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SJM2018

Member Since: 06 Jul 2018
Location: Bristol
Posts: 296

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Aintree Green

LED lights (not headlights)

The high level brake and reversing light have recently blown, so decided to swap all my lights (other than headlights) over to LED.

For those that are interested, I bought them from Classic Car LEDs - https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/ - product code in square brackets.

Rear side / brake: 380 Red x 2 [12VSTC_1]
Fog and high level brake: 382 Red x 2 [12V15SCR_2]
Reverse: 382 Warm White x 1 [12V15S21WW]
Front side lights: 207 Warm white x 2 [12V15SWW]
Number plate: 233 Warm white x 2 [12VBA9HPWW] (These are very bright, so one is probably enough)
Interior roof lights: Festoon 38-39mm Warm white x 2 [12V39WW] (The actual size is meant to be 36mm, but the 35-37mm was too small in mine)

Bought but not fitted as waiting for the updated relay:

Front and rear indicators: 382 Amber x 4 [12VINDSH]
Side indicators: 233 Amber x 2 [12VBA9HPAM]

Total cost £125 delivered.

They have a guide on their website and I think the above fit all defenders from 1983 onwards (they all fit my 2011).

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1109/509...8595790380

With the engine running, there's not a huge difference. However, just on the battery they're noticeably brighter.

My lenses are all coloured, but decided to get the coloured bulbs too, as I've read that going for plain white can wash the colour out.

Really happy with the look, hopefully I won't have to replace any of them for years and pleased I've taken a little bit of strain off the wiring.

Next, I need to save some money for a set of Noldens!! 2011 CSW XS 90

25th Jan 2022 3:18pm

camelman

Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3321

You're unlikely to have an issue but unfortunately, they're not actually legal as the light housings weren't approved for use with LED bulbs.

The bulbs themselves are shown as CE but its the combination of a bulb that isn't approved for the housing that is the problem.

The regs ( www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/part/II/made ) state:

"Filament lamps
14.—(1) Where a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986 or any trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985 is equipped with any lamp of a type that is required by any Schedule to these Regulations to be marked with an approval mark, no filament lamp other than a filament lamp referred to in the Designation of Approval Marks Regulations in–

(a)regulation 4 and Schedule 2, items 2 or 2A, 8, 20, 37 or 37A; or
(b)regulation 5 and Schedule 4, item 18,
shall be fitted to any such lamp."

Last edited by camelman on 25th Jan 2022 4:37pm. Edited 1 time in total

25th Jan 2022 3:23pm

SJM2018

Member Since: 06 Jul 2018
Location: Bristol
Posts: 296

Just had a read and hadn't realised they were not approved - assumed it was just headlights that were the issue, given low quality / poorly designed and/or fitted, HID / LEDs could dazzle other drivers.

Having read the Schedules, the issue other than 'filament lamp' vs LED, appears to be around having sufficient wattage to be visible.

It's bonkers that regulations drafted ~30 years ago, prevent the adoption of different technologies.

A better metric, would have been lumens or candelas.

I'm not going to remove them though; its unlikely to result in an MOT failure, they're not obnoxiously bright (so shouldn't annoy other road users / get me pulled by the fuzz) and I doubt the insurers would check if it were written off.

The only issue I can see is if you had a serious accident and they claimed you weren't indicating / didn't have your lights on.

I don't know whether it's still the case, but forensic use to check the filaments for signs of cold shock vs. distortions / fragments of glass / plastic melted into it, which would confirm whether you were indicting / had your lights on. 2011 CSW XS 90

25th Jan 2022 4:10pm

MatLandy

Member Since: 11 Sep 2020
Location: Paris
Posts: 176

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver

I got inspired by the OP to go the LED bulb route, so thought i might as well share my experience here.

For the rear, I wanted the brake lights to light up immediatly when I press the pedal, just like all the other cars nowadays. Not progressively like a filament bulbs. The advice from Classic Car LEDs is to use red coloured LED even behind red coloured lens, as they explain white LED has very little red. This is very true, I made the mistake in the first place, so I know

Anyway, these are the LEDs I now have for brake lights and that I'm happy with:
Rear side / brake (P21/5W) : 380 Red x2 [12VSTLRED] -> claimed to be their brightest with 700 Lumen
High Level brake (P21W) : 382 Red x 1 [12V382RED] -> also 700 Lumen

For the front side lights, as I have crystal headlights with Osram Night Breaker +200% halogen bulbs that are 3900K, the warm white of the original filament sidelights was looking almost yellow compared to the headlights, and this did not look right to me. I tried a warm white LED (3000K) and pure white LED (6000K) in the sidelight, but still was not happy. For some reason, I could not find a LED bulb with a BA15S base and around 4000K, to match the headlight. So in the end, I went for some cheap T10 to BA15S adaptor from the far east, coupled with T10 philips LED bulbs at 4000K. Very happy with the results, have already driven +1000km at night with them with no issue

Now I know this is not MOT compliant, but I also know this will not be picked up either (at least here in France).

/Mat

Click image to enlarge

2nd Mar 2022 7:52pm

chek

Member Since: 17 Sep 2015
Location: ZRH
Posts: 181

Hi, just curious: Are the stop light bulbs (12VSTLRED) not too long and touch the glass?

17th Mar 2022 1:45pm

MatLandy

Member Since: 11 Sep 2020
Location: Paris
Posts: 176

The stop light bulbs (12VSTLRED) are rather long and indeed very close to the glass once fitted, but just not touching it. I would say they clear the glass by about 1mm, but diffucult to measure precisely.

/Mat

20th Mar 2022 7:45pm

chek

Member Since: 17 Sep 2015
Location: ZRH
Posts: 181

Thank you MatLandy!

21st Mar 2022 10:43am

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2664

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey

Can I ask specifically about the reversing light please? My drive (gateposts really!) seem to miss the streetlighting and hard to see... I have been looking to improve the reversing light for a while. I did put a supposedly brighter LED in the reversing light but it's really still not enough!

Cheers! Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

21st Mar 2022 10:59am

MatLandy

Member Since: 11 Sep 2020
Location: Paris
Posts: 176

I cannot say about the reversing light, as this is one that I have not upgraded to LED as yet.
/Mat

21st Mar 2022 3:41pm

ak615

Member Since: 22 Aug 2018
Location: essex
Posts: 174

I have the reversing light it is literally brilliant, well worth it.

21st Mar 2022 7:59pm

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