LED reliability

Cyprio · 06-15-2011, 04:08 AM

Posted this topic on the Technical forum but no response, so in case it was missed I'm posting it on here.

How reliable are the replacement LED's for e90 lci angel eye halogens, or any retrofit headlamp LED's for that matter?

I suppose they're made in China like most things these days, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing - but - there is also a lot of substandard shite coming out of China and sold on by UK retailers.

Just don't want to be under the car changing LED bulbs more than I need to - plus they're not cheap to buy!

Pandamonia · 06-15-2011, 04:47 AM

you will find that a LED has 10x the life of a halogen bulb and uses 10% of the power.

Cyprio · 06-15-2011, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandamonia

you will find that a LED has 10x the life of a halogen bulb and uses 10% of the power.

Yeah I know this - it's the durability of the LED I'm questioning.

I know there have been a few people on here who have experienced duff LED's and it would be good to know who to avoid when purchasing.

creepy coupe · 06-15-2011, 05:21 AM

How long's a piece of string? It's like asking how long will a bulb last. as per Panda, they tend to last a lot longer than bulbs.

xenon · 06-15-2011, 05:23 AM

Whilst the LEDs themselves will outlast a conventional incandescent bulb by a considerable margin you have to remember that an LED "bulb" comprises of 10 or so individual LEDs encapsulated in a housing, with current limiting resistors and possible a bypass resistor to cancel bulb errors. It's the quality of this housing and sub-assembly that matters. Saying an LED has "10x the life of a halogen bulb" is too simplistic.

Cyprio · 06-15-2011, 05:26 AM

Ah well, I guess I'll put this one to bed.

Cyprio · 06-15-2011, 05:28 AM

Oops, never saw your post Xenon, you've got my jist!

-

creepy coupe · 06-15-2011, 05:40 AM

I've yet to see a failed LED, the ones we had fitted in our kitchen have been running for ten years, without a failure, unlike the G9 bulbs installed at the same time, which have failed many times

Pandamonia · 06-15-2011, 06:11 AM

i think what hes getting at is the electrical behind the LED units.

but who knows how good they are

kaishang · 06-15-2011, 07:22 AM

I wouldn't do it.

The individual LEDs are reliable.

The housing, the weatherproofing, the electronics, they are not reliable.

Cyprio · 06-15-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaishang

I wouldn't do it.

The individual LEDs are reliable.

The housing, the weatherproofing, the electronics, they are not reliable.

Is this through personal experience?

Anyone else purchased angel eye LED's from ebay or wherever, and then felt they were sub-standard build quality, so I can avoid buying from them?

I'm just trying to determine where I can buy a good quality pair from.

creepy coupe · 06-15-2011, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyprio

Is this through personal experience?

Anyone else purchased angel eye LED's from ebay or wherever, and then felt they were sub-standard build quality, so I can avoid buying from them?

I'm just trying to determine where I can buy a good quality pair from.

I fitted a set to my 335i and found they interfered with the radio reception. Something well documented on this forum.although not all member found the same.

ab2pcs · 06-15-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyprio

Is this through personal experience?

Anyone else purchased angel eye LED's from ebay or wherever, and then felt they were sub-standard build quality, so I can avoid buying from them?

I'm just trying to determine where I can buy a good quality pair from.

I bought a set from fleebay , very poor quality indeed , (china = Dodgy electrics )I never did fit them and sold the car eventually

Cyprio · 06-15-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ab2pcs

I bought a set from fleebay , very poor quality indeed , (china = Dodgy electrics )I never did fit them and sold the car eventually

Okay, there are a few UK retailers that sell them, although it's impossible to know if they are sourced from China.

kaishang · 06-15-2011, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyprio

Okay, there are a few UK retailers that sell them, although it's impossible to know if they are sourced from China.

There is nothing wrong with sourced from China. Plenty of stuff is sourced from China, probably including your wide screen LCD TV and the LCD monitor you are looking at now. Or the iPhone you are viewing this on if you are using an iPhone.

The problem is general crap quality of LED lights you buy online.

creepy coupe · 06-15-2011, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyprio

Okay, there are a few UK retailers that sell them, although it's impossible to know if they are sourced from China.

Imran at Evolve, does decent kit.

fdriller9 · 06-15-2011, 11:06 AM

If an LED is designed right, it will last for 10+ years.

However, the plug and play units you see have small heatsinks. They are ok for short distance driving, but once the engine bay starts getting hotter and ambient air around the bulb increases, efficiency goes down. It doesn't help that there is no airflow either....since they are housed inside the headlight.

LUX does include a fan and this is best design there is. (For the E90 at least, not sure what the E92/3 bulbs look like). But it can only do so much in an enclosed space.

If you guys want help designing a bulb yourself, PM me.

Cyprio · 06-15-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaishang

There is nothing wrong with sourced from China. Plenty of stuff is sourced from China, probably including your wide screen LCD TV and the LCD monitor you are looking at now. Or the iPhone you are viewing this on if you are using an iPhone.

