Number Plate Bulbs

[Just]

Originally Posted by padpadpadpad

I have tried several makes of bulb - all go pop after a few months. Odd. Gonna try the LEDs however looks like BIG SMOOTH has the issue with LEDs too !

How weird is that - mine is just the same. Left hand side blew & I replaced both with leds about 18 months ago. The left hand side went again about 2 months ago. Just got around to replacing it last weekend, and the led had split where one of the pins was soldered inside the glass. Either a manufacturing defect, or something to do with the housing itself methinks.
Now temporarily running 1 x "bright white" bulb & one led, but doesn't look too bad.

Anyone noticed how poor quality the fixing screws are for the light units, they are pretty badly corroded already and I nearly stripped the screw head completely. Have replaced with a black coated type, but may get some stainless ones.

On a similar vein, I had a quick look around underneath the other week when I was adjusting the parking brake, and there is plenty of surface corrosion starting on not just the suspension components, but the underbody itself, which although not undersealed is supposed to be galvanised - or so I'm told. Looks like I may have to go to town with a tin of waxoyl if I'm keeping hold of it long term.

[keat]

Very interesting. I remember pad4 mentioning when he bought his car the number plate lights were out. So when he started this thread 2 weeks ago, i checked mine.
Both were working OK. Then tonight when I read Just's message above, i thought, I'll have another look.
Coincidentally, the left hand one has blown.
Twilight Zone or what ???

[Bo from Denmark]

Mine car is 1 1/2 year old, and I had to replace mine 2 or 3 times now. Hmmmm.

[Alex_UK]

To be honest I've never checked, but at the service today they supplied and fitted a number plater bulb as well as a sidelight bulb - must admit on every other car I've had in the last 20 years I would expect to see something in the instrument panel/display to tell me a bulb wasout but apparently not on the 300C...

[keat]

Originally Posted by Alex_UK

To be honest I've never checked, but at the service today they supplied and fitted a number plater bulb as well as a sidelight bulb - must admit on every other car I've had in the last 20 years I would expect to see something in the instrument panel/display to tell me a bulb wasout but apparently not on the 300C...

You are aware that its an offense to drive a vehicle with a defctive bulb.. unless of course you say "Well Officer, I checked them all before I set off, and they were fine" in which case I believe you are covered..
I'm sure Bill can clear this one up for us.

[Kaiser Bill]

yup...even though there are two, if one is out, youre liable....its VDRS country, so no big deal - I cant imagine you even getting stopped over one of two out, unless theyre interested in B/tests, or its one of many faults

[pirret]

Last night I looked out of my bedroom window and realised there was a strange glow coming from my Sexy 300c, opened my eyes and found out it was the street lighting, joking aside Iv'e had to replace number plate bulbs twice within 7 months, it seems strange that most of us have the same problem.

[Kaiser Bill]

street lights? - bliss! - its 4 miles to the nearest one for me

[padpadpadpad]

just pur 2 x 501 LEDs in mine, lets see how long they last this time v's normal bulbs