Anyone try Sylvania ZEVO LED as reverse lights?

[JPMo]

I've noticed I've been having a fairly difficult time reversing out my parents long driveway at night, when I did not have this issue in my previous car (03 Mitsu lancer) and I think its because of poor light output from my reverse lights. Has anybody tried out these LED bulbs as their reverse lights on their ZHP? I'm curious as they are available locally and have the LEDs facing the reflectors which might help with light dispersion. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/zevo-5029/accessories-16449/accessories---exterior-16767/exterior-lighting-16612/bulb-flasher-fuse-16457/back-up-light-11510/sylvania-zevo-led-mini-bulb/7506ledbp2/4743395/2004/bmw/330i

[Newjack]

I've noticed I've been having a fairly difficult time reversing out my parents long driveway at night, when I did not have this issue in my previous car (03 Mitsu lancer) and I think its because of poor light output in my reverse lights. Has anybody tried out these LED bulbs as their reverse lights on their ZHP? I'm curious as they are available locally and have the LEDs facing the reflectors which might help with light dispersion. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/zevo-5029/accessories-16449/accessories---exterior-16767/exterior-lighting-16612/bulb-flasher-fuse-16457/back-up-light-11510/sylvania-zevo-led-mini-bulb/7506ledbp2/4743395/2004/bmw/330i

I've never tried those reverse lights before. I'm using these bulbs in my car. (http://www.khoalty.com/bmw-e46-cree-led-reverse-light.html)

They are very bright, but they don't help much when backing up at night. I think its just the angle of the bulbs not pointing down but more out that causes an issue.

I'm curious to see what other people say

[ZHPizza]

These kick ass for me, but I'd love to try the ones you linked.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017EI8X54/

Edit: they're cheaper on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CKQP3XA/

[Newjack]

These kick ass for me, but I'd love to try the ones you linked.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017EI8X54/

Edit: they're cheaper on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CKQP3XA/

Have you ever tried backing up in a pitch black driveway and been able to see with your current reverse lights?

My parents house is like backing up into the abyss. I usually never pull far into the driveway to just avoid the issue.

[ZHPizza]

Have you ever tried backing up in a pitch black driveway and been able to see with your current reverse lights?

My parents house is like backing up into the abyss. I usually never pull far into the driveway to just avoid the issue.

Yeah, but I have a backup cam so it's not too comparable.

[JPMo]

Yeah, but I have a backup cam so it's not too comparable.

lol makes all the difference. I need to modernize


Have you ever tried backing up in a pitch black driveway and been able to see with your current reverse lights?

My parents house is like backing up into the abyss. I usually never pull far into the driveway to just avoid the issue.

Exactly my struggle, made worse by the fact that the driveway has a couple slight bends surrounded by trees. Visibility is crucial.

You think we'll get bulb out errors?

[Newjack]

lol makes all the difference. I need to modernize



Exactly my struggle, made worse by the fact that the driveway has a couple slight bends surrounded by trees. Visibility is crucial.

You think we'll get bulb out errors?

I don't have any bulb out errors from my CREE LED's that I linked above. Been running them for years without issues.

[ZHPizza]

lol makes all the difference. I need to modernize



Exactly my struggle, made worse by the fact that the driveway has a couple slight bends surrounded by trees. Visibility is crucial.

You think we'll get bulb out errors?

I've tried several LEDs back there with no errors. Should be good to go.

[ELCID86]

I've never tried those reverse lights before. I'm using these bulbs in my car. (http://www.khoalty.com/bmw-e46-cree-led-reverse-light.html)

They are very bright, but they don't help much when backing up at night. I think its just the angle of the bulbs not pointing down but more out that causes an issue.

I'm curious to see what other people say

I'm using these same CREE bulbs. :like

[az3579]

You think we'll get bulb out errors?

You can use any bulb you want; reverse light bulbs are not monitored by CANBUS on the E46 platform. The same goes for the fog lights.

[JPMo]

You can use any bulb you want; reverse light bulbs are not monitored by CANBUS on the E46 platform. The same goes for the fog lights.

Good to know. Thanks

[ZHPizza]

Well. Dangit. I ordered them to be here Saturday. I can compare them to what I currently have.

[Newjack]

Well. Dangit. I ordered them to be here Saturday. I can compare them to what I currently have.

Compare and let us know. I'm interested

[JPMo]

Well. Dangit. I ordered them to be here Saturday. I can compare them to what I currently have.

haha thanks, look forward to your comparision! I would have jumped on it but I don't have my car currently. Mechanic chasing a vacuum leak...for the past 2 weeks...

[John in VA]

I would have jumped on it but I don't have my car currently. Mechanic chasing a vacuum leak...for the past 2 weeks...
No smoke machine?!?

[JPMo]

No smoke machine?!?

well I should clarify that he's working on the car from his house but no. He hasn't smoked it yet...and now the car wont run when I gave it to him running

[ZHPizza]

I swapped one of the bulbs in a few weeks ago and finally remembered to check the output at night. It puts out bright, clean, white light...but is no match for the bulbs that I already had.

The color on these isn't quite as white, but the output is significantly higher in all directions, especially down towards the ground. These are the ones you want:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017EI8X54/

[JPMo]

Good to know, thanks! You mentioned light output is much higher with your recommended bulbs, but is your rear visibility increased when reversing at night? Seems like many LED bulbs output a lot of light but it ends up being wasted.


I swapped one of the bulbs in a few weeks ago and finally remembered to check the output at night. It puts out bright, clean, white light...but is no match for the bulbs that I already had.

The color on these isn't quite as white, but the output is significantly higher in all directions, especially down towards the ground. These are the ones you want:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017EI8X54/

[ZHPizza]

Good to know, thanks! You mentioned light output is much higher with your recommended bulbs, but is your rear visibility increased when reversing at night? Seems like many LED bulbs output a lot of light but it ends up being wasted.Yeah, that's definitely an issue with LEDs. The light tends to wash out contrast and actually make it more difficult to see driveway edges and such. I really can't give you an accurate answer since (1) I live in the city and never reverse down a dark driveway and (2) I have cheat codes [backup camera].

[BMWCurves]

I swapped one of the bulbs in a few weeks ago and finally remembered to check the output at night. It puts out bright, clean, white light...but is no match for the bulbs that I already had.

The color on these isn't quite as white, but the output is significantly higher in all directions, especially down towards the ground. These are the ones you want:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017EI8X54/

I have similar ones (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MC6799K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), which I think you actually recommended, and they're definitely an improvement over the factory incandescent bulbs. Sadly, no longer in stock.

[Dual]

There is this, from the same "LUYED" firm, and w/mucho lumens--
https://www.amazon.com/LUYED-Extremely-Chipsets-Reverse-Brightest/dp/B01H54SP6O/

(https://www.amazon.com/LUYED-Extremely-Chipsets-Reverse-Brightest/dp/B01H54SP6O/)... not an endorsement, just a spot.

[JPMo]

Yeah, that's definitely an issue with LEDs. The light tends to wash out contrast and actually make it more difficult to see driveway edges and such. I really can't give you an accurate answer since (1) I live in the city and never reverse down a dark driveway and (2) I have cheat codes [backup camera].

Lol fair enough. Thanks anyway