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mlightfoot

Member Since: 10 Jan 2009
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 86

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

LED Bulb minefield - pls help?

Can anyone help me in where to source, legal and effective LED bulb replacements for front side lights and indicators? I'm trying to keep the genuine look but LED bulbs and there seems to be so many options...

Thanks in advance.

19th Aug 2015 5:37pm

Green Machine

Member Since: 19 Nov 2010
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1226

The RDX / Wipac replacement LED units are your best bet. The LED indicators require a new variable flasher relay, which is fairly straightforward to install and comes with both kits as far as I am aware (I have the RDX lamps all round). Fitting LED bulbs into the standard lamp units is technically illegal as the lamp unit is E-marked for a filament bulb, not an LED. I have tried various LED bulbs in the standard lamps and none were that effective or satisfactory. The LED lamp units are far preferable with a much better output and they are E-marked. 2005 Td5 | 90 Station Wagon | Tonga Green

19th Aug 2015 5:50pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20412

RDX via E-bay or Paddock spares website for Wipac.
I'd recommend the RDX relay though.
LED side repeaters are available from Brendan @ 4x4 Overlander (site sponsor)

I have RDX as above too, I am biased of course but heard just as good things about Wipac's version.

19th Aug 2015 5:52pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

Re: LED Bulb minefield - pls help?

mlightfoot wrote:
Can anyone help me in where to source, legal and effective LED bulb replacements for front side lights and indicators? I'm trying to keep the genuine look but LED bulbs and there seems to be so many options...

Thanks in advance.

You can not just swop the standard filament bulbs for LED clusters.

All obligatory lights have to be type approved (read E mark these days) this includes side lights and indicators.

The standard lights are type approved for filament bulbs. Replacing a blown filament bulb with another filament bulb is legal.

Replacing a filament bulb with a LED clusters is illegal as the type approval is invalid. The original manufacturer got type approval for a filament bulb and would not have tested it for a LED cluster.

Best legal solution is to buy a complete E marked LED unit.

Brendan

19th Aug 2015 6:13pm

mlightfoot

Member Since: 10 Jan 2009
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 86

Thanks all. I have the SVX rear LEDs from Mobile Centre but the fronts now look a bit left-out

19th Aug 2015 6:18pm

Clive

Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Littleborough
Posts: 467

2004 Defender 90 Td5 X-Tech LE Zambezi Silver

I tried some LED bulbs for the indicators and they were pants, more or less invisible in daylight so I gave up with them. Now I've gone for the Wipac clear LED lamp set like these -
http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/front-rear-73mm-led-lamp-kit.html

They are a far better solution, more robust and more reliable

19th Aug 2015 7:53pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20412

Have you found the Wipac relay okay?

19th Aug 2015 7:54pm

Clive

Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Littleborough
Posts: 467

Yes perfect, once adjusted properly it works just like a normal one

19th Aug 2015 7:58pm

K9F

Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

custom90steve wrote:
Have you found the Wipac relay okay?

K9F wrote:
gilarion wrote:
However which ever set you choose don't fit the WIPAC relay but buy the RDX led relay its expensive but works.

A couple of people have mentioned this but I found no issues whasoever with the Wipac relay supplied. No need to shell out a further £30 for the RDX relay. Not sure if the Wipac relay may have been upgraded but it came with the kit and works a treat with the trailer light being adjustable to the point it flashes only once, exactly the same as having OEM lights fitted.

If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!

19th Aug 2015 8:10pm

Wangers

Member Since: 19 Jan 2013
Location: West London
Posts: 265

1995 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Aintree Green

Putting an LED bulb into a fillaent holder to shine through a fillament lense is illegal.

Sealed manufactured units are legal.

all to do with light waves, angles of refraction ya de ya.

so to the OP - LED bulbs = don't. Get a set og units and you;ll be fine. TY&GN
10 years in a WOLF, WIMIK and Snatch and this is all I have to show!

19th Aug 2015 8:10pm

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