Member Since: 09 Sep 2005
Location: Scotland
Posts: 619
Rear Number Plate Lights
While checking the lights on the vehicle today I noticed that both rear number plate lights were out (due to bulb failures). As the rear number plate lights are not something I have in the past paid any attention to when checking the lights they ciuld have been out for sometime. This made me think do others tend to check them when they are checki their lights?
Also what is the thoughts on replacing them with LED lights?
24th Jul 2021 12:44 am
AdamRandall
Member Since: 31 Aug 2020
Location: Brandon, Suffolk
Posts: 153
I check mine regularly, but only by default as I travel a lot at night and frequently use my boot.
I replaced mine with LED’s last year and have had no problems since12 months of D3 ownership have passed and I’m still loving it!
Changed mine to led when I bought the car ... IIRC had to use low profile ones as some were too tall and pressed hard on the lens.
That's using w5w types ... full units are available.
Dean
====================================
2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
24th Jul 2021 6:01 am
zig
Member Since: 09 Sep 2005
Location: Scotland
Posts: 619
If going the LED route, the complete LED light assembly may be the way to go rather than LED 5W5 bulbs.
Are the LEDs brighter and if so is there any restrictions on how bright rear number plate lights can be?
24th Jul 2021 9:41 am
garfield2
Member Since: 24 Jul 2008
Location: morley, leeds
Posts: 311
Checked regularly and especially before MoT last week, one out so replaced with LED from Halfords, seeing as I was in there reversing lights went LED too.
Regards
MartinDiscovery 4.5 HSE 2015 MY
Discovery 3 SE 2007 MY gone with spinning journals
24th Jul 2021 11:05 am
kajtzu
Member Since: 11 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6570
Technically the LED housings need to be E rated. My guess is that you’re not going to find very many (= none) such since most wouldn’t bother with such certifications.
A LED in a housing meant for a regular bulb is at least in Finland always illegal and would result in failure. Most inspectors wouldn’t bother with it, though, but I use regular W5W bulbs since they’re good enough.
24th Jul 2021 11:05 am
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
Powerfuluk.com led units in mine, look great!2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
24th Jul 2021 12:04 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72787
Don’t dismiss the cheap and cheerful option. I had every 5w5 bulb in my D3, apart from the indicator repeated where they made it look too yellow, replaced with these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01EQU...&psc=1 at £1 a pop. None failed and they were all taken off when she was stripped and put in the D4. Only problem there was they wouldn’t work in the front door puddle lights but I had some higher resistance ones that did. When I took them off the D4 a few were used in the cars we now have, all still going strong.
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... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
When I took them off the D4 a few were used in the cars we now have, all still going strong. 
