MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - LED Stop/Tail Light bulbs

Hi Folks

Has anybody trialed the LED stop/tail lamp bulbs. I was thinking of trying them out to find if they where brighter and better. I understand they last considerably longer then normal bulbs.
Can anyboby give advice.
Thanks.

Peter
Peter Haigh

Hi Peter.

LEDs have a virtually infinite life in theory, but I have heard of people having problems with LED replacement instrument bulbs overheating and failing.

I suspect that there may be a reliability issue with replacement bulbs that is related to the limited operating voltage range that a LED will tolerate.
LEDs operate happily at about 2.1V (red) so must be connected in series sets (of 5 ?) for automotive use along with a series current limiting device.
A replacement bulb must operate with a voltage that could vary from that of a slightly flat battery (say 11V) to that of a dynamo at full output (about 15V) which makes getting the current limiting device 'right' fairly challenging.

They do consume less power for a given light output, but can have quite a limited viewing angle (ie they don't show up well unless viewed 'head on'.

My personal view is that as conventional bulbs have an adequate lifespan and are significantly cheaper than LED units they remain the best option for applications where replacement is relatively easy.
Applications where replacement involves grovelling about under the dashboard may be a different matter.

Don
Don

I've got one in the rear of my Triumpg Bonneville. It's a definite upgrade. It's much brighter and has withstood the "subtle" vibration of the 650. I followed two 'Bs at MG2006. One with LEDs one with incandescent. The LEDs were noticeably brighter. The off-the-shelf bulbs only work with negative Earth vehicles.
Kemper

I've seen comparative photos of standard bulbs against LED stop-tails, and the problem with the LEDs used in that trial was the much lower differentiation between tail and stop with the LEDs. This is a safety hazard, much like keeping your fog lights on when they are not needed (which is illegal). Unless you happen to be looking *at* the lights when the brakes are applied it is very easy to miss it. Don't forget modern car manufacturers use arrays of LEDs - as much as 30 in some cases - over a surface area many times larger than an MGB tail light lens. There are LED arrays in a similar sized and shaped package to the standard bulb available, which plug in to a standard socket, but they were not legal in the UK last time I looked. Far better in my book is to keep the standard tail light bulbs but add an LED 3rd brake light, which is far more likely to be noticed in the important bit which is braking.
Paul Hunt 2

I have them on my car. I think they are great. I drive all year, including rainy winter days on the motorway. I was never happy with the normal tail lights. The LEDs are considerably brighter and make the small car stand out a little more. My ones are very obviously brighter when I brake. Remember to get ones with LED's points sideways as well as back as LED's are much more directional than a standard buld. I think my bulbs had something like 27 LED's each. They are expensive compared to standard bulbs, but not in real terms. Something like £10-15 each, compared to £1 each for standard!

Iain
67 and 70 BGT
I D Cameron

FWIW, i tried the led's on my B, and didn't see any noticable difference so i went back to the regular bulbs.I gave the inside reflector metal a really good polish, and now they are all right for me

Ken
70 B
Ken Harris

Thankss for all your advice on this subject.
I will have to rethink the purchase of LED's

Peter
Peter Haigh

Peter ..

I have fitted all led bulbs to my 68... Front side and indicator, rear tail/stop and indicator.

They really do make an improvement, and are not so much more expensive any more.

As already stated you need the stop/tail with the LED's around the side as well, and if using the indicator LED's, get a proper LED flasher unit, and not those awful resistors as they are a bodge fix.

LED flasher unit available from ...
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=flasher&osCsid=bcaf205b9a51116aa3190a615fdbd182

Although not noticably brighter, they are certainly more obvious especially in bright weather.

Grahame
G J Slope

This thread was discussed between 02/08/2006 and 06/08/2006

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.