...I've been pointing out cars with blown brake bulbs all week and found my own blown today.  

Seem to remember it was silly expensive to buy the red ones for the Focus last time I needed one (Jan 16) so any one know of a decent and cheap online supplier?  I don't want LEDs, just a standard bulb to match the other one...I still haven't got my money's worth out of that one yet!

 

 

2 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

decent and cheap online supplier?

Have you ever tried Beal UK?

Eg: https://www.beal.org.uk/electrical-products/automotive-bulbs/eb380-r-bulbs-stop/tail-12v-21/5w-bay15d-red.html

(£2.50 for a pack of 10!, though I am not sure that particular one is the right one!)

The Focus MK2.5 has red 12V 21W/5W BAW15D light bulbs. These light bulbs are extremely rare which results in high prices. Most automotive suppliers do not even carry these light bulbs in stock.

As far as I know this type of light bulb is only used for the Focus MK2.5 and a few different Saab models. In the past these light bulbs could be bought pretty cheap from Saab. However after the bankruptcy of Saab 5 Years ago the price for these light bulbs went up straight away.

39 minutes ago, JW1982 said:

The Focus MK2.5 has red 12V 21W/5W BAW15D light bulbs. These light bulbs are extremely rare which results in high prices. Most automotive suppliers do not even carry these light bulbs in stock.

As far as I know this type of light bulb is only used for the Focus MK2.5 and a few different Saab models. In the past these light bulbs could be bought pretty cheap from Saab. However after the bankruptcy of Saab 5 Years ago the price for these light bulbs went up straight away.

Interesting, thanks Wilco. Do you know if Vauxhall factors have them since GM took over servicing/spares for Saab?

Red BAW15D on eBay in normal filament & LED versions.

 

What the quality is like may be another story....

5 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

decent and cheap 

lamps are either one or the other , rarely both.

and im struggling to find a reason to choose filament over led when it comes to brake lights ;-)

13 hours ago, Tdci-Peter said:

Have you ever tried Beal UK?

Eg: https://www.beal.org.uk/electrical-products/automotive-bulbs/eb380-r-bulbs-stop/tail-12v-21/5w-bay15d-red.html

(£2.50 for a pack of 10!, though I am not sure that particular one is the right one!)

Thanks Peter, they don't seem to stock the one I need though.

13 hours ago, JW1982 said:

The Focus MK2.5 has red 12V 21W/5W BAW15D light bulbs. These light bulbs are extremely rare which results in high prices. Most automotive suppliers do not even carry these light bulbs in stock.

As far as I know this type of light bulb is only used for the Focus MK2.5 and a few different Saab models. In the past these light bulbs could be bought pretty cheap from Saab. However after the bankruptcy of Saab 5 Years ago the price for these light bulbs went up straight away.

Thanks Wilco.  Do you know the bulb number?  Halfords lists a 780 red bulb http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batteries/car-bulbs/halfords-780-pr21-5w-car-bulb-x-1 but the ones on ebay with the tag BAW15D are 567?  The last one I bought was from Halfords but I can't remember what the number was now and they don't list a 576.

Any idea why they used such a rare bulb?  There are plenty of cheap 5/21 red bulbs they could've used instead...it's a cheap family hatch, not a German luxury barge...  

12 hours ago, Ratters said:

Red BAW15D on eBay in normal filament & LED versions.

 

What the quality is like may be another story....

Yeah, I don't really want to buy cheap and buy twice, there are some very cheap ones on there though...but will they arrive as a pile of red glass dust or only last a week...  Hmm...

10 hours ago, biff55 said:

lamps are either one or the other , rarely both.

and im struggling to find a reason to choose filament over led when it comes to brake lights ;-)

I don't like cheap LEDs, they cause issues with CANBUS and bulb fail warnings (OK the Focus doesn't have that) and flicker after a few hours, failing completely in a couple of days.  Expensive ones are probably alright but I'd rather just pay for a bulb that I know will work then.  Plus I only need one and don't want one ultra bright LED and one slightly duller bulb lol.  I've just checked, the last one cost me £4.50...after trade discount!  

So...  It looks like Halfords is the only place I can buy one of these bulbs locally, assuming the 780 is the right one, places like ECP don't appear to stock them.  The cheap ebay ones are all economy delivery (Seems daft, surely people buy bulbs because they need them, not because they think they'll need them in a weeks time! ) and the ones with faster delivery end up costing more than the Halfords one anyway.

