Bulb References

[Paulus]

Hiya,

Have been researching changing interior bulbs for cool white (Xenon temp) LEDs having done this on our Bongo. I prefer the look, the output is better and you can leave them on for a long time without draining the Battery noticably. I also want to replace the sidelights with something close in temp to the HIDs.

Along the way I've found things are not as straighforward as they could be and there's a lot of confusing information around so I thought I'd post this in case it's useful for someone else.

For exterior bulbs see this http://www.consumabulbs.com/files/nproduct...=33&md=4653 for UK references and cross check against this http://www.whatbulb.com/2001-Lexus-GS300GS430 which has US references but is more accurate and complete.

But they're fairly easy compared to interior bulbs, I found a reference list on CL but it only gives US bulb types, here it is (thanks to rominl at CL, see his excellent FAQ for endless info about GS lighting):

• backup [reversing] light - m2 (in newer models it might need M6 instead)
  
• rear door bottom light - m4
  
• rear passenger dome light - m4
  
• front door bottom light - m4
  
• front central dome light - m16
  
• front map light - m17
  
• side marker - m4
  
• night time driving light - m4 (stock replacement) or m6 (brighter out of spec replacement)
  
• foot well light - #74
  
• glove box - #74
  
• ignition - #74
  
• vanity mirror - m24 (a bit fatter in shape but should fit)
  
• trunk light - m4
  
• rear license plate - m4
  

Judging by the owner's manual I would say the rear courtesy lights are the same fitment (type "F") as the front map lights but at a lower wattage.

The above list is just the start though as it's all US references and a pain to sort out so here's a load of cross references that can be used to find the bulbs in the UK (most common refs in bold)

• M2 - 7440, 382, ba15s, p21w, 1156
  
• M4 - 501, 194/168, 158, 2821, 12256, 2825, W5W, T10
  
• M17 - BA9,BA9S,233, 1895, 57 also fit 756, 1815, 1889, 1891, 1893, 12929, 12814, P8701W
  
• M16 -DE3021, DE3022, DE3175, DE3425, 211-2, 212-2, 12844 Dome light (10mmx31mm), 269, (10W)
  
• M24 - DE3021, DE3022, DE3175, DE3425, 211-2, 212-2, 12844 , T8 (5W)
  
• #74 - T5, 17 18 37 70
  
• 73 79 85 86 2721, 286
  

Hope this is useful. If you want to do most of the interior, the side repeaters with amber-flashing white-looking and the sidelights with bright Xenon colour you're looking at about £60 for quality items from ultraleds, inc.p&p. My order should have been something along the lines of:

• 501/194/T10 New Mini Light Tower 9 x WA HB Leds AMBER x2 (repeaters)
  
• The Ultimate I 501/T10/194 1 x 1 Watt Ultra Xenon White x5 (sidelights, reversing lights & boot)
  
• U286W (286) Dash Board Slim wedge bulb White x3 (footwells and glovebox)
  
• 269 2 x High Brightness Xenon White SMT's 11 - 16v (One Bulb) x1 (front dome)
  
• BA9 1W Wide Angled High Power LED Bulb Xenon White x2 (front map)
  
• 501/194/T10 New Mini Light Tower 9 Leds Xenon White x2 (rear courtesy)
  

Not doing the vanity mirrors, SWMBO wouldn't thank me as the wamer light is more flattering ;-)

Happy to stand corrected on all this by someone more in the know!

Cheers,

Paul

[alpine]

Funny. I don't like the interior lights on my new 2008 GS at all. Its one poor feature. Too white, and less light than with proper tungsten bulbs. So I would be going exactly in the other direction if I felt strongly enough about it.

[Paulus]

It would be a boring world if we all liked the same things. :)

[aztecbandit1]

Good info Paul, :D

It takes quite a bit of time to try and find all the info for certain models :) i did a post like this for the is200/300 and a couple of other models which seamed to take ages to sort out due to model changes over the years :)

Good work mate :)

[Paulus]

Good info Paul, :D

It takes quite a bit of time to try and find all the info for certain models :) i did a post like this for the is200/300 and a couple of other models which seamed to take ages to sort out due to model changes over the years :)

Good work mate :)

Thanks mate, it's certainly quite a faff :)

I've done an update to the shopping list for ultraleds in the OP as I got some things wrong and missed some others.

The Ultimate I 501/T10/194 1 x 1 Watt that I got for the sidelights are an excellent match for the OEM HIDs and much brighter than the original tungstens. Care is needed when fitting them though as they need to be shoved firmly home in the bulb holder or they can work loose and fall off inside the cowling (agghhhh!). I also blew a 10A mini-blade fuse (driver's footwell) and have had to temporarily swap the one from the fuel opener. :tsktsk:

Particularly pleased with the results from the front dome light and rear courtesy lights, much more up to date looking and lumen output it at least as good as the tungstens. (With a grey or black interior the cool white LEDs may be a bit too chilly but in our sand/beige one it now feels less like sitting in a tub of clotted cream)

[shedhead]

Good info Paul, :D

It takes quite a bit of time to try and find all the info for certain models :) i did a post like this for the is200/300 and a couple of other models which seamed to take ages to sort out due to model changes over the years :)

Good work mate :)

Thanks mate, it's certainly quite a faff :)

I've done an update to the shopping list for ultraleds in the OP as I got some things wrong and missed some others.

The Ultimate I 501/T10/194 1 x 1 Watt that I got for the sidelights are an excellent match for the OEM HIDs and much brighter than the original tungstens. Care is needed when fitting them though as they need to be shoved firmly home in the bulb holder or they can work loose and fall off inside the cowling (agghhhh!). I also blew a 10A mini-blade fuse (driver's footwell) and have had to temporarily swap the one from the fuel opener. :tsktsk:

Particularly pleased with the results from the front dome light and rear courtesy lights, much more up to date looking and lumen output it at least as good as the tungstens. (With a grey or black interior the cool white LEDs may be a bit too chilly but in our sand/beige one it now feels less like sitting in a tub of clotted cream)

[alpine]

Particularly pleased with the results from the front dome light and rear courtesy lights, much more up to date looking and lumen output it at least as good as the tungstens. (With a grey or black interior the cool white LEDs may be a bit too chilly but in our sand/beige one it now feels less like sitting in a tub of clotted cream)

I suppose it depends on whether you like the midnight graveyard look. It all looks a bit creepy to me

What has baffled me is why, when all the rear and side exterior lights are LED, the parking lamps are tungsten.