Led Tail Lights.. Whats the verdict

[MattUK]

Hi,

So I am not tbh much of a modder other than changing bits which don't require declaring on the insurance. One of the mods I have been considering is Led tail lights and I have been reading up on the various threads here which cover them.

It would seem that BMTown, and Dectone have been mentioned alot as possible suppliers - but I have also heard of a few instances where the lights have caused issues with the DIS, declaring bulbs are missing etc - or showing to have odd behavour.

What I am looking for is peoples opinions at the moment.. I am sure quite a few owners here have had them on their cars for a while - whats your opinion.. still worth considering - or a pain in the Ar*e

Is it better to look a the ones which have Led indicators - or is it more reliable with the units which still use bulbs for indicators/reverse lights ?

My avant is Moro Blue in colour so I would assume the more standard colour taillights would work best rather then the various smoked designs ?

All info welcome!

Cheers
Matt

 

[NHN]

TBH Matt they can easily make a nice car look very tacky, so choose wisely, as I've seen some units & they stood out like a sore thumb tbh mate.

 

[hades-]

Tuning FK Automotive | Search - audi b7 led lights | purchase online


below are better quality the b8 fl look are good seen them in person look very good

https://www.dectane.de/LITEC-tail-lights/?XTCsid=gae6303584iqtaphmefq9df510

 

[MattUK]

Very true - no point in doing it if the lights are tacky - I think they would have to be quite subtle..

 

[NHN]

TBH these would probably suit better given the car colour & you cant see the lenses so wouldn't look tacky:

https://www.dectane.de/TAILLIGHTS/T...e-3914.html?XTCsid=gae6303584iqtaphmefq9df510

The FK ones look awful & would stick out like a sore thumb on 1st glance.

 

[MattUK]

Yeah they look pretty good..

 

[Molnboman]

I struggled with this dilemma too....I was close to buying them but at the last minute bottled it cause I thought they would look too modern for the age of my car and also that some brands of led lights I looked at, appeared a wee bit cheesy. Instead, I wrapped my originals in tint, to darken the bright lenses down a bit at the back and used the money I saved on other mods. Each to their own...Go for it if it makes you feel good!
BR
A

 

[ruairi83]

I was in same boat about month ago. Got the dectane ones and glad I got them.

heres few before and afters

hope this helps might not be to every ones taste but they make a big difference to my car at back with strip and badge done black

 

[DieselJake]

Mines a b6 but the LED's definitely improved the rear, was worried about lights fading or breaking but they've been in over a year now and are just as good as the day they came. My advice is also fit number plate LED's and front HID's so it all matches up. Shouldn't look tacky at all in my opinion, people will just think the car's newer than it is.

 

[jdp1962]

I was in same boat about month ago. Got the dectane ones and glad I got them.

heres few before and afters

hope this helps might not be to every ones taste but they make a big difference to my car at back with strip and badge done black

i have the same set on mine. They're made by Dectane and in my case, were supplied by BM-Town. Everything on them was LED except for the reversing light, and error cancellation is built in. As for the reversing lights, I changed the bulbs to LED ones, combined with inline resistors. Now it's 100% LED at the back, and I love it.

Click here for details.

 

[MattUK]

So no one has had any issues with errors from the LEd's ? Something to consider.. I like a simple mod

 

[skyinsurance]

So I am not tbh much of a modder other than changing bits which don't require declaring on the insurance. One of the mods I have been considering is Led tail lights and I have been reading up on the various threads here which cover them.

That statement is worrying.

Which modifications are you carrying out that do not need to be disclosed to your insurers?

 

[MattUK]

Light bulbs.. interior trim, stereo.. etc.. I am not refering to suspension/engine/mapping etc etc

 

[skyinsurance]

Light bulbs.. interior trim, stereo.. etc.. I am not refering to suspension/engine/mapping etc etc

Insurers (unless you have an agreement with your own) need to know about every change you make to the vehicle, be it changing a bit of interior trim to fitting a V8 engine. I would strongly suggest you contact your insurers. The minor modifications you mention should not effect the price you pay if you are with a modification friendly insurer.

 

[A4_MaJiK]

Insurers (unless you have an agreement with your own) need to know about every change you make to the vehicle, be it changing a bit of interior trim to fitting a V8 engine. I would strongly suggest you contact your insurers. The minor modifications you mention should not effect the price you pay if you are with a modification friendly insurer.

I for one disagree with this comment. Insurance companies will charge what they like as it is a legal requirement. I got quoted £15,000 to insure my car on a comparison site...

On a side note, I've fitted a jelly belly air freshener around my rear view mirror. Should this need declaring? I wouldn't want my insurance company voiding my insurance or having me pay more because this air freshener may be a distraction...

OP: Sorry for going off topic, but I felt the need to comment.

PS: Not a fan of the LED rears on the B7, don't think they suit it well but that's just my opinon.

