New type of LED DRL 'bulb'...

[GainfulShrimp]

Long time no post, sorry.

I've spotted this new type of LED 'bulb' which claims to be canbus-friendly and should hopefully be a straight swap for the DRLs used in facelift cars with bi-xenons:

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/382-ultimate-canbus-92-smd-led-bulb-white.html

Those little beauties (monstrosities?) have 92 x 3528 type SMD LEDs on them.

I'm currently using the other popular type of 382 LED (canbus friendly) bulb, which has 27 x 5050 type SMD LEDs on. I'm pretty happy with the colour of the light, but it's not very bright. In fact, subjectively to my eyes, it seems quite a lot dimmer than a bog-standard tungsten 382 bulb.

Now, according to the specs for 3528 and 5050 LEDs, the viewing angle is the same (120°) but the brightness differs: 3528s are 1600mcd whereas 5050s are 4000mcd. This means the 'ultimate' module linked above puts out a total of 92 x 1600 = 147,200 units of brightness*, as opposed to my current bulb's 27 x 4000 = 108,000 units of brightness.

In other words, the ultimate one should be roughly 30% brighter.

Just wondering whether anyone has tried these 'ultimate' LED bulbs for the DRLs and, if so, what do you think of them?

* - I'm not going to even try to convert that into lumens or whatever - the viewing angle of both LED types is the same, so mcd should work for a relative brightness measure in this instance I reckon.

 

[GrahamFR]

These are the bad boys im using, i assume you have something similar as you have 27 SMD LED's the same number, i dont have a problem with them tho and they seem a damn site better than the bulbs and i suppose brightness doesnt matter too much for DRL's

[/IMG]

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Yup, they're the ones I have. It's not a huge problem but I guess I'm just jealous of all the OEM LED DRLs which are properly bright... the Citroen DS3 etc have really bright ones.

 

[GrahamFR]

yes the mrs is planning on trading her C2 for a DS3, i have to admit its one of its finer features, however they are expensive for a Citroen tho.

Ever thought of adding these, im sure they will fit yours:

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Hmm... no I haven't tbh. I like the placement of the current DRLs within the headlight unit, but I'm just being picky I suppose. If my current ones start failing/flickering (as is often the way with these dodgy aftermarket LED 'bulbs'), I might take a punt on the 'ultimate' ones.

Are those in the picture third party or OEM for a different model to mine?

 

[GrahamFR]

they are Seat's own. part no 1P0052180 / 1P0052180C

the picture is taken from the european accesories booklet, if you google the above you will find the PDF they fit everything but the FR/Cupra style, i assumed that you are still ecomotive and therefore will fit.

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Ahh... interesting. Not sure I'm keen on the placement of them but will keep my eye out for one in the flesh to see how they look in real life, ta.

 

[Craig D]

I have the same ones as Graham above with the 27 leds in each Bulb which are bright enough and look awesome.

 

[sportbilly]

^^ me too, had the check light on the dash a couple of times over 4k miles, a quick turn lights off and on again and its cleared itself.

I know what you mean, they are a better colour than the non-LED bulbs but not quite as bright.

Edit: in fact thinking about it the check bulb light has only really come on at night I think, so it woudl be one of the LED 501'a which hadnt lit.

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Ultimate 382 LED DRL Frankenbulbs - with pics!

After asking around in this thread whether anyone else had tried them, I decided to take a punt on these newfangled LED 'bulbs' for my 382-style DRLs...

Short version:

No errors and I like 'em.

Long version:

Compared to the "27 SMD canbus friendly" ones that I had until recently, they are a nicer colour - i.e. less blueish and more neutral (subjectively, I'd say they are similar in colour to Candy White on a sunlit day).

They are quite a bit brighter - I would estimate it visually as 40% brighter - although still no match for the brightness of standard tungsten P21w bulbs.

I haven't had a bulb warning/error yet and I put them in about a week ago - hopefully these are reliably error-free. (I only had one error months ago with the 27 SMD ones, and that cleared by switching off and on...)

See below for crappy cameraphone pics of them installed.

Behold the Frankenbulb! The exposure's been lowered so you can see the layout of the 92 LEDs - that's a whole lot of LEDs right thar...

How it looks from the front (again, underexposed so the photo's dimmer than real life):

This comparison shot shows the new 92 SMD Frankenbulb on the driver side (left of photo) the old 27 SMD version on the passenger side (right of photo)... you can see the new one is a more neutral white colour and is a bit brighter too:

Overall, I'm very happy with them so far. I'm keeping the old 27 SMD ones in case they start flickering, triggering bulb errors or other such misbehaviour.

If you want to order some yourself, I got them from this page:

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/382-ultimate-canbus-92-smd-led-bulb-white.html

(If you do a quick Google, you can find a code which gives you 25% off, so a pair is then about £22.)

 

[GrahamFR]

hmmm im quite impressed, however i dont mind the blueish tint on the DRL at the mo as they are only on on their own, not like there giving a bad contrast to the Xenons with them all being on. So with that in mind i will probably replace my current 27 with these when they blow, which they will eventually.

 

[vincent5525]

STRATHY
25% off

 

[Nath.]

Yup, they're the ones I have. It's not a huge problem but I guess I'm just jealous of all the OEM LED DRLs which are properly bright... the Citroen DS3 etc have really bright ones.

Hi mate, what current do they draw? My Exeo doesn't like the 27 LED ones that you used to use (this is due to how the Xexo and A4 can-bus system works)

 

[sportbilly]

Fancy trying one in the indicator to see if it throws errors? they do them in amber too...

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Hi mate, what current do they draw? My Exeo doesn't like the 27 LED ones that you used to use (this is due to how the Xexo and A4 can-bus system works)

Dunno, sorry man. I have no idea to find this out I'm afraid.
Perhaps ask HIDS4U although I doubt they'd know for sure. Perhaps offer to confirm back to them if they work with your car so they can put up a list of compatible cars (and check that you can return them if they don't work)?

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Fancy trying one in the indicator to see if it throws errors? they do them in amber too...

Might try them if/when an indicator bulb blows. I'm sure I read that the indicators are quite tricky to get to, so not sure I fancy it without needing to do it...

 

[GrahamFR]

if were talking about the front indicators they are a bit of a pain to get to, but i just replaced mine with a chrome coated bulb and i must admit i was very pleased / surprised at how better the front of the car looked across the car park with the orangeness gone from my lights

 

[GainfulShrimp]

You're tempting me now, Graham!

Are the front indicators also P21w/382 type then? Do you reckon an LED 'bulb' would physically fit OK or is it a tight squeeze for a standard bulb?

Out of interest, what chrome-coated bulbs did you use?

 

[GrahamFR]

581's, i dont know of any LED bulbs but i am sure they would fit ok, they are the push and twist types, but personally i wouldnt bother, surely with indicators its how they look OFF instead of ON thats important, and the area in the light cluster is translucent not transparent so you cant really see whats in there but obviously you can tell if its orange.

I just did the simple and cheap thing of buying some off ebay, bought them in June, 10mins to fit after you work out how to untwist the actual bulb holder in the light, no problems as of yet

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_kw=Chrome+Indicator+Bulb+581+SEAT+Leon+2006+to&_id=130336902851

 

[Websta]

I need to get me some of these, i've now gone through 2 sets of Mtec Xenon gassed bulbs! They last for maybe 4 weeks then one blows!!