The problem is general crap quality of LED lights you buy online.

I'm not saying everything sourced from China is crap - I made that clear in my first post.

Billyray911 · 06-15-2011, 12:03 PM

I take it that you've read this discussion?
Seems that this kit may be the answer as it is said not to create any fault codes or interference.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540404

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 06-15-2011, 12:05 PM

The sourcing from "china" is not the problem, its that there are good manufacturers from China and there are sub par ones. To the naked eye you want know which is which. Buy from a trustworthy vendor with a warranty in place.

If the price is too good to be true, its probably on the poor side of quality.

Cyprio · 06-15-2011, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billyray911

I take it that you've read this discussion?
Seems that this kit may be the answer as it is said not to create any fault codes or interference.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540404

Billyray

doughboy · 06-15-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaishang

I wouldn't do it.

The individual LEDs are reliable.

The housing, the weatherproofing, the electronics, they are not reliable.

+1

I've had two OE BMW rear LED light clusters replaced under warranty. On a 2 yr old car.

Not the LEDs' themselves, but water corroding the tracks inside the enclosure causing individual LED elements to go out.

06-15-2011, 04:08 AM	#1
Cyprio Captain 33 Rep 918 Posts Drives: 2014 Audi S4 B/Edition Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Colchester. UK iTrader: (2)	LED reliability Posted this topic on the Technical forum but no response, so in case it was missed I'm posting it on here. How reliable are the replacement LED's for e90 lci angel eye halogens, or any retrofit headlamp LED's for that matter? I suppose they're made in China like most things these days, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing - but - there is also a lot of substandard shite coming out of China and sold on by UK retailers. Just don't want to be under the car changing LED bulbs more than I need to - plus they're not cheap to buy! Last edited by Cyprio; 06-15-2011 at 04:13 AM..
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06-15-2011, 04:47 AM	#2
Pandamonia Banned 1 Rep 64 Posts Drives: E92 BMW 320D 220Bhp Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	you will find that a LED has 10x the life of a halogen bulb and uses 10% of the power.
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06-15-2011, 05:21 AM	#4
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	How long's a piece of string? It's like asking how long will a bulb last. as per Panda, they tend to last a lot longer than bulbs.
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06-15-2011, 05:23 AM	#5
xenon Major General 1397 Rep 8,083 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	Whilst the LEDs themselves will outlast a conventional incandescent bulb by a considerable margin you have to remember that an LED "bulb" comprises of 10 or so individual LEDs encapsulated in a housing, with current limiting resistors and possible a bypass resistor to cancel bulb errors. It's the quality of this housing and sub-assembly that matters. Saying an LED has "10x the life of a halogen bulb" is too simplistic. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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06-15-2011, 05:26 AM	#6
Cyprio Captain 33 Rep 918 Posts Drives: 2014 Audi S4 B/Edition Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Colchester. UK iTrader: (2)	Ah well, I guess I'll put this one to bed.
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06-15-2011, 05:28 AM	#7
Cyprio Captain 33 Rep 918 Posts Drives: 2014 Audi S4 B/Edition Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Colchester. UK iTrader: (2)	Oops, never saw your post Xenon, you've got my jist! -
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06-15-2011, 05:40 AM	#8
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	I've yet to see a failed LED, the ones we had fitted in our kitchen have been running for ten years, without a failure, unlike the G9 bulbs installed at the same time, which have failed many times
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06-15-2011, 06:11 AM	#9
Pandamonia Banned 1 Rep 64 Posts Drives: E92 BMW 320D 220Bhp Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	i think what hes getting at is the electrical behind the LED units. but who knows how good they are
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06-15-2011, 07:22 AM	#10
kaishang Colonel 54 Rep 2,197 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 330d Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I wouldn't do it. The individual LEDs are reliable. The housing, the weatherproofing, the electronics, they are not reliable.
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06-15-2011, 11:06 AM	#17
fdriller9 Banned 253 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	If an LED is designed right, it will last for 10+ years. However, the plug and play units you see have small heatsinks. They are ok for short distance driving, but once the engine bay starts getting hotter and ambient air around the bulb increases, efficiency goes down. It doesn't help that there is no airflow either....since they are housed inside the headlight. LUX does include a fan and this is best design there is. (For the E90 at least, not sure what the E92/3 bulbs look like). But it can only do so much in an enclosed space. If you guys want help designing a bulb yourself, PM me.
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06-15-2011, 12:03 PM	#19
Billyray911 Brigadier General 199 Rep 3,500 Posts Drives: Blah Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mind your own business...no,really. iTrader: (6)	I take it that you've read this discussion? Seems that this kit may be the answer as it is said not to create any fault codes or interference. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540404
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06-15-2011, 12:05 PM	#20
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3441 Rep 79,211 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	The sourcing from "china" is not the problem, its that there are good manufacturers from China and there are sub par ones. To the naked eye you want know which is which. Buy from a trustworthy vendor with a warranty in place. If the price is too good to be true, its probably on the poor side of quality.
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