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xxtrail



Member Since: 14 Mar 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 142

United Kingdom 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto Santorini Black
Can LEDs replace filament bulbs in the rear lamp clusters?

Sorry if this is covered elsewhere, I've been trawling the topics but can't identify one that covers this.

Do you know if anybody has fitted LEDs in their rear clusters I just want to fit LEDs as replacements.

I'm assuming that you'd need red LEDs for brake/running light bulbs and amber for indicators, as the colours might look pink and yellow if the LEDs are so bright. Also, if you can do this, where from and how much. Thanks. Was GS TD4 Auto, Privacy, Santorini with Tundra & Alpaca, Cold Climate Pack. Traded for Discovery Sport HSE Auto.

Post #162590 28th Nov 2012 8:49 pm
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chapsworth



Member Since: 03 Jan 2012
Location: Canterbury
Posts: 225

2011 Freelander 2 TD4_e XS Manual Baltic Blue

I've replaced my reversing lights and number plate lights, they seem to work OK.

I've found the polarity to be an issue on bayonet bulbs when trying to replace the interior map lights. May be an issue with the stop and indicator lamps.

Find what bulb types you need and have a look on eBay, plenty of choice. I have used fizzimo and they seem OK.

I think I paid less than a tenner.

Post #162593 28th Nov 2012 9:11 pm
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JST



Member Since: 01 Nov 2011
Location: Lizant
Posts: 1098

France 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Manual Narvik Black

The design of the LED is an issue. I have just tried fitting CREE rear LED stop/tail lamps and have abandoned the idea. Whereas the CREEs were bright, they gave out the wrong light pattern. Stood immediately behind the car they were OK but as soon as you moved to one side they were not good. This is because the reflectors are designed to work with a bulb that gives a wide angle of light spread (like a standard incandescent bulb). I will be staying with standard bulbs. John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

Post #162926 2nd Dec 2012 3:34 pm
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nicedayforit



Member Since: 06 Feb 2012
Location: Beside the Solway
Posts: 114

As above.
Light fittings on cars fitted with tungsten bulbs are tested and E marked as a unit using tungsten bulbs.
The light fittings are not tested using led bulbs and so are not E marked.
Hence the reason led bulbs are generally described as not for road use.
Led bulbs in light fittings made for tungsten bulbs simply do not work and are a source of MOT failures.
The newer light fittings using led bulbs are designed and tested accordingly and E marked.
If you look at them closely the reflectors in such fittings are totally different to those in tungsten fittings.
The exceptions I have come across are the use of 501 leds in front sidelights in place of 501 tungsten bulbs and numberplate lights where the fittings are a fairly basic design. Both of which give better results than tungsten bulbs.
Never used them in reverse lights.

Post #162933 2nd Dec 2012 4:00 pm
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fisha



Member Since: 28 Aug 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 299

Over the years, I've used various types of LED bulbs in various applications.

Whilst I've not yet tried the freelander, I'd be looking to fit canbus LED's for the rear light clusters, the ones that act as though they were filament bulbs so the ECU doesn't think that the bulb is missing ( which is often a problem with LED bulbs )

Other thing I've found is that the more LED's on the unit the better ... particularly the ones that throw light to the side of the bulb into the reflector area, and not directly backwards towards cars behind. As said by JST, as soon as you go off centre, the brightness drops. Bulbs which have a lot of side pointing LED's counter this.

Post #164498 15th Dec 2012 1:20 pm
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JST



Member Since: 01 Nov 2011
Location: Lizant
Posts: 1098

France 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Manual Narvik Black

Maybe these are worth a try:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Rear-Stop-Ta...=Model%3AF John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

Post #164521 15th Dec 2012 5:57 pm
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xxtrail



Member Since: 14 Mar 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 142

United Kingdom 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto Santorini Black

JST - they look interesting, so will you actually be trying them? Pricey but, if they work well, then probably worth it. Was GS TD4 Auto, Privacy, Santorini with Tundra & Alpaca, Cold Climate Pack. Traded for Discovery Sport HSE Auto.

Post #164582 16th Dec 2012 1:51 pm
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JST



Member Since: 01 Nov 2011
Location: Lizant
Posts: 1098

France 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Manual Narvik Black

Probably not due to having a large stock of standard bulbs to work through first! Very Happy John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

Post #164584 16th Dec 2012 2:25 pm
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chapsworth



Member Since: 03 Jan 2012
Location: Canterbury
Posts: 225

2011 Freelander 2 TD4_e XS Manual Baltic Blue

Probably give you polarity issues as per my earlier post......

Post #164589 16th Dec 2012 3:40 pm
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Dave007



Member Since: 11 Feb 2013
Location: Solihull
Posts: 171

United Kingdom 2010 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

Hi guys (& girls),

The Bay is awash with LED replacement bulbs and I am considering the usual internal/puddle/number plate LED upgrade. Looked on Halfords and ALL their LED bulbs have the following warning:

[u]For off road or show use only. Not legal for use on public highways. [u]

Anybody know if there is legislation / law on upgrading regular factory fit element type bulbs to LED's, especially external ones? Plenty of you guys on here have done these upgrades and I presume are happily driving around without attracting the wrath of the law.

Cheers

Post #174760 9th Mar 2013 5:45 pm
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