LED indicator lights blinking too fast

One of the issues with fitting rear lights with smoked lenses is that the dim-ish incandescent bulbs find it even more of a challenge to shine through effectively...Fitting higher powered LED bulbs is one way to address this but one of the problems is that this results in the indicators blinking too fast. You can get the same effect when one of the indicator bulbs has blown. Because the resistance of an LED bulb is lower than that of an incandescent bulb the indicator relay can't "see" that a bulb is present and so it blinks faster. It doesn't do this consciously, of course. It's just a factor of the design.

One of the fixes for this is to fit an LED compatible indicator relay. This how I overcame the problem when I fitted LED indicator bulbs to my Defender. Unfortunately, the flasher function on MG TFs with the Pektron remotes is performed by the SCU and it's not possible to change that.

Fortunately, it is possible to fix by adding extra resistance in the form of ballast resistors to the LED bulbs.

This is how I did it...

These are the LED bulbs I used..
2X 25W 7507/581/BAu15S CREE LED CANBUS BULBS AMBER INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR BMW Completed
Here are the ballast resistors.
380 P21/5W 382 P21W LED Car Bulbs 50W 6 Ohm RESISTORS Buy It Now
..and the connectors
2 Way Mate N Lok Electrical Wiring Multi Connector - Genuine Tyco/TE Part Buy It Now

First stick the ballast resistor onto the rear light cover using double sided tape..I used No Nails tape.
Feed the tails through the slots in the cover.

and crimp them into one side of the connector

Cut the live and earth feed to the lamp, join both live ends to one terminal in the other side of the connector. Do the same with the earth cable.


Plug the two ends of the connector together.
Replace the cover.
Repeat for the other side.
Test...and enjoy using your indicators..You do use them don't you?..They seem to be optional extras on so many vehicles these days!

:yesnod: :yesnod: :broon:

David and I have been discussing this issue as I also fitted Phillips LED indicator globes to my rear tail lights.
I also had to wire in the Philips resistor how ever I managed to mount the resisters inside the cut out of the rear quarter panels, so that a hot resister wasn't in my cargo area.
I doubt its an issue with indicators as they aren't on long enough, but its an unobtrusive fit. You just need to ensure the plastic wiring protector as displayed in Davids photo isn't crushing your wires to the resister once screwed in place.
Just a different mounting approach.

Ken


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Unobtrusive is good too as Ken says...it's a choice thing..either way is perfectly fine..just make sure you fit them..fast flashing is not legal in the UK..60 to 120 flashes per minute is the requirement...

'and these resistors can get hot, especially if using hazards, sticking them onto plastic, hmm, not nice.

Yellow Peril wrote: 'and these resistors can get hot, especially if using hazards, sticking them onto plastic, hmm, not nice.

That's a good point and I'll test that with the hazard flashers..TBF they are rated at 50w so I wouldn't expect them to glow red or anything but..I will check them.. :yesnod:

I bought some LED indicator lamps and found the same issue so took it up with the supplier. It seems that one needs a LED indicator relay instead of the standard one. As I was not about to start butchering wiring etc so returned them for a full refund. Was not happy that this issue was not mentioned.

It seems that fitting the new type relay would do away with the need to fit the resistor.

An LED compatible flasher relay would indeed solve the problem. I used one of those on my Defender when I changed my bulbs to LEDS.

However, the latest TFs at least don't have a separate flasher relay to change.

The flasher function is incorporated in the SCU...and you don't want to go buggering about with that. Maybe the earlier TFs and the Fs have a separate flasher relay. I don't know...but if thye do then yes definitely replace it for an LED compatible one..that would work fine.. :yesnod: