In the interest of keeping my cat cool, I replaced the standard parking light globes and the licence number plate globes with LEDs for a cool white illumination.

Indeed, my car looked much cooler in those LEDs. But soon, spooky things started happening. For example, the park lights LEDs would go on by themselves at night when strong winds shook the car or when any of the front doors was opened, regardless of the light switch position being on auto or off positions. I searched for answers and found none. I ignored the problem and now I occasionally have a flat battery in the morning.

Now, some of the lights on the LED globe are off with a few remaining, implying that soon the whole globe will burn out.

These LEDs don't seem like a good buy apart from aesthetics, as they do not last very long like the standard warm white globes.

Or has anyone had a different experience with LEDs? If so, what LED globes have you got and for how long have they been used?

 

I experimented with a few LED bulbs on both the X-Type and the VDP using cheap Chinese bulbs and costly others. The cheap Chinese bulbs would not last for more then 2 months (a couple did not last a full day!). The current LED bulbs in the X-Type are about 1 yr old and on the VDP, about 8 months old. I will have to search my records to locate the source, will let you know where when I find it.

A few other forum members have LED bulbs with photos, try doing a search for "LED".

 

I purchased LEDs from www.superbriteleds.com and have been quite happy with them so far. Other LEDs I purchased in the past have been lower quality.

good luck

RyeJag

 

They are likely ALL from China.

In any type of goods, made in any country, there is a range of qualities offered to the consumer.

If you bought the cheapest you could find based only on price it is not the country's fault. Especially when your more expensive replacements also come from the same country.

 

+1 for www.superbriteleds.com

 

Thank you all for your replies and advice. I also tried the brighter ones for foglights but they were too big to fit in the bulb slot. I will visit superbriteleds.

 

Which style of 194 led bulbs work best in the front parking lights? Is there a certain height that can't fit? I heard they burn out with the heat of the high beams but once I get my low beams fixed I rarely use high beams. Oops sorry I mean for the x-type...

 

Photos on LED Park lights. I modified the bulb holder to make the removal process a lot easier.

 

I use SMD LED lights in my 350.
The front parking lights I removed from my old Volvo, so they are two and a half years old and still going strong. The number plate lights are similar items which came from my recently ordered stock pile of 501 SMDs.
I always order my lamps from ebay Chinese suppliers..

 

I like the look. Where did you order your LEDs from? Part#? How did you modify the holder?

 

I got the Park Light LEDs here:
2X HID White LED Bulbs 9 SMD Reverse Backup Lights Map | eBay

Interior Front, Pax and Driver LED lights:
2pcs 2825 W5W Error Free Samsung 3W High Power LED Bulb Mercedes Benz Eyelid 4D | eBay

Front and rear Foot Well LED lights:
Just Came Out OSRAM Chip 1x 39mm 9W 3 SMD LED White Map Dome Festoon Light Bulb | eBay

Front Main Light from AutoZone and the rear Upper Hand-Hold lights are also LEDs.

Trunk/Boot LED lights similar to:
2 Xenon White 1 25" 31mm 12 SMD 1210 DE3175 DE3022 LED Bulbs for Car Interior | eBay

 

I modified the Bulb Holder by clipping the 2 Tabs that hold them in place. The wiring will keep them in place.

 

So just the force of the wires is enough to seal the socket and bulbs in place? I'd think you get moisture in the fixture.

 

No CAN BUS issue / errors with these? I see the same seller has CAN BUS approved lights as well.

 

The access cover seals out moisture, there is no moisture seal on the bulb holder.