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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 11:52 AM
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Default New LED bulbs

I'm feeling pretty good about myself right now and thought I'd share. After doing a bit of research, I ordered some LED brake and turn signal bulbs for our 2004 CE coupe. ALso had to order a relay that splices in between the emergency flasher unit and the tail lights.
Our car was ordered from the factory with european tail lights so we needed both the red and amber bulbs. But I didn't want to alter the car by putting in the "Halo-style" LEDs.
Now we wait for the post to bring them...
Glen
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 12:11 PM
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Congrats... I just did my interior w/ LED's. Got a set from that big auction website. Looks totally cherry (well actually they were the white ones) ...
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by olefam
I'm feeling pretty good about myself right now and thought I'd share. After doing a bit of research, I ordered some LED brake and turn signal bulbs for our 2004 CE coupe. ALso had to order a relay that splices in between the emergency flasher unit and the tail lights.
Our car was ordered from the factory with european tail lights so we needed both the red and amber bulbs. But I didn't want to alter the car by putting in the "Halo-style" LEDs.
Now we wait for the post to bring them...
Glen

Sounds great! Post some pics when you install them. I am currently running the Euro tail lights and I am considering installing some LED tail lights as well.

On an earlier thread, it was mentioned that the stock GM 2004 rear brake light is already LED. Is that correct?
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 03:53 PM
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I would also like to see pics and also wondering how bright they are instead of the stock bulbs. What bulbs did you get?
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 05:31 PM
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Good luck with the install. Looking forward to seeing them on the car.
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 05:42 PM
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Originally Posted by MSG C5

On an earlier thread, it was mentioned that the stock GM 2004 rear brake light is already LED. Is that correct?
the 3rd brake light is LED on all years of c5.

the tail lights are halogen on all years as well.
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 05:44 PM
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Originally Posted by nickwfd92
I would also like to see pics and also wondering how bright they are instead of the stock bulbs. What bulbs did you get?
LED bulbs in stock housings will not be as bright as stock bulbs.
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by jdmvette
the 3rd brake light is LED on all years of c5.

the tail lights are halogen on all years as well.

I thought that the tail lights are just regular tungsten bulbs ?
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 07:20 PM
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good luck with the install
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 07:24 PM
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I have two led lights just waiting to be installed
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 08:18 PM
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
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Originally Posted by Oldvetter
I thought that the tail lights are just regular tungsten bulbs ?
errrr....halogen, tungsten, incandescent... whichever the proper term is. :o
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Old Feb 6, 2009 | 08:37 PM
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Took me awhile to get back to the forum.
When I removed the stock bulbs they appeared to me to be plain Sylvania bulbs. Not Halogen or Tungsten. Probably incandescent.
They are ordinary-looking 3157 series bulbs in either amber (european turn signals) or clear (brake lights). Fronts are listed as 4157, but the 3157 will work equally well in amber.
I bought my LEDs from Super Bright Lights (SBL) and they acknowledge that one LED is less bright than one stock bulb. However, LEDs are clustered. In my case, I will receive 25 LEDs mounted to a circuit board small enough to fit into the stock tail light housing opening. These 25 together are supposed to equal or exceed the light output of the stock bulb. I am not stating this as fact. I am only repeating what I read on SBLs web site.
As for photographing this and posting, I would really like to do this. However, I don't know how to post a picture on this forum. I will report what I see and since I own a light meter, I will also take readings from the stock bulbs and compare those to the LEDs once they are installed.
Best wishes.
Glen
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 02:46 PM
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Were you able to take readings from the stock bulbs and compare those to the LEDs once they are installed?

Are towered or clustered LEDs brighter?
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 06:27 PM
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Mine were clusterd. Light meter readings indicated the bulbs I bought were equal to the stock bulbs. Brake lights were brighter according to the light meter.
I found that the LEDs produce a narrower pattern in daylight. But fill the entire stock housing at night - like stock bulbs.
Still haven't figured out how to post photos, and frankly, I've given up trying. For me, "word pictures" will have to do.
The most expensive part of this conversion was the electronic flasher I bought to avoid Hyperflash. But now that I have it, I'm redoing my front turn signal / DRL lights as well.
Best wishes.
Glen
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by jdmvette
LED bulbs in stock housings will not be as bright as stock bulbs.
I agree, Your stock tail light doesn't have the reflective stuff needed to make them work corectly, I have read where others have done this and they were not happy because they wern't very bright.
Good luck.
Bill
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