So, what’s the deal with LED bulbs?
If you’ve popped the bonnet and found yourself puzzling over whether to chuck in some LED bulbs, you’re not alone. We get folks in from all over Hamilton—Frankton, Claudelands, Te Awamutu, even Raglan—asking us about swapping out their old bulbs for LEDs. Simply put, LED means Light Emitting Diode. These wee things run super efficiently, use a fraction of the power your old halogen bulbs chew through, and kick out heaps of light. I’ve seen them run for 20-25 times longer than your standard halogen, and plenty of the LEDs we fit here last close to 30,000 hours.
That’s handy with all the stop-start at the Peachgrove roundabout or when you’re sitting in Dinsdale traffic on a wet winter morning. Less heat, less power drain, so you’re not always replacing dead bulbs.
Can you swap out your headlights for LED in NZ?
Here in NZ, this is where things get a bit sticky. If your car wasn’t built with LED headlights from the get-go—like some of those newer Subaru XVs or the odd Peugeot 308—you’re actually not allowed to just stick in LED replacements for your old halogens. Not legally, anyway. NZTA rules are clear on this. Some people do it, but the risk isn’t worth it: too-bright or badly aimed LEDs can blind other drivers on State Highway 3 into town from Cambridge, or right through to Morrinsville at night. If the authorities pick it up, you’ll get pinged with a fine, and you’ll fail your WOF Hamilton inspection. So if your Suzuki Swift or that Nissan Tiida didn’t come with factory LEDs, best to leave the headlights as they are.
What about stop lights?
Now, swapping to LED bulbs for your stop lamps is generally sweet. Your brake lights, including those high-mount ones on the back of the family van—think Toyota Estima, Honda Odyssey—work fine with LEDs. Just make sure they’re red (so you’re not lighting up like a circus) and check they meet the NZTA standards. If you’re ever unsure, pop in or chat with an actual lighting specialist.
Fitting LEDs in your indicators?
Yep, you can chuck LEDs in your indicators too. We see a fair few VW Golfs and Hyundai i30s in for these swaps. Here’s the snag: many older wiring setups are geared for old-school incandescent bulbs, so if you fit LEDs without thinking, you might get hyper-flashing indicators—flashing like a disco on Victoria St at 2am. To avoid that, get LED bulbs with built-in resistance or get a pro to fit a resistor into the circuit. That part can be a bit fiddly, so if you’re not sure, have a yarn with us or another auto sparky.
Which lights can you actually swap for LEDs?
You’re mostly free to swap out your halogen bulbs for LEDs in spots like park lights, tail lights, brake lights, hazard lights, stop lights, and your indicators. Just don’t go chucking them in your fog lights or headlights unless your car was built for it. Stick to the NZTA guidelines—they’re there for good reason. Wrong bulbs can dazzle drivers on the Expressway near Rototuna or even in rush hour near The Base.
If you do need to swap a headlight for something brighter, you can go with a higher efficiency halogen that’s the same wattage and proper colour (headlights = white or amber). Skip the wild colours, and double check you’re using the right type for your make and model—be it a Mazda Atenza or a late-model Ford Mondeo.
Where to buy LED car bulbs in Hamilton
Best bet? Go to a proper car lighting shop or pop in and see us at Grimmer Motors. We get asked all sorts—by folks tinkering with their Corolla, to someone running a Honda Accord Euro or a Kia Sportage—and we’ll point you in the right direction about what’s legit and what’ll last through those Hamilton weather swings.
Need bulbs replaced? Pop in and see us
If you’re not sure what’s what, or you’ve tried to change a bulb and found the whole thing’s a headache, come down to Grimmer Motors. One of our techs can sort you out quick-smart, let you know what bulbs are safe and legal, or even just do the swap for you. We’re here to help you stay safe on Hamilton roads.