Price is £11 RRP, £5.50 with trade discount.    Will head over there shortly unless there are any places I haven't though to check?

Edit - GSF do one for £7.28.  Wilco do one for £5.99.  Still can't beat the Halfords trade price so far.

I think you're just going to have to put your hand in yer pocket! 

I think you're probably right there...

I'm off to Halfords now lol!

Well it was a whole quid cheaper than I expected lol...

It's only a single filament bulb, should've realised tbh as the tail lights are LED so it's only for the brake.  This means it's the 782 bulb, not the 780, £9 in Halfords, £4.50 on trade, Phillips branded, same as the original.  Still expensive for a bulb though!

 

euro-car parts do `em " Lucas 382 Single Filament Bulb RED - 12v 21w/5w £3.29 (carparts4less £2.08)

i`m sure they are the same bulb as what you have just invested in 

12 hours ago, andypsp said:

Lucas 382 Single Filament Bulb RED - 12v 21w/5w

How can a 21W/5W bulb be single filament?

1 hour ago, mjt said:

How can a 21W/5W bulb be single filament?

Oddly they do list it as single filament lol... https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-parts/car-electrics-and-car-lighting/lighting1/car-bulb/?481771882&&cc5_401

However the 382 bulb is the standard fitting bulb, they can be bought for pennies and are really common.  They don't have the offset pins that the 780/782 bulbs have.

ok, so for clarity, if you have LED tail light you need 782 bulb

if you don't have LED tail lights your looking at 780?

might just invest in some cheap ebay ones just now in case I need them, doesn't hurt to have a spare.

Just noticed my number plate light is out on the left side, thankfully I have about 3 dozen of those stupid things kicking about and I'm not all that sure where they all came from!

 

8 minutes ago, Dee_82 said:

ok, so for clarity, if you have LED tail light you need 782 bulb

if you don't have LED tail lights your looking at 780?

might just invest in some cheap ebay ones just now in case I need them, doesn't hurt to have a spare.

Just noticed my number plate light is out on the left side, thankfully I have about 3 dozen of those stupid things kicking about and I'm not all that sure where they all came from!

 

Yeah that sounds right.  I'm not sure if all facelifts have LED tail lights or if it's a spec related thing?  Been trying to look over the last few nights but seem to have been stuck behind PFLs ever since lol.

aren't the LED tail lights ST parts? I seem to remember a guide Lenny had, the LED ones had a straight line plastic diffusers where as the non LED lamps had a honeycomb design. or perhaps its the other way about

I thought they might be ST and Titanium?  Lennys was low spec to start with iirc.  Mine definitely haven't been changed by the elderly previous owners lol.  Unless they're part of the 'pack' with factory xenon headlights?

ETIS for my reg says:  Tail lamps - Level 2

Edit - Ok, just checked the reg of another facelift Titanium - Level 1 rear lights and halogen headlights.  So probably part of the xenons pack then? 

LEDs have straight lines diffuser as you said.   (Old pic, I do now have a clear rear fog lol. )

Have to say, I'm quite fond of those LED tail lights :) if your ever selling the car, maybe drop me a line, perhaps come to an arrangement ;) 

 

 

Lol, I won't be splitting parts I'm afraid, you're welcome to buy the whole car when it comes to selling though.   I would think there are plenty of used ones around to buy, people crash STs all the time lol!

So with the 'normal' lights, is it just the bottom half that illuminates red with the lights on?  Some sort of magic happens with these where the top half alternates red and orange with the indicator on.  Not sure if the orange light just overcomes the red of the LED of if the LED has to be switched off as the orange halogen is switched on...  

7 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Some sort of magic happens with these where the top half alternates red and orange with the indicator on

Sounds like a possible broken earth.

On 02/11/2017 at 11:05 PM, biff55 said:

and im struggling to find a reason to choose filament over led when it comes to brake lights ;-)

A much quicker illumination time is the main benefit from LED brake lights which may make the difference between being rear ended or not. It's worth around 5m at 60mph.

[Edit: Apologies - just spotted you were wondering what the benefits of filament over LED were and not the other way round!]

13 hours ago, mjt said:

Sounds like a possible broken earth.

Heh, now that's something you don't see often now...about 5 years ago every MK4 Fiesta seemed to have rear cluster earth issues!

But no, this is meant to happen, the LED light occupies the same space as the indicator bulb.  Tried to get a quick video but it's not overly clear being daytime lol.