Mojoe Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) This is the apples to oranges comparison. They are not the same light and have very different values. I actually hate writing this thread a little, and you will see why. To start with, my issue I needed fixed is that the OEM did not illuminate to my liking as I backed out of my shop or into it. LED would be the likely fix, so I ordered them last week, and did the install today. You can see my options listed here. https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/led-vehicle-replacement-bulbs/vehicle/2011-subaru-wrx%20sti-sedan-back+up+light/59-1140-37-487397/ When deciding which one to go with, I simply went by the LM rating of brightness. 106 being the highest, but only in a blue light. I didn't want that. I went with a 100LM you see for $5.95. They were looking to all perform the same, so I went with the middle one. Stock OEM http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/dsnowgod/A4FE5E0C-29A9-4040-9289-BBFC2A6E9243_zpsgaynpmvy.jpg LED http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/dsnowgod/3E089F58-6513-43CB-B4C1-5686A42E5A23_zps2hbwb16l.jpg The LED clearly did not do what I wanted. I even left them in until it was dark last night to check again during actual use. I'm pretty disappointed. The area lit up is no where near what I was hoping with the LED. I am open to suggestions if someone knows how I can get more light without having to change stock power support to the bulb. Edited December 21, 2014 by Mojoe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 been there done that in several cars. most recently an LED trial in my Fusion Sport. Granted that was now 3yrs ago, but still. the easiest option IMO was to find a set of HID's from the bone yard or pop in a whiter traditional color bulb into the OEM Socket. That's what I did on the minivan and the results were great. I ended up passing on the HID's for the sake of cost really. However, in the past cars I've had they have worked out great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattKatz Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I just tried out LEDs as well recently and went right back to my DDM HID's....Which IMO are the best bang for your buck at $40 a set....Ive had a few over the years and very little issues with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I only use led for turn signals etc, however you need to check the rating because like everything else not all LEDs are created equal. For headlights you can't beat ddm hids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboRust Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 yup ddm hids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 What bulb size did you get that is only 100lm? I am running 3000lm h11 bulbs and like them way better than the cheap hid kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojoe Posted December 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 What bulb size did you get that is only 100lm? I am running 3000lm h11 bulbs and like them way better than the cheap hid kit https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-can-bus-led-bulb-5-smd-led-wedge-base-tower/1127/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I believe he is talking about back up/reverse lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I believe he is talking about back up/reverse lights. Ah I think all of us were confused. Yeah reverse leds are not bright at all. Headlights on the other hand that have more power are a different story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojoe Posted December 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I wouldn't assume my headlight were and issue "backing out of the shop or into it". But yes, I am talking reverse/backup lights, as the link indicates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I wouldn't assume my headlight were and issue "backing out of the shop or into it". But yes, I am talking reverse/backup lights, as the link indicates. :lolguy: http://i.imgur.com/9wZEBEh.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 The title should be 194 bulbs oem vs led.. We all assumed you were talking heads or fogs as I think most people know that 194 leds are not bright enough for usable light output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectragod Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Along the same lines, but way overkill. I used a pair of Baja Designs Squadron XL's on my rear shackles of my F150, tied in with a relay to automatically switch on, they work like a champ, but, it may suck bad to be behind me while I am backing..... Probably going to do some flush mounts in the bumper for fill in, as what I used is more for distance it appears. http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0086_zps8eae7c33.jpg http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0087_zps59f9e3f7.jpg http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0127_zpsfea8193a.jpg http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0126_zps1c92f34c.jpg http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0125_zps8335d230.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojoe Posted December 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 The title should be 194 bulbs oem vs led.. We all assumed you were talking heads or fogs as I think most people know that 194 leds are not bright enough for usable light output. I guess in the very informed light world, I can see your point. I wouldn't know what you were talking about. Therefore, I posted what I felt comfortable talking about. Where were you in Clays LED there all last week? You probably could have helped out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectragod Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 The title should be 194 bulbs oem vs led.. We all assumed you were talking heads or fogs as I think most people know that 194 leds are not bright enough for usable light output. I haven't found any plug in LED's that are very "bright" or bright enough to see distance with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Das Borgen Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Get your lumens up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaSSon Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-can-bus-led-bulb-5-smd-led-wedge-base-tower/1127/ There's no heatsink on those. Best case scenario they melt, worse case they take out your socket and possibly harness as well. I picked up a similar set to replace the reverse lights on my 335i (The E92 has pathetic stock reverse lights), and they melted the first time i used them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I guess in the very informed light world, I can see your point. I wouldn't know what you were talking about. Therefore, I posted what I felt comfortable talking about. Where were you in Clays LED there all last week? You probably could have helped out there. I posted in clays thread my experience with h11 50 watt led lowbeams. http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy296/rocky31186/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141213_170955_zpsrsmk807p.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I would suggest trying either of these models in 921/912 which should interchange with your 194 wedge base application. Depending on the orientation of the bulb in the backup light housing (side emitter vs. end-emitting) consider these two: http://retro-solutions.net/product-info.php?921_912_906_T15_5W_CREE_LED_Reverse_Wedge_Bulbs-pid699.html or http://retro-solutions.net/product-info.php?921_912_906_T15_5W_CREE_LED_Reverse_Wedge_Bulbs-pid787.html They advertise 470 lumens each, and are priced as a pair. They may not be quite 470, but I understand they are damn bright. They also have decent current regulation and will step down and dim on their own if they get too warm (should not be an issue in a reverse light application). I don't know much about them, but if you're feeling froggy I've always thought these were intriguing: (3500 lumens above your license plate - $150) http://www.vleds.com/new-lpf.html http://www.vleds.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/imageBig/900x/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/l/p/lpf_5.jpg http://www.vleds.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/imageBig/900x/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/l/p/lpf_4.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 There's no heatsink on those. Best case scenario they melt, worse case they take out your socket and possibly harness as well. I picked up a similar set to replace the reverse lights on my 335i (The E92 has pathetic stock reverse lights), and they melted the first time i used them. Only the ebay/amazon specials melt because they have no current regulation or thermal management. Superbrightleds stuff is generally good quality if you choose the right bulb for your application, and they have good customer service if you do have a failure. Their light output claims are also accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berto Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I don't know much about them, but if you're feeling froggy I've always thought these were intriguing: (3500 lumens above your license plate - $150) http://www.vleds.com/new-lpf.html Very nice, would be perfect for my truck. Big claims on that light output. But as we've found out its not just about light output its about how that light gets cast. and LED bulb in a reflector housing is just not going to work well. Been seeing a bunch of bulbs with little projectors on them, etc wonder how well those work. If that license plate thingie was $75 or under i'd order it today. $150 is hard to swallow when you can get a sirius 20" light bar for just over $200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berto Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Here is a link to a youtube vid on the VLED. Not impressed for the money. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsRAhHvHEKU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 :super blinding backup lights: I would totally rig those to a toggle switch for tailgaters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojoe Posted December 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Basically, there is no plug and play bulb option to a car's stock set up. That's what i was looking for, a simple fix. I hadn't seen what was added to to other thread after Clay posted about waiting to see my results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRD2BDF Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Good info. I have just ONE back up light and its led on my Saab. I can't see shit with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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