LED Number Plate Lights

[71camaro]

Anyone ever run LEDs for the number plate lights? Can it be done without causing a fault? I know some lamps are made that can fool CAN-bus on newer cars, is that an issue in these? Thanks in advance.

[Iyole]

I have LED's throughout..... Cabin... Trunk and Number Plate...No Issues...

[71camaro]

Originally Posted by Iyole

I have LED's throughout..... Cabin... Trunk and Number Plate...No Issues...

Excellent! I have them in the cabin and trunk as well, just was unsure about the number plate lights.

[71camaro]

Have the LEDs in, WOW they are bright. Look great.

[sloss]

Originally Posted by 71camaro

I know some lamps are made that can fool CAN-bus on newer cars, is that an issue in these?

I've tried lots of these so called CAN BUS no fault LEDs and so far none have worked on my D3 A8 TDi.

I did the No Plate with LEDs with no problem, same with the vanity mirror lights.

The Parking Lights, DRLs and Fogs all required load resistors which negates saving power as a reason for doing them however they do look a lot better.

[ainarssems]

Nothing to do with CANbus. Power supply control monitors current flowing through bulbs, if it is out of specification it gives error. LED's use less power, therefore less current flowing which makes power supply control to think bulb has gone open circuit. Depends how tight tolerances are on each car. Our D2 and C5 did not need 501 LED's with built in built in resistors or extra resistors, worked fine with regular 501 LED's(but shows fault if no bulb or bulb open circuit), friends B6 was showing fault with regular LED's for sidelight 501's but it is fine with the ones that has built in resistors. It could be that current tolerances are tighter on D3.

[HPsauce]

I've just fitted (it's a long overdue job) LED numberplate lights - literally a few minutes ago.
The old festoon bulbs, 1998 originals, were "interesting" - I think "smoked" would be the best description .

Can't wait to see how the new LED's look at night in comparison as they already look a lot brighter, and I only used some oldish spares I had lying around - what I'd describe as the "bubble" type LED's (4 per unit in these) not the newer brighter SMD type.

I also took the bulb holders out completely and cleaned them. I think "over-engineered" describes them pretty well. Most cars have plastic mouldings that just clip in, these have a solid metal baseplate held in by a pair of 10mm hex-head bolts. The bolt heads looked corroded and I was concerned the whole bolt might be rotted, but they were fine it was mostly dirt and the threads were clean and shiny - I put a drop of oil on each of course before refixing.

The only bulbs left that "could" be dealt with now are the front sidelights, but they are a total swine to get at with the PF Xenon setup so I'll leave them alone while they're working OK. I never drive on just sidelights anyway.

[HPsauce]

Just for interest here's what the new lights look like at night, taken with a nasty phone camera.
You can also see how white and bright the interior LED's are.