Budget LED taillights?

[JB455]

While out with the Litchfield Lotus Group last weekend someone pointed out that I had a brake light out. I stopped to grab a new bulb on my way home- I worry enough about being seen by other traffic in such a tiny car, I didn't want to be down a working brake light. Turns out the bulb wasn't the issue. The cheapo Birkin spec taillights are getting pretty rough. Loose sockets, cracked lenses, etc. They were never that good, even when they were new. I figured it was time for an upgrade. Something brighter. Something LED. After a quick search of my options online I ordered three different set of lights from Amazon as soon as I got home. They shipped quick. I hoped to have one of them installed this week. Well, it turns out I should have pulled the old lights before I ordered anything- the holes in the fenders were bigger than I expected. Nothing I had bought was big enough to cover, height wise.

When I was doing my shopping I found that there weren't really any lights that were approximately the same size as the originals. 8"x3.5". They are a little smaller or a LOT bigger. I figured that 9"x2" would do in a pinch and the size would look right on the fenders. I do like the proportions of all of the lights I bought and they would look decent installed.... if only they covered the existing holes! 

I know that the newer Caterham tails are available, but their price point is significantly higher than I'd planned on spending. All three sets I'd bought off Amazon cost $75... combined. Obviously, I'm willing to spend more, just not the $600+ that the Caterham lights cost. 

 

Anyone have any other options they've found that would be appropriate for a Seven? 

 

Here's a pic of what I bought in case anyone else is looking... and doesn't already have big holes in their fenders. All are stud mount with parking, brake and yellow turn signal functions. The lense from the original Birkin lights is at the bottom. 

[Origin7]

I've been casually looking into this as well. This is the best value I've seen so far:

https://uberniche.co.uk/big-col-flashy-lights

 

The LED manufacturer, Fistom, does not have a distributor in the US, so unfortunately, you'll need to import/pay tariffs. 

[JB455]

I just saw those lights last night, but without the cool mounting blocks. They're available for GBP 39.95 each light on eBay. Plus shipping and import fees, of course. 

I'm surprised there is no US distributor for those. That's exactly what I was looking for, and the size is right. 

[Origin7]

 

https://optronicsinc.com/products/brands/optronicsled/products.aspx?seriesid=787

[Silber]

I'm following this topic to see if anyone comes up with an affordable solution. My Birkin lights are also as @JB455 described, mediocre at best. I put in LED turn signal bulbs which helps with that, but the taillights are incredibly dim, if they are even working. One socket is really fiddly with how the bulb sits in and often goes out when driving.

 

I've looked but haven't found an off-the-shelf solution yet, but I'll take another look at Amazon.

 

[Origin7]

FYI - I contacted Fristom to see if they have a distributor in the USA. They do not, so we'd need to import. If I can find something nice that is available here in the US, I'll design a housing and make it open source.    

[JB455]

I thought I had bought myself some time by disassembling the offending tail light and reseating the socket components... but last time I went out I noticed that brake light wasn't working again... AND now the parking light is out too. As an aside, I realized that , with a little twisting, I can check the tail light functions from the driver seat. 

 

As a temporary (and possibly permanent solution) I bought a set of grommets for the smaller oval lights that I'd bought. It looks like the rubber grommet mount, common on truck and trailer lights, will fit into the existing hole and possibly even cover the stud holes on each end. That set of lights has both stud mounting or grommet mounting capabilities. The grommets are supposed to come tomorrow, so hopefully I can have them working by the weekend. One bonus of going this route is that I don't need to make any more/bigger holes in my rear fenders. 

 

We'll see if/how they work and how they look once installed to see if they're temporary. 

[Silber]

Looking forward to seeing how they turn out. I may copy your setup if it works out well.

[JB455]

Didn't get them installed today- yet. The good news- I did try the grommet in the hole. It's perfect! Even covers the screw holes. So these lights will work. I left the silicone (and dirt) on the fender so you can see the size of the original light. 

[Silber]

@JB455 Can I ask you for the links for what you purchased? That looks like a great alternative to the original Birkin lights.

[JB455]

Finally got the lights installed yesterday. I've included pics of them in each function side by side with the stock lights. The LEDs are significantly brighter in every function.

The red running and brake functions are very red to the human eye, but don't show well in pictures. The brake function is significantly brighter than the running function, so they should do their job. 

The blinker is sequential, a little too "bling" for me, I'd rather just on/off. It is yellow, but not a deep amber. They are VERY bright and will get other driver attention. 

The installation is very straight forward and is easily reversed. I crimped on blade connectors to the new lights so they plugged directly into the existing leads. I did need to open up the bottom of the openings in the fenders. The grommets fit fine, but the ones I used had small small ridges added at the mounting point, presumably to make the mounting extra secure. That would be fine on a heavy steel trailer mount, but the light weight fiberglass needed to opened up slightly to avoid deforming the opening. I took off approximately 1/8" just from the bottom. You can use dish soap on the rubber to allow the light to seat more easily. 

 

 

 

Ignore the cluttered garage in the photos! 1st pic is running lights.

2nd pic is brake function. 

3rd pic is turn/hazard function. 

Edited yesterday at 10:48 AM by JB455

[JB455]

21 hours ago, Silber said:

@JB455 Can I ask you for the links for what you purchased? That looks like a great alternative to the original Birkin lights.

These are the lights that I chose. I chose them because they had separate amber turn signals. These also have back up lights. There are many different brands, styles and functions of lights available in the 6" oval trailer light size that will also work. I'm guessing that since the original lights were also generic trailer lights, the fact that these cut out work so well is not just coincidence. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2QJH6BY?th=1

 

I used standard grommets- again many different brands that all do the same thing. If I were buying again right now I would get ones that have the fully enclosed back like this, to contain the wiring.https://www.amazon.com/UBLights-MTGR2239-Closed-Grommet-Lights/dp/B0D54RG6XG/ref=pd_sbs_d_sccl_1_1/135-1034964-9018662?pd_rd_w=oWHPs&content-id=amzn1.sym.aa738fbd-ad05-4d11-aae2-04b598db6305&pf_rd_p=aa738fbd-ad05-4d11-aae2-04b598db6305&pf_rd_r=B7S8HY7V4E0WWKK0M8JR&pd_rd_wg=yZWrp&pd_rd_r=1315e7f9-6e79-4e08-92b1-11e82afe0d06&pd_rd_i=B0D54RG6XG&psc=1I used some nylon wire retainers mounted to the built in studs on the lights to keep the wiring from rubbing on the tire. 

 

 

[Silber]

@JB455 You are awesome. I'm really grateful you tried this out and confirmed it works. I'll need to double check that my fenders are cut out the same way yours are, and once that is done I'll order some lights and grommets and replicate what you did. I'll report back here when I'm done.

 

I'm sure the pictures don't do it justice, but the standard running light is so pitiful. I'm excited to try this out.

[Origin7]

@JB455 Looks good. Well done!