Hi Will,
Wanted to add a bit of extra punch to the rather 'soft' exterior lighting on the BX, particularly the indicators when seen in bright sunlight. All the OE bulbs were BA15s (P21...) base - 5W and 21W. Wanted not to alter the lampholders, but stick with the originals.
Did a good bit of experimentation, but found that
- most automotive 'white' LEDs of very high brightness are cool white (bluish)
- this cool white does unpleasant things to the colour of amber and red signals, and doesn't IMO sit nicely alongside halogens
Concluded that amber turn signals needed yellow-orange LEDs behind them, and that tail/stop/RR fog needed red ones.
Reversing lights (clear or smoky) were acceptable with cool white (4000K+) lamps, where brightness seemed more important than near-original colour.
For other white lights (eg front sidelights), personal preference was for Warm White (c.3000K), to match the appearance of the halogen headlights.
Indicators
Chose these - BA15s, in yellow-amber
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001123 ... 4c4dbZlDBD
Needed to change the
flasher relay for a load-independent one, and used this one, which is sold everywhere:
type CF14JL-02
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yizhet-Electro ... 545&sr=8-1
Connections to this are straightforward: +12 in [+B], Gnd [-E], and Load [L] (all indicators, repeaters and dash lights) out.
Pin positions may differ from the OE installed relay, so check. I used some short intermediate wires with 0.25" connectors.
Really pleased with the indicators now: bright and crisp.
The improved indicators called out for the rest of the rear cluster lamps to be looked at . . .
Brake lights - BA15s in red
Initially tried these. Hopeless - very short life (about 2-3 days). From Amazon, although sold elsewhere too, where (I discover) the blurb suggests that are "only suitable" for indicator use (intermittent, and presumably USA red ones). 144smd, but useless, pulling 21W apiece, and running untouchably hot. Many complaints. Returned mine and refunded. These were the offending ones...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Signals-144SMD ... 238&sr=8-6 Don't buy!
Switched to these, instead. Also 1500lm*** red, and seem to be working fine:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3272652 ... 4c4dbZlDBD
Rear fogs
These same 1500lm*** reds might/might not be ok for the continuous-operation RR fogs too, so am holding off until those in the brake lights have proved themselves.
Rear tail lights - BA15s red
Bought these
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001123 ... 4c4dYGkB9b
a while back (along with some yellow and white ones of the same type) to experiment with.
Sloppy spec says 1000lm for them all, which just wasn't the case.
Yellow AOK for indicators, and White was bright, but too cold/blue for use.
Red, however, was decidedly not bright, but
ideal for 5W tail-light replacement, which is where they've gone.
Reversing lights
John had experimented with bright LEDs for XM reversing lights, and I followed him a couple of years ago with these (BA15s type):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3266348 ... 163fAsrDE8
which have been (and remain) superb.
Currently, a couple of spares of these are in the BX reversing lights. As I have the (Mk1) clear RR fittings, they are bright - very bright. Might wind down a bit with some others.
Hope of some use, Will.
.
DSCF3871r.jpg
DSCF3869pr.jpg
^^
The pinkish look to the brake light is just the camera having trouble with red high brightness; in reality it's all standard red.
Picking LED replacements - brightness
For comparison:
BA15s 12v 5w tungsten bulb = 50 lm
BA15s 12v 21w ditto = 460 lm .
*** If AliExpress is anything to go by, many vendors list colour alternatives (eg red, yellow, white) for a given lamp.
However, only one Lumens output is usually quoted, and I'm guessing this is for the white one.
One order I received had all three colours in it. The red was
much dimmer. Was consigned to tail lamp use (see above).
Ali's shop windows are principally designed to sell, of course. Be prepared for a few disappointments for items not used before; at least the cost is not excessive, even though the wait for delivery might be.