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[JDX]

The map reading lights I have are pretty pathetic & I want to put in more powerful / better bulbs.
Can someone point me in the right direction what to go for. Are LED ones any good? 

[Nick W]

Like you, I found the stock courtesy light/map lights useless. That was once I had fitted bulbs into the map lights.
Some cheap LEDs from EBay now mean that each map light is fit for purpose:  I can actually read by them. I was lucky enough to get ones that dim like the original ones did.
I have LEDs in all of the courtesy lamps, puddle lamps and number plate lamps, although that does require 3 different types/sizes

[JDX]

Hi Nick,

Do you happen to know the code or link for the ones on ebay you got that dim?

[Nick W]

It was about 5years ago, so even if I did have the details they wouldn't be of any use to you. Courtesy lights that dim to off is just a nice gimmick rather than a necessity.

What you do need are LEDs that have chip on the end rather than the side. The courtesy/map lights take a 501 replacement, and the others are festoon type replacements in 36 and 39mm lengths depending on which lamp. There's no point in spending more than a tenner to do all of them.

[Andy B]

The festoon courtesy light in my Smart 451 was replaced with a led before I bought it, and while I've kept it in because of the bright white light it gives off, it never quite goes out while the ignition is on. 

[amba]

I found adding a small resistor to the fitting did the job .

No soldering required as resistors had long enough legs to wrap around fitting then inserted bulb.Dim and go off after delay perfectly...resistors were less than £1 for 10 ,now like Nick all bulbs are fit for purpose 

[biggriffin]

Got mine from Halfords.

[JDX]

Thanks for all the replies.
I'm on fleebay now - there are hundreds of them of course - choosing is always difficult 

[Andy A]

I found adding a small resistor to the fitting did the job .

No soldering required as resistors had long enough legs to wrap around fitting then inserted bulb.Dim and go off after delay perfectly...resistors were less than £1 for 10 ,now like Nick all bulbs are fit for purpose 

What was the value of the resistor that you used?

[amba]

1K resistor...nothing special just enough to pull the remaining current out to let bulb go fully off after dimmer switched off.

Maplins or ebay ,should cost you about 5p each I used 2 on the interior bulbs and 1 per door bulb and haven't had any issues

[Andy A]

1K resistor...nothing special just enough to pull the remaining current out to let bulb go fully off after dimmer switched off.

Maplins or ebay ,should cost you about 5p each I used 2 on the interior bulbs and 1 per door bulb and haven't had any issues

Cheers amba.