Hiya guys I'm new on the forum so hello all. I just bought a Panda 100hp and want to change the side lights to LED ones and the rear number plate lights to LED ones so I bought errorless sidelights but they still flare up errors and so do the errorless number plate lights would any of you know any lights which work with the Panda and don't flare up errors???

Lot's of owners have tried to fit LED's, even canbus safe and errorless and they all end up the same way.

The system that detects voltage draw on the lights circuit is very fussy on Fiats.

Unless you can fool it with a LED bulb and resistor that together draw the right current, most LED bulbs will cause it to throw warnings or at best, the LED to flicker madly!

There's lots of guides around the internet about fitting LED's and resistors, though it's a bit of a ball ache and you don't want to pull too much current or you'll fry the loom.

Goudrons said:

Lot's of owners have tried to fit LED's, even canbus safe and errorless and they all end up the same way.



The system that detects voltage draw on the lights circuit is very fussy on Fiats.



Unless you can fool it with a LED bulb and resistor that together draw the right current, most LED bulbs will cause it to throw warnings or at best, the LED to flicker madly!



There's lots of guides around the internet about fitting LED's and resistors, though it's a bit of a ball ache and you don't want to pull too much current or you'll fry the loom.

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I see well thankyou for the good information mate

Hi..Just to ad my 2c.. I have a Fiat Idea..and have found that 24V canbus safe Leds from a guy called Fizzmo.
This works very well now - no flickering and no errors + 1year waranty..
I have nothing to do with this guy - im just telling about my experience..

Gave up on LEDs, seeing as a slightly dimmed normal plate bulb can set the detector off. Whatever Philips brightest normal bulbs were as of 18 months ago in the headlights and Osram's 'white' bulbs everywhere else just makes for an easier life and about 85% of what you wanted.

The Osram headlight bulbs - Nightbreaker XL or something - had an awful lifespan both in going and losing the blue phosphor to colour correct the light by flaking off; but the Philips don't.

magijamarko said:

Hi..Just to ad my 2c.. I have a Fiat Idea..and have found that 24V canbus safe Leds from a guy called Fizzmo.

This works very well now - no flickering and no errors + 1year waranty..

I have nothing to do with this guy - im just telling about my experience..

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Would you have the link for these bulbs by any chance?

Cian said:

Gave up on LEDs, seeing as a slightly dimmed normal plate bulb can set the detector off. Whatever Philips brightest normal bulbs were as of 18 months ago in the headlights and Osram's 'white' bulbs everywhere else just makes for an easier life and about 85% of what you wanted.

The Osram headlight bulbs - Nightbreaker XL or something - had an awful lifespan both in going and losing the blue phosphor to colour correct the light by flaking off; but the Philips don't.

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I’ve used night breakers in my last few cars including my 100hp and they’ve lasted ages.

Jackotelli said:

Would you have the link for these bulbs by any chance?

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This is one of his listings. Contact him and im sure he will help..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-38mm-...066350&hash=item43afa8c978:g:Ka0AAOxyY3ZRpUF4

I can only say good things about him - had some issues with one of the bulbs - he sugested to buy the same thing in 24V - (we run lights all the time in Slovenia) - gave me a discount on purchase - have these in for 1year - no problems..(knocks on wood...)
Hope this helps
Marko

hi, i run with 80w dip beam, 100w main:idea:. a lot better than the standard bulbs. no problems . says on box " not for highway use) bought from halfords, but prob a lot cheaper on ebay. regards , steve.

steve w hebburn said:

hi, i run with 80w dip beam, 100w main:idea:. a lot better than the standard bulbs. no problems . says on box " not for highway use) bought from halfords, but prob a lot cheaper on ebay. regards , steve.

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You have to be very careful with the higher wattage bulbs as you can quite easily melt the wiring if the manufacturer has a very tight tolerance on the wire used to feed the lights. Keep a close eye on your front light wiring to make sure it doesn't get too hot.

Small LED bulbs hardly pull any current so you need a ballast resistor of the same load as a normal bulb.

LED headlight bulbs can be excellent. I have 30 watt H7s in the bike and they are close to HID in performance but with emitters hardly any bigger than a tungsten filament, there are no focus errors. Dip beam cuts off nicely.
30 watts should be enough to keep the filament error checks happy.

The MOT tester was not in the least fussed. He wants no dazzle and a good dip pattern. It did, so that was sorted.

I have not used H4 LED headlamp bulbs but see no reason why they should not be just as good as the H7s I already know.

HOWEVER -
Powerful LED bulbs have a large heat sink on the back some are fan cooled. This is likely to prevent the headlight rear cover from fitting. Leaving it off is a bad idea as it will fill with water and dirt and be quickly ruined. The best suggestion is buy on a sale or return basis and then work out what you will need to cover the lamps at the back.

I have to admit, our Vitara came with LED projector headlights as standard and they are far and away the best headlights I've even know.

The worse, 2001 Alfa Spider, they were so bad that the first trip out in it, when it started to go dark, I had to get out and check they were actually on.
You could tell from behind the wheel and that was on an unlit road!

The flood of light from the Vitara projectors on unlit roads is amazing, brightness, spread and distance are brilliant.

Since we got it I've experimented with retro fitting LEDs headlights to the rest of the fleet, but normal headlight units aren't designed to make best use of the way LED bulbs emit their light.

I have managed to get a set up and running on my Berlingo, sure they are whiter and brighter, but the light throw down the road was very poor, a third less than standard bulbs that came out.
Turns out this is quite common, there's lots of similar reports on the 'net.

Projector LEDs units seem to collect the light from the bulb with a small bowl around it and throw it all back against the silver backing that then projects forward to create a beam.
LED bulbs don't really produce 360 degree light in the same sense as a normal bulb, the bowl around the bulb does it for them.
It's the shape of the backing more than the lens that creates the beam pattern.

Normal headlight units just reflect the 360 degree light from the bulb via the silver backing and the lens creates the correct beam pattern.

I gave up in the end and just fit 120-130% brighter, normal bulbs.
Doesn't matter from who, they all seem quite similar. (GE Megalight Ultras at the moment)
Tried 150%, but their life isn't great as they blow before you close the bonnet and you're in a worse state than when you started!

It should be noted that changing any exterior filament lamp to a LED, HID (Xenon) or higher wattage filament is illegal, makes the car un-roadworthy and could be grounds for your insurance to refuse to pay a claim. All lights and replacement lamps must be type approved and E marked. The only exception is the reversing light (and work lights but they should not be on when the car is moving). There are NO E marked LED replacements for filament lamps. LED lights fitted from new are type approved and the LEDs are not replaceable. The new MOT rules make it more likely you will have issues at MOT time.
Just a reminder, it's all been said before.


Robert G8RPI