Brighter Tail Lights?

Has anyone tried to brighten their tail/brake lights without switching to LED? Last winter I did the relay mod to my 82 308 that brighten my head lights and definitely noticed the difference. My tail lights aren't exactly that bright even though they have been thoroughly cleaned and polished. I was thinking about doing this mod to my tail/brake lights and was curious if anyone has done this yet?

 

Going to brighter (higher wattage) conventional incandescent lamps is not a good idea. It creates more current draw, and the increase in lamp heat does your 30 year old plastic lenses no favors whatsoever.

Not clear why you are prejudiced against LED's? For what you are trying to do, it's the best way forward, by far.

Go to my website:

http://ferrari308gtsi.com/

Start with page 1, and progress on to Page 2.

I've documented all of the trials and tribulations that I've gone thru there to convert every exterior lamp (with the exception of the headlights themselves) to LED's.

The end result is well worth it, though (as you will soon be reading).

Cheers - DM

 

Awesome site! Thanks so much for posting the link!

 

LEDs are more directional in output than conventional lamps??

 

Yes, that is why these conversion from incandescent are not legal and give worse off center performance. The OEM LED lamps are redesigned from from incandescent to provide the correct optics.

 

Dave, cool site! thanks...

 

Not necessarily, many LED lamps offer multiple elements, aiming in different directions, such that the end result has the same light distribution pattern as an incandescent lamp.

So select wisely.

Cheers - DM