LED turn signal lights - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

PoPo · 11-19-2006, 09:26 AM

I see pretty much everyone here goes for the silverstar lights, but I think LEDs are the next generation (brighter, las longer, and still no amber). Anyway, I have the litronic headlights and the eBay LED tail lights. I de-ambered the little piece of amber in the litronic, so there is 100% amber free. The problem is that the blinker goes twice as fast when either the front or back turn signal lights are replaced with LEDs. When I replaced all 4 turn signal lights with LEDs, it no longer flashed, but rather stayed constantly lit and the flasher just buzzed like it was flashinging 100 times per second. So it looks like our flashers are wattage based then, right? Are all flashers wattage based? Since each filament turn signal bulb takes about 21 W (84W total) and I pretty much dropped that wattage down to about 1W total using LEDs, that would explain why the flasher goes nuts with all the turn signal lights as LEDs.

So my question is: Is there a flasher that will fit our cars (2000 S here) that supports LED turn lights? Or can someone give me a part number for the flasher and I'll look around.

Better yet, has anyone else had this problem?

My temporary solution is to just have the fronts as LEDs and the rears as the filaments. It flashes like a ricer car, but I don't want to give up on the LEDs.

larez2 · 11-19-2006, 02:18 PM

Maybe you just need to add some resistors.

You could figure out what size you need with this formula:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistor

Or you could do trial and error. I imagine an auto parts or auto sound store would have everything you need to get your LED's working properly.

Do you have pics of what you've done? I'm interested in how it looks - LED's rock! Very modern appearance and look much better than standard filament bulbs for aux lighting like brake lights and turn signals.

Good Luck,
Larez2

bagwell · 11-19-2006, 04:23 PM

I was very disappointed with the silverstars in the rear....they looked very very blue...

.....I ended up just litely spraying the amber bulbs with silver paint...but I wish they'd make the LED's with the resistor built in. I think I've seen this before....

Jeph · 11-19-2006, 04:36 PM

What you're looking for is something like this:
http://www.ledlight.com/detail.aspx?ID=39

However, I advise agaist using those aftermarket LED bulb-replacements (especially if you plan on replacing your brake lights). They do NOT give off the amount of light as your original bulbs. The optics within your tail light's housing is optimized for regular bulbs that give off light in 360 degrees. Even those omni-directional LEDs don't cut the mustard. Where that becomes an issue is in an emergency and you NEED to be seen (via your hazard lights).

When LEDs come from the automotive manufacturer, they're grand. Otherwise you I suggest you play it safe. Sorry to be a wet blanket.

bagwell · 11-19-2006, 06:40 PM

another issue...I don't think the LED bulbs will fit (slide into) the tail lite...

PoPo · 11-20-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeph

What you're looking for is something like this:
http://www.ledlight.com/detail.aspx?ID=39

However, I advise agaist using those aftermarket LED bulb-replacements (especially if you plan on replacing your brake lights). They do NOT give off the amount of light as your original bulbs. The optics within your tail light's housing is optimized for regular bulbs that give off light in 360 degrees. Even those omni-directional LEDs don't cut the mustard. Where that becomes an issue is in an emergency and you NEED to be seen (via your hazard lights).

When LEDs come from the automotive manufacturer, they're grand. Otherwise you I suggest you play it safe. Sorry to be a wet blanket.

Thank you, I think that is exactly what I need.

I have these tail lights, but they came with filament turn signals. So I replaced the turn signals with LEDs so it was all LED. If you look closely at this picture, you will see the silver concave mirror directly in front of the light. This picture is with the filament bulb. With the LED bulb, the mirror redistributes the light at all angles and works just as, or better than the filament bulb.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagwell

another issue...I don't think the LED bulbs will fit (slide into) the tail lite...

Yes the tail light turn signal is a problem. There is a 15 degree offset in the prongs. However, just grind one of the prongs down and viola, it fits perfect and still holds down with the one prong. I just used a LED 1157 instead of whatever was required.