 

[MattUK]

, well I think I will pass on any further mods at the moment.. I rang my insurance company anyhow about the cars "optional extras" - I had not heard that before so I thought I would check.

So if it came out of the factory with it (I went through the list parking sensors/cruise/satnav etc) they are not fussed and I did not need to mention them only aftermarket mods. Whislt on the phone I asked about fitting winter tyres.. a few odd questions later where they mumbled about it having to be a aftermarket mod (WTF) they said the current underwriter could not insure with those options... bonkers. SO I guess no winter tyres this year - I will wait until renewal.

Unbelieveable - but now I am wandering off topic.

 

[NHN]

, well I think I will pass on any further mods at the moment.. I rang my insurance company anyhow about the cars "optional extras" - I had not heard that before so I thought I would check.

So if it came out of the factory with it (I went through the list parking sensors/cruise/satnav etc) they are not fussed and I did not need to mention them only aftermarket mods. Whislt on the phone I asked about fitting winter tyres.. a few odd questions later where they mumbled about it having to be a aftermarket mod (WTF) they said the current underwriter could not insure with those options... bonkers. SO I guess no winter tyres this year - I will wait until renewal.

Unbelieveable - but now I am wandering off topic.

They consider winter tyres which are used for more safety factors than anything, would invalidate the insurance, I mean seriously wtf, I suggest you find another insurer as I would consider that a good client wanting to be safer in harsher environments, which is a positive thing.

I have to agree tbh, its becoming a bit silly with insurers needing to know the ins/outs of a ducks backside on something's that simply would not effect the way the car is quoted.

Interior trim, interior lights, cruise control etc, its just imho another excuse to charge extra when in reality if you went & got a quote stating all these things were factory, it would probably come out the same or less for a car that didn't come out with them fitted.

I'm not on a crusade against insurers, but it just reads that people are being ripped of for things they should definitely not be, its a joke.

 

[skyinsurance]

I for one disagree with this comment. Insurance companies will charge what they like as it is a legal requirement. I got quoted £15,000 to insure my car on a comparison site...

A comparison site isn't exactly the best place to look for modified car insurance, these sites are set up predominantly for standard UK car insurance. With a specialist insurer, minor cosmetic modifications will not effect the price you pay.

On a side note, I've fitted a jelly belly air freshener around my rear view mirror. Should this need declaring? I wouldn't want my insurance company voiding my insurance or having me pay more because this air freshener may be a distraction...

You can put whatever spin you like on it but the advice I offer of declaring modifications means you will not have issues when it comes to having a claim and when an insurance assessor goes over your car with a fine tooth comb to reveal all of the non-declared changes made to the vehicle.

 

[skyinsurance]

So if it came out of the factory with it (I went through the list parking sensors/cruise/satnav etc) they are not fussed and I did not need to mention them only aftermarket mods. Whislt on the phone I asked about fitting winter tyres.. a few odd questions later where they mumbled about it having to be a aftermarket mod (WTF) they said the current underwriter could not insure with those options... bonkers. SO I guess no winter tyres this year - I will wait until renewal.

Unbelieveable - but now I am wandering off topic.

Call them back and speak to a manager. Winter tyres should not be an issue to declare as long as they are within the manufacturers specified sizes.

 

[skyinsurance]

I have to agree tbh, its becoming a bit silly with insurers needing to know the ins/outs of a ducks backside on something's that simply would not effect the way the car is quoted.

The thing is, what Joe Public think may not effect the risk to insurers can and will. Eg, a vinyl wrap in bright green. It is not going to alter performance, it is not a permanent change so therefore some might deduce that it's a non-declarable modification.

From an insurers perspective, that bright green wrap sticks out like a sore thumb and makes the car more of a risk.

Where do you dear the line as to what to declare? The minor cosmetic change? The vinyl wrap? The exhaust and induction kit? The Turbo upgrade? The Nos Install? The V8 engine swap?

Declare all changes and you cannot go wrong.

Non-declare and you can go seriously wrong.

 

[NHN]

A comparison site isn't exactly the best place to look for modified car insurance, these sites are set up predominantly for standard UK car insurance. With a specialist insurer, minor cosmetic modifications "SHOULDNT" effect the price you pay.



You can put whatever spin you like on it but the advice I offer of declaring modifications means you will not have issues when it comes to having a claim and when an insurance assessor goes over your car with a fine tooth comb to reveal all of the non-declared changes made to the vehicle.

I've edited that slightly for you, just incase it comes back to bite you in the butt

 

[skyinsurance]

I've edited that slightly for you, just incase it comes back to bite you in the butt

You are right to edit that, I cannot speak for every insurer out there.

Sorry to take this thread off topic but as I say, that opening statement worried me.

You can take or leave the advice offered but it is sound advice.

