Question

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390) 07/26/2018 at 13:30 • Filed to: DA FUTUR, Questions

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It’s bad enough some people think they’re smarter than automatic headlights and proceed to drive with their DRLs on at night, but what happens when these new DRLs and headlights (LED, HID, Bi-Xenon, especially LEDs) burn out and people find out how much they are to replace? Something that’s been on my mind for a while.

Don’t get me wrong, automotive lighting hasn’t looked so awesome since the 60s-70s IMO, but those cars can have theirs fixed and replaced at auto parts stores...

Take the S550 Mustangs as a “cheap car” example... Fortunately on the 15-17 headlghts, you can replace the LED tribar DRLs and HID headlight bulbs without too trouble. You can’t replace the LEDs in the taillights when they go out. The whole assembly has to be replaced, and guess how much that is...

This is a case of not so bad IMO, and I’m sure they’ll last a very long time. Howabout something more expensive?

Can’t even find the price for replacement headlights for the S-Class with the super fancy opulent Swarovski LED crystal thingys. Something so fancy and such, wonder how much that’s gonna be whenever they dim out , or if you replace the entire unit? Maybe this is a future monopoly plan for dealers to make more service department moolah because reasons....Idk.

It’s bad enough I already see Dodges and BMWs of the last few years with burnt out DRLs and racetrack taillights and they look super cheap and janky when one bank or side is dim . Just think about further down the road...

On a side note, the Durango’s taillights use “192 LEDs”, I think it’d be funny to watch someone replace all or some of them when and if they went out.

My bird IS the word > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 13:34

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LEDs dont “burn out”, at least they aren’t supposed to unless there is a defect. Instead they gradually dim over time.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > My bird IS the word 07/26/2018 at 13:36

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Well you got what I meant. Dim over time until nothing is visible.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 13:38

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I’ve 100% already seen Dodge vehicles with the racetrack rear light missing diodes.

To be honest, for most people this isn’t something that they will think about. It’s for the second/third owners to worry about. Leasing is way more common tha n it used to be, auto manufacturers are trying to put subscription models in place.

The only people that will have to worry about replacement parts are the poor people (or financially smart people).

Boxer_4 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 13:38

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Someone I know has a Cadillac with an LED 3rd brake light. It went bad, possibly the circuit  board.  The dealer wanted $800 for it (maybe a bit less, I forget). He sent it out to be rebuilt by a guy running a business in his garage.  Paid $150 for it. That's probably the future. 

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Boxer_4 07/26/2018 at 13:39

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That might be an interesting market to be in.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 13:39

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I’d imagine the original owners and the manufacturers don’t really care about it, because by then the cars are 5-10 years on the road and in the hands of the 2nd, 3rd, or more owners.  I bought a 2009 audi and it has HIDs and LED running lights and the HIDs only just needed replacement last year.  So that’s 8 or so years.  Not too bad at all, and the LEDs are still going strong.  I’d imagine the burnt out bulbs you see out there today are due to defect or collision damage more than anything else.  The lifespan of LEDs are a long time.  Longer than HID bulbs, and most of those will go 5 years, plus without issue.

RT > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 13:42

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Don’t get me wrong, automotive lighting hasn’t looked so awesome since the 60s-70s.

* since 2004.

gawdzillla > Boxer_4 07/26/2018 at 13:43

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contact info for that guy that build the $150 light in his garage ?

i might got some business for him

fintail > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 13:49

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I suspect on many of these, the cars will wear out or suffer a terminal issue before the headlights.

Speaking of auto lights, I see many with the DRLs or full auto lights disabled, and then it’s always a Toyolex product running around at dusk with no lighting. It’s an announcement of ineptitude, idiots fiddle with the settings and light switch.

Future next gen S2000 owner > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 13:49

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People will just drive around with out LEDs. They won’t fix them. When they go bad, the cars won’t be worth much and will be in the hands of those without the means to fix them. So they’ll just go without.

ToyotaFamily > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 13:53

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Seeing burnt out lights while driving in other states sort of makes me happy that Virginia has a yearly inspection.

I had a car pull out of a driveway one night  when I was in Cali, it had no working headlights AND taillights. Just a single fog light and 3rd brake light. 

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > ToyotaFamily 07/26/2018 at 13:59

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Doesn’t California have inspections.....?

I mean I’m kinda glad to live in a state without inspections or front license plates, I’ll also admit there are some problems not having the former.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Boxer_4 07/26/2018 at 14:17

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It’s kind of a flip to the past. It used to be went somtjng when bad you had it repaired not replaced, now most things have become healer than the labor to replace them. But 1 hour with enough knowledge and a soldering iron and you can fix a 700 dollar LED tailight.

