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Led Ring around the Headlights

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Old 08-29-2014, 03:12 AM
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1analguy
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Originally Posted by ipse dixit
The A19 LED bulb used in the headlight unit has a rated life expectancy of minimum 17,000 hours (and most bulbs are still emitting light at 70% if not 100% after 17,000 hours).

If you average 4 hours of DRL use, that'll mean the LEDs in your car will last about 17 years, give or take a day or two.

Of all the consumables in my 911, the LED bulbs rank way, way, way low on the totem pole of concerns.
When they start failing at 17 (or even 12) years old, their replacement cost will probably equal a large fraction of the car's value. That's when we'll start seeing folks converting the L.E.D.s back to xenons...
Old 08-29-2014, 09:59 AM
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I think Porsche started using xenon headlights in the 1996 993 Turbo. Now, lots of n/a 993 owners are also running those lights. You sure don't see a whole bunch of "my headlights burnt out" posts over on the 993 Forum or 993 Turbo Forum. I have BIGGER fish to fry in my life. I'm not worried about the longevity of my car's LEDs lights.
Old 08-29-2014, 11:18 AM
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Bacura
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^+1000
Old 08-29-2014, 10:26 PM
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A friend of mine took delivery of a new in stock '14 C2S with the 4 dot LEDs last week and when he got to my house a few hours later, one of the dots on the driver side headlights was burnt out. He is waiting on the part to arrive to replace. He did not know the whole assembly was being replaced or if it would be repaired somehow. I told him to keep me posted...
Old 08-29-2014, 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted by PCSandDDS
He did not know the whole assembly was being replaced or if it would be repaired somehow. I told him to keep me posted...
Whole assembly. Take less than 5 minutes.
Old 08-30-2014, 12:20 AM
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ipse dixit
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Originally Posted by 1analguy
When they start failing at 17 (or even 12) years old, their replacement cost will probably equal a large fraction of the car's value. That's when we'll start seeing folks converting the L.E.D.s back to xenons...
In 12 years, I'll probably be on my 3rd or 4th car.

Or dead.

Bigger things to keep me up at night.
Old 08-30-2014, 08:31 AM
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jlanka
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I prefer Led Zeppelin around my headlights...
Old 08-30-2014, 04:21 PM
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Noah Fect
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Originally Posted by 1analguy
When they start failing at 17 (or even 12) years old, their replacement cost will probably equal a large fraction of the car's value. That's when we'll start seeing folks converting the L.E.D.s back to xenons...
That seems like a stretch. If they are that unreliable and that expensive to replace, cheap aftermarket solutions will emerge. The LEDs themselves are already commodity parts, and barring WWIII, they'll be even cheaper in 10+ years. Perhaps we'll see a cottage industry of "headlight rebuilders" spring up, the way people have hung out shingles on every other street corner around here advertising iPhone screen repairs.

I can pretty much promise you that NOBODY is going to be selling xenons in 10-20 years' time. LEDs are too superior.
Old 08-31-2014, 09:34 AM
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Bacura
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LED's back to xenons? Not.
Old 08-31-2014, 12:12 PM
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991999R
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one of the main quality issues of LED over other light sources is that there is relative inconsistency with respect to the color temperature of the light. it will also "warm" up (decrease in K value) as it gets closer to its end-of-life. for a car, i wouldn't worry...i finally saw a 991 (with aerokit in gt silver) with LED and i was simply gobsmacked
Old 08-31-2014, 10:30 PM
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ipse dixit
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Originally Posted by Noah Fect
That seems like a stretch. If they are that unreliable and that expensive to replace, cheap aftermarket solutions will emerge. The LEDs themselves are already commodity parts, and barring WWIII, they'll be even cheaper in 10+ years. Perhaps we'll see a cottage industry of "headlight rebuilders" spring up, the way people have hung out shingles on every other street corner around here advertising iPhone screen repairs.

I can pretty much promise you that NOBODY is going to be selling xenons in 10-20 years' time. LEDs are too superior.
In about 5 years LEDs will be phased out, and we'll be seeing lasers (i.e. BMW i8 and 2016 R8). Much less 10-20.
Old 08-31-2014, 11:36 PM
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Originally Posted by ipse dixit
In about 5 years LEDs will be phased out, and we'll be seeing lasers (i.e. BMW i8 and 2016 R8). Much less 10-20.
Bring 'em on. The mod possibilities will be endless!



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