Upgraded reversing lamps.

[Charlie Farley]

I recall looking into this subject a while back but there wasn't much one could do about the rubbish output of the reversing lamps on the B7.
So is this still the case, do we still have to put up with very poor reversing illumination, one of the B7's more substandard areas.

Anyone have any news on the subject .

cheers
rob

 

[Pedrödelabongo]

All I can add is that if a decent pair of LED's are fitted, then resistors will be required.
All these ads for 'Error Free' and the like are lies!

 

[Charlie Farley]

I have yet to find a decent solution , if there is one then maybe somebody can enlighten us all.

 

[Sygh2k]

https://nickscarblog.com/diy/b7-audi-a4s4rs4-reverse-led-lights-diy

 

[Charlie Farley]

might give that a go , but kinda suspect its more of a cosmetic thing and probably does work better with a saloon than avant.

 

[Sygh2k]

I have 50w cree's with resistors in my avant and the difference is night and day, can actually see through the rear tint too. Cant give you any pics right now unfortunately as i have the engine/battery out with a spun rod shell/heavily damaged crank too.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=50w+cree&_sacat=0

 

[Charlie Farley]

Ok , thanks .
will give them a go.

 

[Gazwould]

Why have 50W when you can have 100W ?

 

[Charlie Farley]

can you expand on that a bit more.

 

[Gazwould]

Let there be light !

 

[UkRule's]

Same problem here, let us know if they are "error free" and suitable for our B7's

 

[Gazwould]

Weird thing is some will work in a Mercedes but not in a Corsa .

 

[UkRule's]

I have tried a few different ones from ebay and with all of them I had the error comming on the dashboard.

 

[Rob Avant]

Not the best picture taken quite some time ago and it wasn’t exactly dark.
The left is stock the right is 50w Cree LED (with resistors)
Makes a big difference reversing up the worlds tightest driveway in the dark!

 

[Charlie Farley]

Not the best picture taken quite some time ago and it wasn’t exactly dark.
The left is stock the right is 50w Cree LED (with resistors)
Makes a big difference reversing up the worlds tightest driveway in the dark!

View attachment 191459

Any issues with heat from them Rob, don't fancy melting the clusters..lol

 

[Rob Avant]

Any issues with heat from them Rob, don't fancy melting the clusters..lol

I’ve had the resistors installed behind the light clusters for over 3 years and not had any issues.
I noticed they got warm after a few minutes use (when I was installing them) although I don’t have the car in reverse for more than a minute at a time really.

 

[Pedrödelabongo]

Weird thing is some will work in a Mercedes but not in a Corsa .

LED bulbs don't work in a lot of Vauxhalls for some reason. Not in my GSi Carlton, but they did in my SE2 Calibra. Very odd.

 

[John2000s]

Friend of mine has the 50w Cree LED and he has no errors....I find them too bright!

 

[Sidrick]

Between coding out safety features or wanting to project the sun from the **** of your car, I struggle to follow some folk sometimes, haha.

 

[HOGG]

Yep i agree. Ive now covered my "white" bits with red lense tape to have all red rears

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[AlpineCab]

Not the best picture taken quite some time ago and it wasn’t exactly dark.
The left is stock the right is 50w Cree LED (with resistors)
Makes a big difference reversing up the worlds tightest driveway in the dark!

View attachment 191459

Sorry to be cheeky but any chance of a head-on shot?

got the same challenge of backing into a dark driveway and looking to do the same swap to some Crees.

swapping to some older LEDs last year was pointless as the stock was way brighter then the replacements, as the bulb is sort of hidden away with the reflectoer if that makes sense.

 

[Charlie Farley]

To be frank , I don't want a lighthouse effect , I just want to be able see what is behind me when I reverse around an unlit driveway .
With tinted rear window and side windows, factor in the pitch blackness outside = less than ideal conditions with my b7 candle power reverse lights.

 

[Gazwould]

3 vehicles with with 80-100W reversing CREE LED , not one negative .

 

[Charlie Farley]

looks like I will need to give them a go then..

 

[Charlie Farley]

Ok, if one was to go this route, any recommended and reliable source for said lamps...

 

[Rob Avant]

Sorry to be cheeky but any chance of a head-on shot?

got the same challenge of backing into a dark driveway and looking to do the same swap to some Crees.

swapping to some older LEDs last year was pointless as the stock was way brighter then the replacements, as the bulb is sort of hidden away with the reflectoer if that makes sense.

I’ll try and get some shots next time I use the car. The picture I posted doesn’t really do them justice. Definitely a big improvement over the stock candles.

 

[CHEZ]

Unless you do a lot of reversing, and the fact these get very warm and could potentially damage your rear lenses, I just do not get it.
I understand the appeal by some, but I personally wouldn't chance sticking basically a heater element in a sealed light, with zero ventilation or cooling.
Just my 2p
Feel free to throw darts at me.
I am a big boy lol.
I can handle it.

 

[Gazwould]

Daft as a brush , lol .

LED run cool as a cucumber compared to archaic halogen .

 

[Charlie Farley]

Our drive way is quite large but numerous obstacles , when it's dark it can be a real pain reversing without decent lamps, not helped by tinted glass.
Maybe its an old person thing..lol

 

[CHEZ]

Daft as a brush , lol .

LED run cool as a cucumber compared to archaic halogen .

Not the high power cree jobbies they dont lol.


I know how generally LEDs consume low watts, emit less heat, but high power cree types, or some high power cree types anyway do run hot.
Leave them on for 5mins and report back

 

[Gazwould]

3 vehicles , all 80-100W CREE LED , one 4 years , 3 years and 1 year , no issues .

 

[CHEZ]

3 vehicles , all 80-100W CREE LED , one 4 years , 3 years and 1 year , no issues .

They will be reliable yes.
Out live your car perhaps!
But leave your car in reverse while on the phone for 5mins for example and heat is generated.
A lot of heat compared to candle filaments.
Obviously common sense dictates here regarding useage.
Short term will be fine.
I don't really use my handbrake and leave my car in gear a lot, 5 mins in reverse while I do stuff can be bad

 

[Rob Avant]

50w CREE LEDs on mine, been in for over 3 years without a problem...I tested them for quite some time before leaving them in... zero heat from the bulbs, the resistors did warm up after 3 minutes or so. I only changed them as I have to reverse up an extremely tight driveway between two houses, in the dark, with tinted windows this was almost impossible with the stock yellow candles!