red brake light bulbs

[jpliddy]

hi all
can you get red bulbs for rear brake lights my red lenses are fading
just a thought !

[mjk164]

Call 0800 246 5678
Classic Car LED's
They will be able to advise you for the correct BA15s (or similar) lamp for your car depending on the reflector colour/shade.

[baggy798]

Of course!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-380-...D/112101575226

[jpliddy]

hi thanks for your valued input !

[loki_the_glt]

Cheap-skate, and quick, alternative: go to your local model shop and buy a bottle of Tamiya clear Red acrylic paint for about £2 and apply one or two coats to the bulbs or lenses, followed by a coat of clear (nail) varnish.

I used the orange on the Valdez's repeater lens and it lasted for 10 years before fading to the point where a re-coating was necessary.

[Laird Scooby]

If you go down the LED route Jim, don't forget to change the high level brake light bulb for an LED version as well. Duncan at Classic Car LEDs can supply a current/intensity matched red LED bulb for that as well.

They do make a big difference and even on lenses that are still red, still give a brighter, "richer" light :


Tungsten Filament bulbs ^^^^^


Right hand bulbs red LEDs ^^^^^


All LEDs ^^^^^


With brake lights on ^^^^^


Brake lights only ^^^^^


The red LED bulbs i used and got from Clasic Car LEDs

https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/

They're not cheap but they are fit and forget. Note that the single filament bulbs shown above are for tail light use, they also do single filament red LED bulbs for use in the high level brake light and if you want, the rear fogs as well.

[T01smitd]

Good recommendations

[baggy798]

Mine passed the MOT with cheapos, so that's not really indicative of anything. I posted a comparison 3 years ago in gloomy lighting conditions, curiously very similar 'before' and 'after' pics! Whichever way you cut it, the 5w side is too bright.

Two newer styles of LED bulbs available now, maybe they'll be better.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COB-LED-4...s/232936909136

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380-Cob-L...s/372396488110

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by baggy798

Mine passed the MOT with cheapos, so that's not really indicative of anything. I posted a comparison 3 years ago in gloomy lighting conditions, curiously very similar 'before' and 'after' pics! Whichever way you cut it, the 5w side is too bright.

Two newer styles of LED bulbs available now, maybe they'll be better.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COB-LED-4...s/232936909136

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380-Cob-L...s/372396488110

I still think there's more of a difference on these but there you go. Those new ones have been around for quite a while, the triangular shaped one is kind of weird but the other one with strips like filaments might just work well. Depends on the Lumen (Lm) output, the original filament lamps are about 50-80Lm for the 5W and about 300-350Lm for the 21W. I know the 21W part of the ones i linked to is 660Lm but of course is red so is on a particular wavelength. Can't remember the Lm output of the 5W part but something in the back of my mind says it's about 120Lm - might be wrong though.

[jpliddy]

hi i now have a pair of the red old type bulbs installed its over come the fading red lens problem . one draw back with the old type bulbs they generate a bit of heat especially with auto box drivers like me tend to have my foot on the bike and little use of the handbrake . there a post on utube volvo 9oo estate the brake/day running light can start to melt the plastic black chassis it has on mine drivers side i had to remove light cluster today and file plastic carefully so it woud accept the bulb holder they suggest wiring swop to make the upper light holder the brake light i looked at it but the bottom wire was to short to try . your comments most welcome !