360 LED back up lights

On my 360 - as with many - the little round white lens on my reverse lights were cracked. Initially I thought this was due to the previous owner not having a challenge grill. However, after reading some threads on Ferrari chat, I decided it was due to the reverse bulb heating up the lens (I believe I saw a post where this occured on a 550, so that tends to let out the engine heat idea). My friend Tony was the one who pointed out that many cars have this part of the lens cracked and/or bowed out.

Anyway, if it were in fact from the exhaust heat, it seems that the entire lens would have problems, not just the little inner white reverse light part. After all, in order for heat to affect just that area, it would have to travel past a lot more plastic back there and somehow arrive just in the middle. Doesn't make sense. Also, after putting my hand near the lens while the reverse lights were on, I was surprised to feel quite a bit of heat in a very short amount of time. So my guess is that when the reverse lights are on, that heat slowly cracks the lens over time - even to the point where the lens can bubble out a bit.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I ordered replacement tail lights (even though my reverse lens weren't that bad off) and installed them today. I also ordered some 1156 replacement LED bulbs. Here is a link to the type I used:

http://www.luxeonstar.com/item.php?id=1815&link_str=178&partno=TLE12W

Specifically, I ordered them here (scroll about half way down until you find the 1156 LX3 Luxeon LED bulb). They arrived quickly and look very nice:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=CAR

After installation, I checked the reverse lights - they are very bright. I am going to test them tonight when I take a drive, but it appears they are about as bright as a normal 1156 bulb. The only difference is no heat (and hopefully this means no more cracked lenses); the color is a very cool super bright LED white. It makes the reverse lights look sort of space age

Anyway, I thought I would pass along the modification in case anyone else was in the mood to try it. If the reverse light lenses crack again, then I'll have to start back at square one - but I'm pretty sure the cracking is due to how close the reverse bulb is to the lens, not the lack of a challenge grill and/or addition of a tubi exhaust, etc.

I'll try to take a couple of photos later tonight and upload them when I have a chance.

Ray

 

according to the website that sells them, they say the Luxeon bulb is hands down the brightest LED bulb on the market. Anyway, I just came back from driving the car and I have to say the LED reverse lights (even with that 3W LED) isn't all that bright. It's enough to see with, but not nearly as bright as the normal bulb. However, I don't do a lot of backing up, so it's not really a problem.

I'm going to drive out to an area with no street lights so I can see just how much light it casts in the absolute dark. I'll report back once I have a chance to do that. Probably won't be for a while.

For now, it's okay though. For the amount of night backing up I do, I think it will be okay. And if push comes to shove, I can always tap the brake lights to shine a little more [red] light if needed.

Ray

 

You might be onto something! See the post above.. the LED reverse lights are workable, but not as bright as I would like. Nonetheless, they do look very cool with the ultra white light I think for the amount of backing up I do at night, I would rather have lenses that aren't cracked

Ray

 

How's the light output?

Ray

 

Here are some pictures I took of the 1156 LX3 Luxeon LED reverse lights. The Luxeon LED bulbs are very bright, but they don't cast as much light as a normal 1156 bulb does. The benefit is no heat whatsoever and also a pretty cool looking blueish tint to the reverse lights.

It's enough to live with as long as you aren't driving backwards too far in very dim areas. For day to day use, it's plenty fine and you can always tap the brake pedal to throw a bit more light (albeit red light) if really needed. Usually I'm driving forward, so it's not a big deal either way.

Here are a couple of photos in case anyone wanted to see how it appears.

Ray
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I would like the light output to be greater - there is no doubt about that. But it's okay for the most part. Since I don't use reverse very often at night and/or in very dark areas, it's not really a major concern. There is light output of course, but it doesn't light up everything the way the normal 1156 bulbs do. The main reason I did it was because I didn't want the white part of the tail light lens to crack again.

All in all I'm happy with it and it's fine, but yeah, if it were 3 times as bright, that would be nicer

Ray

 

the bulb for the reverse light sits very close to the lens. When you get your 360, have someone put it into reverse, then run back and feel the heat coming through the white parts of the lens area - it doesn't take much of that to cause problems is my guess The LED's don't give off any heat of course.

Ray

 

not sure which bulbs you are referring to Greg. The ones I ordered were supposed to be the brightest of all the LED bulbs they sell. Maybe there is something else... I could try it. Which bulbs specifically are you looking at?

Ray

 

If you read the page, here is what is says about the ones I installed:

"1156-LX3 Luxeon LED bulb
Super Bright 3 Watt LED 12VDC replacement bulb
15mm Single Intensity Bayonet Base
Super Wide 130 Degree Viewing Angle
--> Brightest LED Tail Light bulb on the market <--
BRIGHTER THAN MOST STOCK TAIL LAMP BULBS!
Select White, Red or Amber LED "

Generally those cluster of normal LED's are a flop. Even 24 or 30 of them don't put out all that much light. The reason I got the LX3 is because I have a single LED flash light that is super super bright. I figure the LX3 is the same idea. It's darn bright for an LED.

Ray

 

thanks.. yeah, I like how they look also

Ray

 

FYI Greg, don't piss off someone that owns a ski mask...

it was a costume for halloween... I wasn't going to dress up, but at the last minute I changed my mind.. plus I already had the ski mask handy. My job was to provide security for the evening and make sure no body bothered the girls while trick or treating... so I figured it was a good look

A couple of people didn't want to give me candy because I was older than 10, but I made them an offer they couldn't refuse...

Ray
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