Thanks

 

[A4_MaJiK]

A comparison site isn't exactly the best place to look for modified car insurance, these sites are set up predominantly for standard UK car insurance. With a specialist insurer, minor cosmetic modifications will not effect the price you pay.



You can put whatever spin you like on it but the advice I offer of declaring modifications means you will not have issues when it comes to having a claim and when an insurance assessor goes over your car with a fine tooth comb to reveal all of the non-declared changes made to the vehicle.

FYI, I was looking at non-modified quotes so didn't expect to see such high insurance quotes.

But anyway, would you propose I should declare this Jelly Belly air freshener? It is the pink one by the way, which happens to smell of bubblegum (I'm quite risky like that). Fingers crossed this minor modification doesn't affect my premium.

 

[skyinsurance]

But anyway, would you propose I should declare this Jelly Belly air freshener? It is the pink one by the way, which happens to smell of bubblegum (I'm quite risky like that). Fingers crossed this minor modification doesn't affect my premium.

 

[MattUK]

Argh.. I have the most usless underwriters it seems... they were not bothered about the winter tyres in the end.. just the fact I wanted a second set of alloys to put them on which they saw as a mod and would not cover.

I guess I will have to choose my insurance company next year with alot more care!

 

[skyinsurance]

Argh.. I have the most usless underwriters it seems... they were not bothered about the winter tyres in the end.. just the fact I wanted a second set of alloys to put them on which they saw as a mod and would not cover.

I guess I will have to choose my insurance company next year with alot more care!

Suspected as much, in fact I was almost going to ask if you if there was a change of wheels as well.

It's always worth shopping around, even if you are mid-policy.

 

[MattUK]

The other option is to stick all seasons on my 18"s and be done with it , I will have to wait until this year is up - I want the NCD bump !

But I will doing lots more quotes next year...

Thanks

Matt

 

[NHN]

The wheels are a step down to 17's & they're original audi ones, so infact it would make his car less attractive( no offence matt) to would be thieves, so how the hell they wont cover that is beyond me.

Tell me something, if we make our cars less attractive to car thieves, as Matt is trying too do we get a discount, like insurance want to charge us more if we change a wiper blade

 

[NHN]

The thing is, what Joe Public think may not effect the risk to insurers can and will. Eg, a vinyl wrap in bright green. It is no going to alter performance, it is not a permanent change so therefore some might deduce that it's a non-declarable modification.

From an insurers perspective, that bright green wrap sticks out like a sore thumb and makes the car more of a risk.

Where do you dear the line as to what to declare? The minor cosmetic change? The vinyl wrap? The exhaust and induction kit? The Turbo upgrade? The Nos Install? The V8 engine swap?

Declare all changes and you cannot go wrong.

Non-declare and you can go seriously wrong.

I think you may have gauged by my tone & posts, I had some common sense logic of not talking about luminous green car wraps etc that would obviously require private security to ward of the non working scum.

Yes I agree if the engine has been replaced for one from a jet aircraft, then this would need declaring, I think you get my point, but of course there are allot of people that just don't use logic & see what obvious changes will be seen as something worthwhile removing from there ownership as such, I do understand this, but there are allot of people that also understand the logic & still get ripped daily over ridiculous things.

 

[MattUK]

The wheels are a step down to 17's & they're original audi ones, so infact it would make his car less attractive( no offence matt) to would be thieves

None taken.. I would have gone for steels had they been cheap enough.. but hey thats me £500 better off for now

 

[skyinsurance]

but there are allot of people that also understand the logic & still get ripped daily over ridiculous things.

Indeed and hopefully the more intelligent reading will see the undertones of my post suggest that if you have modified car then you should be speak to a modified car insurance specialist.

Sorry again to take this off topic, with my points made and understood (hopefully) I'm off.

 

[MattUK]

Indeed and hopefully the more intelligent reading will see the undertones of my post suggest that if you have modified car then you should be speak to a modified car insurance specialist.

Or if you own a standard car (with factory options) and 2 sets of wheels

 

[sidibear]

Guys, its as simple as this, if you do any changes to your car, regardless of what it is, call your insurance company and tell them.
Even if it costs you a bit more, its will still be a lot cheaper than having your insurance cancelled for not telling them.

Or worse, no payout if you need to claim.

 

[DieselJake]

This thread totally opened my eyes to skyinsurance, expect a call from me within the next couple weeks :icon_thumright:

 

[TOM.S]

Yeah Yeah bla bla bla...
Insurance companies in general are nothing but a bunch of thieves , scumbags!
charge You a fortune for basic ,simple things.
yet come the the time , when You make a claim and the have to pay a penny they go questioning everything even things that an authorised audi dealer done for you and are nothing but standard.
so in the end an insurer to me is pretty much the same as a bloke trying to break into my car.
sorry if these words are too harsh,but the above mentioned things just really upset me.

 

[DieselJake]

Hate them myself but we need them to be on the road, better to be with a company that knows as much about the car as the owner just to be on the safe side.