gaz

I'll give you a shout later for more info.

IIRC a lot of white LEDs are 6000K, which is a cool white. I think warmer whites are about 3000K and below, so I'd agree in using a warmer one for the interior, as cool white can look harsh.

Gaz,

Just for clarification, you mean SMD (Surface Mount Diode) not SMT.

I said SMT LED which is just a longer way of saying SMD.

Anyone have a link to a warmer tinted festoon LED? As mine is harshly cool.

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/led-product-cat...-44mm-long.html

I went for the 6 LED warm white one. It was a lot brighter than the filament bulb it replaced! I also got the equivalent 37mm one for the boot (saloons have a boot light built into the rear cluster!)

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/led-product-cat...39-mm-long.html