A Better Backup Bulb?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: Columbia MO
A Better Backup Bulb?
I hate the sickly yellow look of my backup lights, so I bought some 18 LED replacements bulbs, which look great, but only put out around 75% of the light. Has anyone found a pure white backup bulb that is at least "as bright" as OEM?
BTW: I don't want to pay the $$$ for the "diamond" cut backup assembly.
BTW: I don't want to pay the $$$ for the "diamond" cut backup assembly.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 700
Likes: 2
From: Spring Hill Florida
Warning
I posted this a week or so but be careful of those 50 watt halogen bulbs advertised. I installed a pair and it wasn't a week and one had burned out. When I tried to get it out, it had "welded" itself to the housing. After much cussing and a soldering gun it came out. I replaced it and upon checking to make sure they worked.....by the time I got around to the rear (turned on the ignition) it had started to burn a hole in the plastic housing! 
I put the 1157's back in and returned the halogen's. 
I put the 1157's back in and returned the halogen's.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: Columbia MO
I posted this a week or so but be careful of those 50 watt halogen bulbs advertised. I installed a pair and it wasn't a week and one had burned out. When I tried to get it out, it had "welded" itself to the housing. After much cussing and a soldering gun it came out. I replaced it and upon checking to make sure they worked.....by the time I got around to the rear (turned on the ignition) it had started to burn a hole in the plastic housing! I put the 1157's back in and returned the halogen's.
I put the 1157's back in and returned the halogen's. I assume that there's got to be a brighter, cleaner light that stays in the 35 watt range.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I like the Adjure unit too but way too expensive. If I could just figure a way to get the OEM housing open (safely) I would get the inside chrome plated. MUCH greater reflectivity and would greatly improve the light output onto the ground.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 0
From: Big Bear City CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Richard
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: Columbia MO
Don't get me wrong Richard, I think the diamond cut looks cool and I'm always watching "parts for sale" to pick one up on the cheap. I just don't want to spend the money. I already bought the $32 LEDs which I think look great, but I found that with the standard housing, just were not as effective as the crappy OEM bulbs.
Basically I'm looking for a $50 or less solution.
On the other hand, I am the ultimate impulse buyer, so you may see an order from me next week, you never know.
Basically I'm looking for a $50 or less solution.
On the other hand, I am the ultimate impulse buyer, so you may see an order from me next week, you never know.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 936
Likes: 8
From: England United Kingdom
hi here in the uk you have to have rear fog lights,so i mounted mine where the back up light bulbs where.i then drilled two small holes above
those bulbs,and placed 2 small blue halogen bulbs in,there bright.
and yeah the diamond back up assembly aint cheap but i love it.
when`s yer birthday
...you could try and put 2 of these blue bulbs in each lamp ,got em from autozone on holiday.
you can just see them in the b/up lamp housing..nitro uk
those bulbs,and placed 2 small blue halogen bulbs in,there bright.
and yeah the diamond back up assembly aint cheap but i love it.
when`s yer birthday
...you could try and put 2 of these blue bulbs in each lamp ,got em from autozone on holiday. you can just see them in the b/up lamp housing..nitro uk
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 0
From: Big Bear City CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Don't get me wrong Richard, I think the diamond cut looks cool and I'm always watching "parts for sale" to pick one up on the cheap. I just don't want to spend the money. I already bought the $32 LEDs which I think look great, but I found that with the standard housing, just were not as effective as the crappy OEM bulbs.
Basically I'm looking for a $50 or less solution.
On the other hand, I am the ultimate impulse buyer, so you may see an order from me next week, you never know.
Basically I'm looking for a $50 or less solution.
On the other hand, I am the ultimate impulse buyer, so you may see an order from me next week, you never know.
Although if I knew what you were planning to use them for, I would typically have advide against it. So I'm not sure if you bought them from us.Richard
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: Columbia MO
)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: Columbia MO
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
amperage draw could be solved with a relay if you really need tha much brightness, and the plastic is the same plastic used in most headlight housings. Since the bulb mount has a plastic mount, i wouldnt' be concerned about melting much. I may just give this a try and see if it will even fit.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,419
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
I got the high powered 1157-LX3 Luxeon LED bulbs from www.superbrightleds.com
They are just about as bright as the oem bulbs
They are just about as bright as the oem bulbs
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: Columbia MO
amperage draw could be solved with a relay if you really need tha much brightness, and the plastic is the same plastic used in most headlight housings. Since the bulb mount has a plastic mount, i wouldnt' be concerned about melting much. I may just give this a try and see if it will even fit.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 0
From: Big Bear City CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
I got the high powered 1157-LX3 Luxeon LED bulbs from www.superbrightleds.com
They are just about as bright as the oem bulbs
They are just about as bright as the oem bulbs
Richard
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Porjectors wouldn't be a bad idea...although it's unlikly to see them from the factory meaning there would be custom work involved. HID kits would pretty much be pointless considering the "charge" time and the expense of using them for about 30 seconds at the most any given night.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,879
Likes: 0
From: Plainfield Ill.
Well, without using the Adjure Clear back up lens, I almost positive that you won't be able to make it any more brighter than what it already is- even when using LED's -because the whitish tint on the OEM lens cuts part of the light out. I have the Adjure back up lens
and then I bought some Sylvannia Silverstars for the bulbs, although it now gives an amber illumination - it is brighter than the clear regular back up bulbs!
and then I bought some Sylvannia Silverstars for the bulbs, although it now gives an amber illumination - it is brighter than the clear regular back up bulbs!
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
this is why auxillary back up lights are so popular among truck owners. At one point I was thinking of mounting a set of them inside the rear facia vents. I think GM decided to do this properly with the C6.