Billb · 11-20-2006, 05:33 PM

Hi PoPo, you must really love your car to keep it in your kitchen!

Kirk · 07-26-2008, 10:34 AM

I just wanted to add to this thread since some of these LED turn signal bulbs are now making it onto the shelves of your local auto parts stores (AutoZone, Kragens, etc.). Like PoPo I bought a non-standard bulb, in my case the 1156, with the incorrect prong spacing. It's just barely off though, so you can simply bend back the bulb socket to fit them in and then bend or clamp the socket back into place to hold the bulb tight. I did this instead of sanding down one of the prongs like PoPo. Here's a pic of what I bought for $17. They're red instead of yellow, but that's legal (in the back only) in California any way:

And here's a before and after comparison of the change, note how the yellow disappears around the standard filament turn signal bulb.

BEFORE

AFTER

Some posts I found said these bulbs would not fit in the OEM housing or work with the OEM wiring. Mine fit fine and worked fine, but obviously in an aftermarket housing. The output is below that of the filament bulb, but I still think acceptable, although on the marginal end.

Kirk

Kirk · 07-26-2008, 10:39 AM

Here's the LED version of the side marker light bulb. Again, available at a local auto parts store for $10. These glow amber and were a drop-in replacement in my Porsche OEM smoked/clear side marker housings. No fit or wiring issues, just simply swap out the bulbs. Again, the output though is not as great as the standard filament bulb, but it's passable.

Jeph · 07-26-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk

The output is below that of the filament bulb, but I still think acceptable, although on the marginal end.

I think your car would look so cool with the solid red 550 tail lights. (Plus you wouldn't have to deal with any amber.)

panameras · 12-07-2010, 06:45 AM

Has anyone tried these no error LED indicator bulbs?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1156-BA15S-18-LED-Turn-Signal-Light-Bulb-AMBER-NO-ERROR-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5d2c6f1b38QQitemZ40017 7437496QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

Do they fit in the OEM taillight housings?

Also where do you fit the supplied resistors? (sorry for the newbie question)

Lil bastard · 12-07-2010, 07:36 AM

I designed and manufacture LED taillights for the BMW 2002 - www.2002s.net . Due to the circuitry design, ours maintain the oem flash rate.

The issue the OP describes: Flash rate too high, is the result of not enough resistance in the circuit.

The workaround is to replace the oem bi-metal electro-mechanical flasher with an electronic flasher unit which doesn't rely on electrical resistance to establish the flash rate.

These can be had from any NAPA, PepBoys, Autozone, etc. usually for under $10.

Problem solved!

Cheers!

Stroked & Blown · 12-07-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

I designed and manufacture LED taillights for the BMW 2002 - www.2002s.net . Due to the circuitry design, ours maintain the oem flash rate.

The issue the OP describes: Flash rate too high, is the result of not enough resistance in the circuit.

The workaround is to replace the oem bi-metal electro-mechanical flasher with an electronic flasher unit which doesn't rely on electrical resistance to establish the flash rate.

These can be had from any NAPA, PepBoys, Autozone, etc. usually for under $10.

Problem solved!

Cheers!

Neat! Any pics of them installed?

Lil bastard · 12-07-2010, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stroked & Blown

Neat! Any pics of them installed?

Yes, I have also done a conversion kit for the earlier 2002's with the round taillights.

Cheers!

Lil bastard · 12-07-2010, 10:28 AM

The Sahara car is mine - 1976 BMW 2002. 2nd owner, 50k orig. mi., mostly stock (for now).

The Tangerine car is a friend's - a 1970 BMW 2002 w/ an S14 (M3) motor in it. He bought it for $400, a rusted shell. Mucho dinero later, it's a wonderful example. It doesn't hurt that he's a BMW Mobile Tradition (Classic parts div.) Licensee.

Cheers!