CarAndDriver

Anyone using red filament or LED bulbs in their turn signals? Would love to see some pics.

I'd go LED, but that hyper-blinking/needs resistor issue. So thinking regular red bulbs.

Thanks!

c0ldf1ame

iTrader: (5)

i have red LEDs in my rear turnsignals, but havent taken any pix

CarAndDriver

^ Well if you feel so inspired, I'd be grateful.

So what's your opinion on them? Do they look better/perform well and what did you do about the resistor issue?

JinDesu

iTrader: (2)

When you say red - you mean literally the color? I'm pretty sure using red outside of brakes would get you a nice ticket :x

Just curious.

CarAndDriver

Rear turn signals can be amber or red. For example, the Mustang, Chevy pickups, Infinitis, BMW, Hondas, etc. The front one has to be amber.

JinDesu

iTrader: (2)

Oh sorry - I'll double check my state, which was where I got the "Only brake lights may be red".

ac3mastuh

iTrader: (1)

According to California Vehicle Code Section 24953. "(a) Any turn signal system used to give a signal of intention to turn right or left shall project a flashing white or amber light visible to the front and a flashing red or amber light visible to the rear."

Since the RX-8 comes with amber all around, I'm running white LED's up front and red LED's in the rear. It really looks good and I really like it compared to the amber. I don't think I have any pics of the rear of my car with the turn signals on but I'll see if I can find one.

c0ldf1ame

iTrader: (5)

my tail lights are kinda messed up right now, getting a new set soon and i'll take some pictures, personally i like it better than amber simply because its sightly different than others, tho i think LED ambers can look pretty sharp also. I've been lazy and havent fixed the hyperblinking issues yet, so right now im just rolling oldschool with my hyper blinkers -_-

CarAndDriver

I prefer red turn signals in the rear as well. Fewer and fewer cars have amber turn signals nowadays and if they do, they are pretty stealthy.

Did you put a resistor in? Thanks for the pic offer. Hope you scrounge some up.

ac3mastuh

iTrader: (1)

I did not put a resistor in and some of the members of the socal crowd kinda loathe me for it when we go on cruises. Its practically a strobe light, thankfully I've never been pulled over for it. If I had a bit more time, I probably would put in an resistor simply because that clicker going super fast is kind of annoying, you get used to it but nonetheless I would probably put in a resistor in the future. It's still functional and works.

After a bit of scrounging, I couldn't find any pics of the turn signals on in the back, alot of my older photos were lost when my portable hard drive crashed a few months ago. I would take some for you but I'm not anywhere near my RX-8 for the time being and probably wont be until late March. Hopefully, you'll be able to find some pics from other people.


I definitely say to go for it, you will not be disappointed with the way it looks. The red looks really clean especially at night.

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/P...35733-1-2.html

These are the ones that I run and with all those LED's reflecting off the reflectors in the tail light looks really nice.

CarAndDriver

I am looking at these 2 bulbs and have absolutely no idea what the difference is between the two. I sent an email asking. Both bulbs are $5.99 each. I'm thinking the darker bulb with the clear base looks to be the better one.

Matrix MTXX23 » 7440 12v 27w Red Bulb


Matrix MTXX03 » 7440 12v 27 / 8w Red Bulb

ac3mastuh

iTrader: (1)

It looks like the dark bulb is a "stealth" type bulb where its designed to look silver or black in a clear reflector but goes red when it turns on. The other just simply looks like a red bulb.

Judging by past experience, the red bulb will be brighter but it will make the reflector look red when looking directly behind it.

CarAndDriver

Thanks for your thoughts. I just want to avoid getting a bulb that puts out some weak pinkish red light.

CarAndDriver

Also thinking of this one for $14.95 a bulb.

Polarg L13 Hyper Red 21W Hybrid Lens Type 7440 Light Bulb
http://www.amazon.com/Polarg-Hyper-H...4741744&sr=1-1

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

The dark red bulb will have less of a chance to output pinkish light.

Personally, I would never want red turn signals... I guess it depends on where you were brought up and what did you get used to. In Europe, red turn signals are illegal. Plus, it is much easier to differentiate the amber from other red lights in the back
On the same token, I never understood why is a requirement in the US to have a constant amber corner light in the front that often doubles as a turn signal. It's so much easier to see the blinking front turn signal without having that dumb amber corner light on. But I digress...

CarAndDriver

^ Yeah that's what I was thinking about the darker bulb. The one Amazon review about the Polarg bulb is that it wasn't as red as the buyer hoped.

I agree that an amber bulb is easier to see than a red bulb for a turn signal, but might be going for aesthetics here if the output is good enough.

I think in front in the US, you have to have an amber running light as well as a separate amber turn signal. In our 8, we have the orange side markers that are fixed and the amber signal integrated into the headlight cluster.

I do wish the US makers would incorporate side turn signals on all models like the Euro cars have on the side body or in the mirrors.

ac3mastuh

iTrader: (1)

In the US, we have to have an amber reflector of some sorts as well as amber side parking lights. Alot of manufacturers just combine them together with the turn signals but the RX-8 separates those lights. In most states, white turn signals up front are still legal going back to back in the 50s when most cars turn signals were not amber yet and states continue to allow it. But for sheer simplicity, nearly all manufacturers just make the front turn signals amber. I run all white lights up front and it looks pretty clean but technically the illegal part of my car are the clear corners which a ton of people have lol.

Side turn signals here aren't mandatory in the US but they might be in the future. You never know.

I think if you want to ensure having RED lights rather than a weak pink, I would say you should go the LED route. If you buy the right LED's they will be brighter and the color is a perfect red but without the red lens in front of it like our taillights, a red incandescent will look slightly different in color to the taillights.