Poll

to newer style?

Yes
2 (15.4%)
No
11 (84.6%)

Total Members Voted: 12

Author Topic: Do I want to change my tail light?  (Read 3337 times)

Offline aquadorhj

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Do I want to change my tail light?
« on: April 18, 2014, 11:26:14 pm »
Currently on the car




newer style



....  i kinda like the old style, but thinking that outer look refresh would be good as well.
« Last Edit: April 18, 2014, 11:29:30 pm by aquadorhj »

Driving thrills makes my wallet lighter.. and therefore makes me faster because i'm shedding weight... :D

Offline pi314

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2014, 11:27:39 pm »
I think it's fine as-is... as much as I like spending other peoples' money  ;D

Offline HeliDriver

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2014, 11:32:20 pm »
Keep it stock. New ones look kinda ricey, IMO.

And what's with the XC-60? Extended test drive or did you buy one already?

Offline mmret

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2014, 11:39:28 pm »
Yeah, where's the Show and Shine?

Also keep the stockers IMO.
You can't just have your characters announce how they feel.
That makes me feel angry!

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Offline aquadorhj

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2014, 11:51:23 pm »
photos from a while back, when i had the volvo test driver.    ;D 

i haven't bought it.  too expensive for me, equipped the way i like it.


thank you for the opinions.  i guess i will keep the stockers.   ;)

Offline Snowman

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2014, 07:20:52 am »
Another vote for the stock look. LED kits stick out like s sore thumb.

Offline johngenx

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2014, 10:18:29 am »
Stock.

Offline sailor723

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2014, 10:22:39 am »
Stock.   Changing out stuff like that looks too boy racer.
Old Jag convertible...one itch I won't have to scratch again.

Offline dr_spock

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2014, 12:50:04 pm »
Are you afflicted with the Jetta wink?  If so, LEDs might be an option to blowing regular bulbs.  :)



Offline johngenx

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Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2014, 01:39:59 pm »
There's nothing wrong with the "dated" look of the car. I love when desirable old cars are kept original.


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Offline dkaz

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #10 on: April 19, 2014, 02:10:35 pm »
These are one of the LED lights I don't like. The amber LED turn signals don't shine bright enough. I've been caught a couple of times not letting BMWs with those style tail lights in not because I wouldn't have wanted to but because I just didn't notice the signals. Not light a nice bright amber incandescent bulb. I noticed that I also seem to miss red turn signals.

Also with the general array, you can tell BMW maybe tried a bit too hard to make something into a cool LED fixture when it wasn't meant to be. Mazda has done the same thing with the 07-09 Mazda 3 GT and 08-10 Mazda 5 GT, the LED tail lights look awkward. With the 10+ Mazda 3 GT, you can tell they made it LED first then just made a cheaper incandescent version for the lower trim levels. Same with the 09-13 Mazda 6.

I had these tail lights on my Corolla that were sourced from Taiwanese Corollas to replace the circular incandescents, it still had incandescent blinkers but went for a grid format instead.



Looked great at night, but a bit awkward during the day.



When I sold the Corolla, I threw the stock lights back on and sold the lights to someone else, since these lights were pretty desirable in the North American Corolla community. So at the end of the day, it's up to you. It's your car!

Offline random006

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2014, 11:13:03 am »
These are one of the LED lights I don't like. The amber LED turn signals don't shine bright enough. I've been caught a couple of times not letting BMWs with those style tail lights in not because I wouldn't have wanted to but because I just didn't notice the signals. Not light a nice bright amber incandescent bulb. I noticed that I also seem to miss red turn signals.

Funny you should mention that.  One of the best uses that I have seen for LED signal lights is on city buses.  Their turn signals are all LED as far as I can tell and they are quite bright and hence quite noticeable, even in daylight.

I can only surmise that the units sourced by BMW (or recommended replacements, perhaps) aren't the best out there.
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Offline random006

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2014, 11:16:47 am »
BTW, regardless of what I wrote about the bus LED units, I do agree with the posters with regards to your vehicle:  Given the options you've presented, stick with the stock lights.

Offline wing

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2014, 11:24:33 am »
Stick with stock.  Save money for repairs :P

Offline dkaz

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Re: Do I want to change my tail light?
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2014, 12:34:56 pm »
Funny you should mention that.  One of the best uses that I have seen for LED signal lights is on city buses.  Their turn signals are all LED as far as I can tell and they are quite bright and hence quite noticeable, even in daylight.

I can only surmise that the units sourced by BMW (or recommended replacements, perhaps) aren't the best out there.

That's because the LEDs used are bright. I can name a number of other LED turn signals that are bright enough, the ones on the Audi Q7, current gen BMW 3 and 5 series (red LEDs but still bright), Dodge Grand Caravan (same) to name a few. My comment about the LED signals not being bright enough refer to that particular generation BMW 3. They're dim and unnoticeable, it almost seems like a cheap eBay tail light.