Interior Lights - LED vs Halogen

[sunnydude959]

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know what peoples opinions are on LED interior lights (footwell, map reading, main roof light, boot lid, etc.) vs the standard halogen ones. I'm tempted by them, but I don't know if they would look a bit too sharp/clinical as they don't have that "warmth" of halogen light, or possibly even slightly chavvy?! I have black interior with aluminium trim.

This is the set that I'm looking at: http://tinyurl.com/nzf4em4

All opinions and thoughts welcome!

Sunny

[edc]

Your link is very expensive. Check your manual for the bulb type then just buy LED replacements from eBay. Just get as many LEDs per holder that will fit as possible.

[sunnydude959]

Ah yes, so you're right. They seem a lot cheaper on eBay - Including error free ones.

But whats your opinions on the light itself?

[DanGPR]

Personally i find they end up looking too blue. Bit chavvy for my liking, stick to standard.

[kevin63]

You can get different coloured LEDs, there are white ones and warm ones which have more of a yellow tint to them, I personally have the white ones and only paid £1.30p for two off ebay.
I was going to post a photo, but my Photobucket is down due to maintenance.

[722Adam]

I've been down this route (also did no. plate lights) with a previous car, I think a good outcome does depend your car's colour scheme. They suited the purple exterior, black/grey interior of my Audi quite well. Rather tempted to get some and see what they do for my current car (black exterior and interior). Only thing that's putting me off is the sheer number of interior lights, they're everywhere!

[722Adam]

I've been down this route (also did no. plate lights) with a previous car, I think a good outcome does depend your car's colour scheme. They suited the purple exterior, black/grey interior of my Audi quite well. Rather tempted to get some and see what they do for my current car (black exterior and interior). Only thing that's putting me off is the sheer number of interior lights, they're everywhere!

[sunnydude959]

kevin63 said:

You can get different coloured LEDs, there are white ones and warm ones which have more of a yellow tint to them, I personally have the white ones and only paid £1.30p for two off ebay.
I was going to post a photo, but my Photobucket is down due to maintenance.

What colour is your interior?

[vikingaero]

I've replaced all the interior filament bulbs of our cars with LEDs. Main reason is that The Vikingettes have gymnastics training several times a week and sometimes I stay in the car park for a few hours with work/laptop/tablet rather than drive home and back again.

I started off using a headtorch and must have looked a right cock, and now it's easier to have the reassurance that using the LED bulb means that the battery won't get caned. One thing is that I originally bought the highest power bulbs and changed them for standard bulbs at the front which is ample lighting to surf and read with.

[sunnydude959]

722Adam said:

I've been down this route (also did no. plate lights) with a previous car, I think a good outcome does depend your car's colour scheme. They suited the purple exterior, black/grey interior of my Audi quite well. Rather tempted to get some and see what they do for my current car (black exterior and interior). Only thing that's putting me off is the sheer number of interior lights, they're everywhere!

Yeah, my car is Black (or extremely dark blue, however you want to look at it!) with Black interior and aluminium trim.

[vikingaero]

One thing to watch out for is that the LED bulbs that have a bulbous base don't fit well into some cars. On our Mazda they worked loose from the driving vibration. I replaced them with "stalkier" designs.

As random examples:

Too bulbous at the base: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120947628914?ru=http%3A%...

Stalkier (but you need clearance in the light unit: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130591243207?ru=http%3A%...

[kevin63]

sunnydude959 said:

kevin63 said:

You can get different coloured LEDs, there are white ones and warm ones which have more of a yellow tint to them, I personally have the white ones and only paid £1.30p for two off ebay.
I was going to post a photo, but my Photobucket is down due to maintenance.

What colour is your interior?

I have a black/grey interior with the bright white output LED lights, 2 x footwell, 2 x roof lights and 2 x map lights, all LEDs, (it's not a BMW though, it's a Fiesta)

[crazy about cars]

The SMD equivalent produces a more white light.

I do agree it lacks the "warmth" of a halogen bulb but it's definitely brighter - a feature I appreciate in the dark months of winter.

[sunnydude959]

Mind you, just a thought that's come to my head - I could do a hybrid in that sense; leave the roof and map reading lamps (which nobody ever uses in my car) as halogens, and change footwell and under-door illumination lights to LED.

[kevin63]

Here is the best I can do with the photo's.

[fjord]

Our work cars have LED's. They're simply too bright, they make it so you cant see anything outside when they are on, and reading anything is a nightmare.

It's like being in an office under one of those flourescent tubes all day long.

[sunnydude959]

kevin63 said:

Here is the best I can do with the photo's.

You shouldn't have gone through the trouble! But appreciated

They do look good on your car - is the orange/amber part ambient lighting? In which case it would be a very similar colour scheme to my car overall.

I think I'm definitely going with footwell and under-door LED lights now, just debating the overhead ones...

Thanks for your opinions guys!

[Martyn-123]

Bit of blue for the dads

[sunnydude959]

I think that one's a bit too blue

[kevin63]

sunnydude959 said:

You shouldn't have gone through the trouble! But appreciated

They do look good on your car - is the orange/amber part ambient lighting? In which case it would be a very similar colour scheme to my car overall.

I think I'm definitely going with footwell and under-door LED lights now, just debating the overhead ones...

Thanks for your opinions guys!

The lighting above the glove box is the part of the ambient lighting, that's in the doors and cup holders too.