License Plate Bulb replacement

[araxara]

1.5W vs 1W LED license bulbs

Here is a comparison between the 1.5W LED (on left) and the 1W LED (on right). I let the picture be a little overexposed so you can see the differences. If you can't tell, the 1.5W LED is a bit brighter.

 

[efxjim]

Trunk and frunk bulbs are not up gradable. There is no replaceable element in the light.

 

[tdelta1000]

Trunk and frunk bulbs are not up gradable. There is no replaceable element in the light.

Is that a question or statement? In either case I made a suggestion about adding more lighting in the rear trunk area of the S and someone has already completed his mod.

 

[shokunin]

There are no drop-in trunk/frunk replacements, but they can be DIY modded to provide more light.

While dim, it actually hasn't bothered me too much. 99% of the time I'm either in a well lit parking lot, in my garage or driveway. I do go camping quite a bit with the kids, but I'd have my headlamp on anyways.

 

[Francis Lau]

Just installed the new lamps and it looks great. So much brighter. Here are some pics:

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Thanks @araxara. These are the lamps from his eBay link.

 

[Jeeps17]

Araxara,

Thank you for sharing your find and pictures! This will definitely be my first mod :smile:

Which bulbs did you decide to keep in the end (1W vs. 1.5W)?


Francis,

Did you add any extra insulation?

Thank you for the pictures!

 

[araxara]

Just installed the new lamps and it looks great. So much brighter.

It's funny how the LEDs bring out the blue color of the car. I originally wanted blue, but it was too dark.

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Which bulbs did you decide to keep in the end (1W vs. 1.5W)? Did you add any extra insulation?

Since I placed the 1W LEDs in there last, I decide to keep those on the car. The 1.5W LEDs seemed to illuminate the road allot more and it's generally against the law to have a white light shining out the back of your car. A pair of 1W LEDs are also much cheaper ($6 shipped). A pair of 1.5W LEDs are around $18 shipped.

I did add insulation, but the 1W LEDs where held in very securely by the plastic housing which keeps them from moving side to side, so I don't think it's necessary.

 

[Francis Lau]

Francis,

Did you add any extra insulation?

Thank you for the pictures!

I did not add any insulation, the plastic clip held the lamps tightly.

Here's a tip, I put in the lamps and tested them out before i put in the screws. One did not light up, I adjusted its position in the holder, then it worked. I then put in the screws.

- - - Updated - - -

Since I placed the 1W LEDs in there last, I decide to keep those on the car. The 1.5W LEDs seemed to illuminate the road allot more and it's generally against the law to have a white light shining out the back of your car. A pair of 1W LEDs are also much cheaper ($6 shipped). A pair of 1.5W LEDs are around $18 shipped.

I did add insulation, but the 1W LEDs where held in very securely by the plastic housing which keeps them from moving side to side, so I don't think it's necessary.

I bought the ones at http://www.ebay.com/itm/261131029056, $6 for 2. Are these 1-watt? Title says 1-watt but details says 2-watt.

 

[aaron.s]

Thanks Guys!

Just ordered these as well! Car coming next week!

Aaron

 

[artsci]

Here is a comparison between the 1.5W LED (on left) and the 1W LED (on right). I let the picture be a little overexposed so you can see the differences. If you can't tell, the 1.5W LED is a bit brighter.
View attachment 14770

A big improvement but I'm not sure I like the shadow cast over the upper middle of the plate. There's got to be a way to make the light more even. An LED strip perhaps?

 

[jerry33]

A big improvement but I'm not sure I like the shadow cast over the upper middle of the plate.

It probably looks much more even in person than it does it the picture. Photography doesn't do the eye-brain thing yet.

 

[artsci]

It probably looks much more even in person than it does it the picture. Photography doesn't do the eye-brain thing yet.

Thanks. That's good to know. It did seem rather extreme in the photos.

 

[K Hall]

You can see a clear difference in the bulbs. Thanks for the heads up araxara. By the way, the Model X in Detroit had the white LED bulbs on the licence plate.

 

[FlasherZ]

You can see a clear difference in the bulbs. Thanks for the heads up araxara. By the way, the Model X in Detroit had the white LED bulbs on the licence plate.

Installed mine this morning as well. Night and day difference - love those white bulbs.

 

[steve841]

So, is everyone grabbing the LED's from the link on page 1????

 

[Lloyd]

I bought on Amazon, the ones listed there seemed to have a better heat sink.

 

[steve841]

I bought on Amazon, the ones listed there seemed to have a better heat sink.

Would you mind to throw up a link?

 

[K Hall]

So, is everyone grabbing the LED's from the link on page 1????

Hi Steve:

I bought them off ebay using the link on page 1 for about $6.00.

 

[Lloyd]

I believe this is the one I bought.

http://www.amazon.com/2-SMD-Canbus-Error-Light-Bulbs/dp/B006S8YOBO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1358900320&sr=8-5&keywords=6418+C5W

The ones on e-bay may be better as they do not need to be Canbus error free.

 

[FlasherZ]

I purchased the set off eBay.

One thing to note: it is possible to reinstall the clear lenses backwards. It was tempting simply to turn the plastic around when I had the polarity of the LED wrong, I started to put the screws in, then noticed that the lenses are slightly "D" shaped. So be careful that you don't reinstall them the wrong way.