Urambo Tauro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 14:25

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Oof, that’s obscene. I don’t think I’ve ever owned a car with lamp housings in the triple-digit price range. I’ d like to keep it that way.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 14:28

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Absolutely. Between LED lights, all the various displays inside a modern car and electronic modules with printed circuit boards controlling everything, there is going to be a market for folks that repair this stuff. At some point (like the current situation with C4 vette HVAC control boxes and modules), there are simply no more new parts to be had at any price, most or all used ones either already are bad or will be soon enough, and the only option to keeping cars on the road is figuring out to repair these parts. Unless OEMs change course and start making logic diagrams widely available , they’ll be money to be made for the electrical engineers who want to reverse engineer these modules and repair them . I think the trick will be picking the cars to invest in. Few folks are going to invest in keeping a 20 year-old Accord going once modules go out (with no more replacements out there) and the HVAC no longer works, but for cars with an enthusiast following, there will be folks who will pay to keep them going.

ToyotaFamily > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 15:19

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Just smog check I believe.

I will say this, the cars they allow on roads in Maryland (no yearly inspection) is amazing. Think tires with belts showing, broken lights, and exhaust hanging off. That’d never fly in Va.

OPPOsaurus WRX > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 15:19

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this is how most of those durangos look like when i see them

CRider > ToyotaFamily 07/26/2018 at 15:49

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Well driving in Virginia is about as much fun as getting a tooth pulled without anesthetic, why not make owning a c ar there a pa i n in the ass all by its e lf? A yearl y insp e ction on a new or newer car is ridiculous. CA requires bie nni al smog checks on vehicles over 6  years old.

My bird IS the word > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 15:54

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Th at should be longer than the intended lifespan of the car. Screws guys like us the most.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 15:56

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I had an LED 3rd brake light on my 04 Blazer when I had it that went out . Ended up getting a 2nd hand one that STILL cost me over 100 bucks.

I know the adaptive/turning LED headlights need to be actually replaced as a whole unit and I’ve heard the Kia K900 ones are crazy expensive.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > RT 07/26/2018 at 16:31

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Wrong. 

Mercedes Streeter > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 16:32

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Funny you mention the Dodge racetrack lights. It seems the racetrack lights (even the “ fiber optic” smooth versions) love to burn out quickly, however I’ve noticed a few others:

- Chevy Traverse (always one section of the taillights going out).

- Any Mazda with LED DRLs (usually one whole light going out).

- Tesla Model S (usually one or two or three burned out or dimmed LEDs on maybe every third car I see).

I can’t imagine how much it would cost to replace them. :O

RT > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 07/26/2018 at 17:31

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No U.

CaptDale - is secretly British > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 19:13

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These tail light MSRP $1200 all LED. Can’t replace anything in them

CaptDale - is secretly British > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 19:13

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No CA has no required inspection. Just smog every 2 years

NojustNo > My bird IS the word 07/26/2018 at 19:14

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It seems its often not the lights but the solderi ng joint or the circuit boards they attach to. Or the ballast (is that the right word?)

Disarray91 > NojustNo 07/26/2018 at 20:20

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HIDs and such use ballasts, LEDs use drivers. Very little difference, and people know what you're talking about either way. 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/26/2018 at 20:32

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Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > My bird IS the word 07/26/2018 at 21:04

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I nstead of buying a 10 year old car for $10k with LEDs still going strong , you waited 10 more years to buy it for $2500 with dimmed out LEDs ! $7500 saved!* #tavarisharticle

*Before LED replacement costs

My bird IS the word > NojustNo 07/26/2018 at 21:36

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Bu t that’s more of poor manufacturing than the actual design

My bird IS the word > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 07/26/2018 at 21:37

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My concern is vintage car, suprise! Nobody makes replacement tail light LEDs anymore!

Mitchell > Boxer_4 07/26/2018 at 23:03

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Nice, I really need to find a guy like that. I just had the headlight on my ‘12 Volvo S60. Af ter extensive testing, we’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not the bulb or the ballast not the entire assembly needs to be replaced. Cheapest I can find them online is about $700...

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > My bird IS the word 07/27/2018 at 00:15

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I been bamboozled

Alex B > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/27/2018 at 07:47

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I was behind an X3 with a burned out left LED taillight and was wondering this same thing 

pip bip - choose Corrour > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/27/2018 at 07:48

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they’re will be people who can rectify the problem for less.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/27/2018 at 08:28

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Pretty much yeah.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 07/27/2018 at 08:29

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Yeah, we were talking about this last week actually.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/27/2018 at 08:31

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RIP

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/27/2018 at 10:08

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Well I know WE were, but I wanted to share that comment to all the other readers.

Bryan > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/28/2018 at 02:09

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Yep, saw that coming. Latest money grab from the automotive oligopoly. I can see the secret meeting in one of the corporate think tanks: (exec takes a long pull on the doobie then slowly exhales followed by giggling) “So we do just like we did with the dipstick (which was removed preventing you from checking the fluid level of the single-most important thing associated with your car), and we put in like a shit-ton of sealed LEDs and we tell them they will last like forever and when they don't they have to replace the entire sealed unit, cha-ching!!"