More concerning LED lamps for the XLR
The lamp replacement guide at
www.sylvania.com seems to be pretty accurate for the most part.
The listing for the step/courtesy lights were wrong for my 2005. I found that the courtesy lamps in the doors were PC168 units, which are 168 type lamps in a holder.
The lamps for the trunk lamps were also PC168 units as well, but slightly different in that the units in the door lamps were integral, with the lamps being permanently made into the lamp holder assembly, whereas the ones in the trunk lights were just 168 lamps that were plugged into a socket adapter that then plugged into the fixture.
I was able to install an LED replacement lamp into the "adapters" that were in the trunk lights. I looked and found that most auto parts stores sell these socket adapters. I found them at both Autozone and O'Reilly Auto Parts. It is referred to as a 1/2" Instrument Panel Socket (Dorman p/n 85835).
https://www.dormanproducts.com/cgi-...=&start=&vfrom=&prev=&vnext=&category_list=:0
Evidently, these pc168 lamps are commonly used for dash lamps.
After I purchased a pair of these "sockets" at Autozone, I was able to plug the 168 LED replacements into them and install them in the door courtesy lamps.
The "footwell" courtesy lamps were 168 bulbs and replacing them was a snap. This left the courtesy/map lights in the rearview mirror, as covered in previous threads.
One thing that I found is the apparently the 168 and 194 lamps are about the same. However, you must be careful concerning what LED replacement lamp you use to install in each location. 168/194 bulbs cast their light out in a 360 degree patterm, and most LED lamps don't. As a result, you need to select which LED unit you use in each application.
ccclarke had some very good information in his post and he said he has had good experience with superbrightleds.com. I have been purchasing my LED units from V-leds.com and they also have an eBay store where I have been purchasing my units. They have an excellent selection and the shipping is very quick.
I used the units that they refer to as "flank bulbs" in the footwells, as the flank units direct all their light to one side which seemed to be the best for this application.
You have to be careful if you replace the rear license plate lamps as anything longer than a stock 168/194 lamp will not fit. As a result, I ordered a unit that had 6 leds end-mounted and was no longer than a standard 168/194 lamp. This was also the lamp I used for the courtesy/map lights in the rearview mirror, as most of the light from these is directed downward.
I think there is a small improvement in the safety aspect as well, concerning the door courtesy lamps. The LED units I used there (plenty of room) have 13 leds and are very bright .They should be much more noticeable and visible to anyone else when you open the door at night.
You can't believe the improvement that replacing all the incandescent bulbs in the passenger cabin with LED units will make! A car that is as
modern as the XLR is deserves
better than the "yellowish" light of standard bulbs. I know that when you open the door of my XLR at night now, it looks as modern and "cutting edge" as the rest of the car does!
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