Most after market lights look like crap frankly, but what would you guys think of tail lights, that used the same design, but had lots of little LEDs in place of singular bulbs, like so in the bottom light I've 'photoshopped': Does anyone make something like this already? Do you think it would look tacky/ricey in real life? Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I haven't seen anything like it, I'm not a big fan of most LED taillights on older model cars. If you had the time and an old tail light you could make it up and see how it looks.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bax [View Post] I haven't seen anything like it, I'm not a big fan of most LED taillights on older model cars. If you had the time and an old tail light you could make it up and see how it looks. I do have a pair of old tail lights, I just wouldnt know where to start with that kind of thing :s I might ask some friends who are a bit more nerdy than I.

only thing i would do is get LED "globes" and have them slightly flashing ala ford gt and semi's - more visibility to others

Quote: Originally Posted by MaD_WoG [View Post] only thing i would do is get LED "globes" and have them slightly flashing ala ford gt and semi's - more visibility to others Go to your nearest truck supplies shop and browse their led marker lights for semis. you may be able to modify and mount something inside the existing housing, thus saving the lights from the tacky altezza type look you would get by having exposed led bulbs.

Quote: Originally Posted by Agent86 [View Post] Go to your nearest truck supplies shop and browse their led marker lights for semis. you may be able to modify and mount something inside the existing housing, thus saving the lights from the tacky altezza type look you would get by having exposed led bulbs. yeah, i woudnt have exposed led's...

I personally wouldn't bother... one its a grey area that your insurance company can take advantage of and refuse cover because the modification, and two it would be cop bait to have an 87 sedan rear end lit up like a Christmas tree... I wish you the best in your endeavours but I'd think more about it before hitting up dicksmith for 500 LEDs...

A good idea would be to try and get long strips tubed if you know what i mean going horizontally across the tailights instead of a hundred little led dots. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I think you have too much time on your hands, fresh VL Berlina tail lights dont look half bad actually.

I bought a set of the globes with LEDs that replace your existing globes and surprisingly they are not as bright as the original incandescent lamps. Also there was hardly any difference between your parkers and when you put on your brakes so they would be dangerous at night cause it would be hard to tell you are braking. The strip idea looks pretty cool, if somebody could make a set that looked ok I would buy them

Quote: Originally Posted by Antho [View Post] I bought a set of the globes with LEDs that replace your existing globes and surprisingly they are not as bright as the original incandescent lamps. Also there was hardly any difference between your parkers and when you put on your brakes so they would be dangerous at night cause it would be hard to tell you are braking. The strip idea looks pretty cool, if somebody could make a set that looked ok I would buy them Did the same thing here, with the LEDs... They were terrible globes. I guess all I'm really after is much brighter tail lights... You can barely see anything during the day. After driving my BA, and noticing at night that the reverse lights actually light up the area I'm reversing into, I want that for the VL aswell. ---------- Post added 21-06-10 at 22:07 ---------- Quote: Originally Posted by Boyracer [View Post] I think you have too much time on your hands, fresh VL Berlina tail lights dont look half bad actually. They look great. But even fresh, not bright at all.

I thought about this for a bit. Tracked down some LED brake light strips, but couldn't justify the expense to make something that could potentially end up looking more gay than elton john. Had two trains of thought regarding the "park lights" vs "brake lights". 1 was to run each 2nd row as the park lights, and have the remaining rows come on when the brakes come on. The other was to run all at 1/2 power for park lights and full power for brake lights. The circuitry to do either is readily available. Legallity of these would be subject to getting them engineered or at least ADR complied. Not sure on this process - but would be a bit of a hassel, I can imagine. Would have gone well with the Projector/HID headlights I was thinking of... but once again - I just don't have the cash to put into something that has a high chance of a) looking gay b) not working properly and pissing ppl off from being too bright/in thier eyes c) not legal - particularly since both the tail lights and headlights would bring so much attention to the car at night! and d) if not engineered/complied properly, how insurance would be affected. If I had the cash spare, I would give it a go... but I don't.

Further to the above, I have come across this advice from a legal stand point of replacement of rear tail lights (this is a quote from someone in the legal profession) Quote: The only requirements in regards to taillights is that a red light must be visible from 200m (at night obviously), and must not use more than 7W. As long as the smoking/tinting of the light does not impair visibility to the point where it is no visible from 200m, and is powered by less than 7W, it is quite legal. Edit - I really have to learn to type quicker! However i will point out there that there is no need for the taillights to be 'ADR approved' (in that they have undergone the appropriate tests and have been certified as such), as long as they adhere to ADR and legislative requirements, they are legal.

Most people here that tint their standard taillights with that tint in a can sh*t would be below what leds would provide anyway. It can be done, I'm just yet to see someone with enough effort. I have a spare set of calais taillights that I've been meaning to clean up, I was meant to send them to oldgold, if Neil still wants them, they are his, otherwise if they're still downstairs I donate them solely to the LED cause.

i know of a couple of ways to go about this, but they are both time and cost prohibitive.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bax [View Post] Most people here that tint their standard taillights with that tint in a can sh*t would be below what leds would provide anyway. It can be done, I'm just yet to see someone with enough effort. I have a spare set of calais taillights that I've been meaning to clean up, I was meant to send them to oldgold, if Neil still wants them, they are his, otherwise if they're still downstairs I donate them solely to the LED cause. Aw Bax you have quite the memory! I still want them, but if someone promises to do this LED thing and post about it I am happy to let them go to the cause of calaisturbo awesomeness. If not, maybe I'll give it a crack.

I would love to give it a go, but don't have the funds for all the LED parts. $$ need to go into more deserving places first.