Diode Dynamics vs Coupe Lights, Coupe Wins
Diode Dynamics vs Coupe Lights, Coupe Wins
tl;dr - Diode Dynamics HP3 bulbs melt inside 06 Coupe projectors. Pics below.
Last December I needed to replace my fog lights, and I had some ebay LED bulbs in the parking lights. Never really liked them, too blue. Did some poking around on the forum, saw all the vendor advertising, and I went with Diode Dynamics 194 HP3 warm white LED bulbs for the parking lights. Replaced H1 fogs with regular Sylvania bulbs. After taking off the front wheels and fender liner, bulbs went in fairly simply. Color is slightly whiter than the regular peanut bulbs and matches the headlight without looking ricer blue.
Life was good.
Then only a few short months later in March, I noticed a bulb was out:
Okay, things happen. I'd like to take this moment to point out that DD customer service is outstanding. Sent them an email that I had a problem, and I got the shipping notification before they even replied to tell me they were sending a replacement ASAP.
I think it's a hassle to take my wheel off, so I turn the wheel and do some crazy hand acrobatics in order to move the splash shield and get to the bulb. New bulb installed, a few band-aids, and I'm on the road again.
Now, May. May oh May. The OTHER side is now burnt out. Send other email to DD, they tell me how great their warranty is and send out another bulb right away. Have I mentioned how easy it is to change a bulb on a coupe? It's super easy.
This time though, something looks funny:
The damn bulb is melted! This is going to be fun. I leave the wheel on again, but this time jack the car up to give myself more room to move the splash shield. Hey, I'm getting pretty good at this! Pop off the over 9000 plastic clips for the liner and get access to the housing. Give the parking bulb a tug. Nothing. Pull harder. Plop.
SUNOFA-------!
So I have a melted bulb inside my headlight now. Told my wife I'd only be 15 minutes to help tuck the kids into bed, so taking apart the entire front of my car to remove a headlight housing and shake this little bastard out is not how I intended to spend my evening.
Took a look at the new bulb Diode had sent me, and I'm not very confident this one will last either. Look closely, the white plastic is already cracked, right out of the box.
Installed it anyway for now. I think I'm going to just go to the local autoparts store and get regular bulbs. This aftermarket stuff is for the birds, last longer? Riiiiight. Even no-name eBay SMDs lasted a few years.
A friend thought maybe it was getting too hot inside the headlight. I guess it's possible, but I only turn on my foglights when it's foggy or in the rain on a remote highway, in other words not very often.
So for now, I'm rocking some free Diode Dynamic advertising in my headlamp. Think I'll even put their sticker on my headlight when I go to car shows. Diode Dynamics: 0 - Coupe Headlights: 2
To be fair, I let Diode Dynamics know the bulb was melted and offered to send them pics. Their response was along the lines of "gee, that's unusual, we have a great warranty rate, don't bother sending pics." At least I know I'll get fast replacements.
Killing the game, 2017, everybody's jealous.
Last December I needed to replace my fog lights, and I had some ebay LED bulbs in the parking lights. Never really liked them, too blue. Did some poking around on the forum, saw all the vendor advertising, and I went with Diode Dynamics 194 HP3 warm white LED bulbs for the parking lights. Replaced H1 fogs with regular Sylvania bulbs. After taking off the front wheels and fender liner, bulbs went in fairly simply. Color is slightly whiter than the regular peanut bulbs and matches the headlight without looking ricer blue.
Life was good.
Then only a few short months later in March, I noticed a bulb was out:
Okay, things happen. I'd like to take this moment to point out that DD customer service is outstanding. Sent them an email that I had a problem, and I got the shipping notification before they even replied to tell me they were sending a replacement ASAP.
I think it's a hassle to take my wheel off, so I turn the wheel and do some crazy hand acrobatics in order to move the splash shield and get to the bulb. New bulb installed, a few band-aids, and I'm on the road again.
Now, May. May oh May. The OTHER side is now burnt out. Send other email to DD, they tell me how great their warranty is and send out another bulb right away. Have I mentioned how easy it is to change a bulb on a coupe? It's super easy.
This time though, something looks funny:
The damn bulb is melted! This is going to be fun. I leave the wheel on again, but this time jack the car up to give myself more room to move the splash shield. Hey, I'm getting pretty good at this! Pop off the over 9000 plastic clips for the liner and get access to the housing. Give the parking bulb a tug. Nothing. Pull harder. Plop.
SUNOFA-------! So I have a melted bulb inside my headlight now. Told my wife I'd only be 15 minutes to help tuck the kids into bed, so taking apart the entire front of my car to remove a headlight housing and shake this little bastard out is not how I intended to spend my evening.
Took a look at the new bulb Diode had sent me, and I'm not very confident this one will last either. Look closely, the white plastic is already cracked, right out of the box.
Installed it anyway for now. I think I'm going to just go to the local autoparts store and get regular bulbs. This aftermarket stuff is for the birds, last longer? Riiiiight. Even no-name eBay SMDs lasted a few years.
A friend thought maybe it was getting too hot inside the headlight. I guess it's possible, but I only turn on my foglights when it's foggy or in the rain on a remote highway, in other words not very often.
So for now, I'm rocking some free Diode Dynamic advertising in my headlamp. Think I'll even put their sticker on my headlight when I go to car shows. Diode Dynamics: 0 - Coupe Headlights: 2
To be fair, I let Diode Dynamics know the bulb was melted and offered to send them pics. Their response was along the lines of "gee, that's unusual, we have a great warranty rate, don't bother sending pics." At least I know I'll get fast replacements.
Killing the game, 2017, everybody's jealous.
