Wheeldog

Don't change your headlights out for LED they aren't bright enough for main lights. I would either get some new halogen bulbs or buy a HID conversion kit.

Wheeldog

Also I would make sure the break lights you are looking at will fit right they are the SRCK type and I'm not 100% sure if they will fit.

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

Foglights: OK, 6K (or 6000K) is just a color temp, it won't "burn wires"
Headlights: DO NOT USE LEDS FOR HEADLIGHTS!
Turn Signals: These will work for the rear, but you need amber LEDs for the front (I would use amber in back also)
Brake: Those will work.

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

Not sure if you meant our brake lights are SRCK or the ones he posted are... but neither are. Our tails are just regular 7443s and the ones he posted also are.

klanham08

I just look on your first post and if I follow what you listed for what you purchased, everything should be ok then right?

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I keep the first post updated so those should work with any 04-08 RX-8. I use the more expensive, high power LEDs whenever possible to get the most light output, but you can go with the lower powered ones too (like the links you posted).

Wheeldog

Oops I think I clicked back to the list and got turned around and thought he had the srcks.

ddtran46

They have great customer service. I just received the replacement parking bulb from them and so far so good.

CarAndDriver

I put my V-LED high-power LED brake light bulbs in and they look very sharp. I recommend it to everyone. Brighter, more intense and quicker to light up. I left the 3rd brake light non-LED so I wouldn't have to splice, but it'd be nice to have an LED bulb there too. Also would love to put in LED turn signals, but splicing. Maybe one of these days.

Just something I found out or maybe should have known - I put one of the LED bulbs in and tested the brakes and the LED one didn't light up. At first I thought I put it in wrong and double-checked, but my next test was to stick the other LED bulb in and - then both LED bulbs lit up.

Highly recommended mod.

bassy

I had second thoughts about splicing the wires and reversibility as well, but the mod is totally worth it. So, I went ahead and did it. I just hated the stock one. The LED one makes the car 10X nicer and more upscale looking. Just do it!

CarAndDriver

If you're volunteering to help me do the work - come on over.

Monkeyface

Before I start I can't resist mentioning that I have been taking the incredible advice offered on this forum since July of 2003 and can tell you the members hands down beat anything and everything I have ever found in over 30 years of owning very nice Porsches, Jags, MG's, Lotus's etc. In short they have helped to make the RX8 the car out of all of these very pricey models the best and most enjoyable car I have ever owned (and the only car I have ever kept anywhere near this long.)

Anyway, I took the advice I had seen here and spent $150 on bulbs from V-LEDS which have been truly awesome. The one issue I have concerns the 28 LED high power H11's I bought (as shown on this thread) for the fog lamps. It would appear that they do not easily go in simply because they are much longer than the more conventional halogens that are in there...they are hitting the metal dome inside the light or at least I believe they are. Do you remove this dome to install these and if so please let me know if there is an easy way to do so.

Thanks so much!!

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

Yep, I've removed the metal dome/reflector/cap from my housings. It's not terribly difficult but does require removing the foglight housing from the car. I'm pretty good at doing things by feel, so I was able to do it without removing the bumper, but just taking a few undertray clips out and reaching my arm up inside. Taking the front bumper off is easy also, so going that route may save some frustration.

You only need to remove the metal housing, not the plastic shroud around it. There are two screws holding each housing in, one on the underside and one and the side closest to the center air dam. Once you have the housing removed, you simply reach in with your finger and move the metal cap up and down. The stalk that it's on will bend right at the base. Keep moving it up and down until it breaks. Now the cap will be loose in the headlight housing, but will not come out because it is slightly larger than the opening. While holding the stalk, reach in with a needlenose plyers and squeeze the cap. Now you should be able to remove it.

Most likely there will be sooty, flaky residue from the halogen bulb on the inside of the cap, and now all over the inside of the housing from your finger. Wash the housing out with water and then let it dry completely (you don't want condensation in the housing). put everything back together and the bulb should fit nicely.

Post some pics when you get everything working!

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the great compliments - I hope we can deliver on this one!

As you found, a LED replacement is often much larger than the original.
I don't really have an answer to how to get the metal guard out, needlenose pliers?

CarAndDriver

Problem - help, thoughts, advice?

So I put the high-power V-LED LED bulbs in my brake lights and left a regular bulb in the 3rd brake light. Yesterday, I started having issues with the instrument and dash lights staying dim after I turned my headlights off.

Today, my dash and instrument lights would dim every time I hit the brake pedal. This only started happening with the LED bulbs. I took the LED bulbs out and put the regular brake light bulbs back in.

Ta dah - everything back to normal. I was under the impression that these sort of issues (resistance?) would be taken care of by leaving a normal bulb in the 3rd brake light.

Anyone have any suggestions? Does it look like I'll have to splice the wires to add resistance in on my car - is it car by car basis?

Thanks!

rodjonathan

iTrader: (6)

it takes some work but with some forcing and nose pliers you will be able to squeeze it out of the housing you have to break it first though move it in all directions til it snaps

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

That's pretty strange. I would try putting the LEDs in one at a time and see if maybe one of them is bad. It shouldn't be doing that and you shouldn't need any resistors for just the taillights.

CarAndDriver

Thanks Aipex8.

So if I have one LED bulb in and one regular bulb in the brake lights - should they both light up? When I was putting them in, I put an LED bulb in on the left and kept a regular bulb in the right housing. The LED bulb did not light up - does that indicate it was a bad bulb? When I put both LED bulbs in - they both lit up. So I figured it was I had to have both LED bulbs in to have them work.

Appreciate the help. I haven't seen this problem before, the most common issue being the fast blinking.

csiepka

That's kinda the problem I was having with my brake lights, I've since gone back to stock bulbs. But mine were only doing that with a set I got from rx8strakes. My husband happened to have two spare led tower brake light bulbs from a previous car (from v-leds) and that problem didn't happen with those in, but then one of the bulbs started fast blinking after a few seconds having the brake pressed. idk.... back to stock again.

Here's my original post if you are interested:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-exterior-appearance-body-kits-27/weird-problem-led-light-install-179353/

csiepka

Don't do that, you don't want to have load resistors on a constant load, the resistors get way to hot, but maybe an expert would say otherwise

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

You should be able to have just one work (pic below to prove it). I would try both bulbs alone with a stock bulb and see if both or one gives you a problem. I'm kind of guessing that it will be just one. Then I would get that one replaced.

csiepka

Aipex8,

You edited you bulb choices previously, I was just wondering if you still have the yellow cornering leds with crystal clear covers, and if so, can you post a pic? Just wondering what that looks like...

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

I am currently running amber LEDs in my clear corners. I also have them rewired as signal lights. The only pic I have is on the first page of this thread.

Monkeyface

AIPEX8's advice did the trick...no surprise given the brilliance on this forum. Thank you so much. The fog lights came right out although it is a bit of a pain that the bolt on the side has a phillip's head. The process of crushing the metal cap is a bit of a pain as well so I would be prepared with both a small and a larger set of needle nose pliers before begining.

Was it worth it? Absolutely!! The new lights look fantastic and are even brighter than I had hoped.

Thanks again!!

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

Glad it worked out for you. Post some pics up if you get a chance.