Rear bulb upgrade suggestions?

[BRAD M]

I wanted to know if anyone has changed their standard bulbs to brighter ones?.

I am specifically looking at changing the reversing bulb, and the two number plate lights to brighter ones.

I don't want the new LED light clusters to replace the rear units.

Cheers

Brad

[Mjolinor]

I doubt that would be legal. Number plate lights have no power specified but reversing lights are 24 watt maximum. (I think) Google will tell you if that is fact I suppose.

 

[Vandals01]

The reverse light on Aygo MK2 is P21W(382) There are plenty of LED to choose from.  E.g:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263340569417 

This one I've fitted to several cars and they all pass MOT without any issue(s).

 

Now, the number plates uses w5w(501).  You can get LED ones as well and it will pass MOT (as long as both bulbs gives off the same colour).  However, the problem is most of the 501 LED bulb DO NOT LAST even though it claims it has operation life of 5000+ hours.

I had bulbs that lasted months but a vast majority only lasted about a week or two.  Reason number 1 is because of Made In China.  Reason number 2 is because most of these bulb are designed to handle 12v.  When a car is running, the voltage actually goes up to 14 to 14.7v.  The extra 2 to 2.7v will significantly shorten the LED's life span.

Out of all of the 501 I've tested so far, I had the biggest success with:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225536244042  (where the LED is sealed in a resin proxy)

Out of the 5 bulbs I've fitted, the first one went bad was 3 months.  Note if it does not light up, flip the bulb 180 degrees (LED are sensitive in their Positive and Negative.  If you had it in the wrong way, it will not work).

 

** Although the 382 also designed for 12v but the 382 tends to last longer.  Maybe it's because the short operating hours - how often and how long did you put the car in reverse compared to the licence plate (pretty much ON all the time when you had the headlights on)

[BRAD M]

Cheers, I will have a look.😁