Just installed LED License plate lights

[jonah]

update:

i decided to take apart the trunk lights to see what type of light was installed and if i could upgrade without blowing $120.

as it turns out, inside the clear and black plastic fixture is a 30mm by 10mm "festoon" light. it was hard as hell to get out of there but i managed to put it back together and it still works(!) i ordered the following from superbrightleds.com

Quantity: 2
Product: High Power 2-LED Festoon bulb $ 6.95 (each)
Options: Cool White 3022-CWHP2

These only have two "high-power" LEDs per, so may not be as bright as the $120 jobs from KAI, but they just might do. I'll let you know how it goes with the install when they come in.


Also, I pried out the little bulbs from under the floor boards in the front two seats. They are 9mm base "168" wedge base bulbs. I figured since the interior is lit up so nicely by the LEDs in the overheads i might as well upgrade these too so i got

Quantity: 2
Product: WLED-WHP9 Wedge Base Bulb $ 14.95 (each)

They should just plug right in.

The only thing left if those damn lights under the doors. I can not figure out for the life of me how to get the cover off without tearing it up. If anyone has any advice I'd be all ears.

 

[GS300rich]

The only thing left if those damn lights under the doors. I can not figure out for the life of me how to get the cover off without tearing it up. If anyone has any advice I'd be all ears.

To change out the bulbs under the doors just take a flat head screw driver and pry down the front part of the clear plastic, but do it gently, you dont want to crack the clear plastic or rip the door covering. These are 168 wedge base bulbs as well and I will be using the polarg M4 as the beam pattern will be wider than with the leds. The LEDs tend to have more of a spotlight effect.

 

[jake the snake]

Finaly recieved my LED License plate lights

They look awsom

They are way brigter than the yellow jobs that came with our ride

They install in 5 minutes and look realy great

Go ahead and replace those things

The EURO look is great

Have fun guys

 

[GS300rich]

the license plate light was one of the first things I wanted to change. The bright white looks so much better and matches the interior lights better than the orange.

 

[genesis@genesisworld.com]

I agree 100% with Rich and others. The license plate lights were my first change and then... Well, I've put another $800 into all of the light and badge changes so far! It's pure fun.

 

[PINGGOLF]

Mine are installed! They look SWEET! pictures----in work!

 

[GS300rich]

only thing I dont like about the LEDs is that the light is somewhat directional, it doesnt cover the whole license plate. I bought the 4LED ones from superbrightleds.com and the middle of the license plate isnt as lit up as the sides of the plate. I am going to keep searching to see what else I can find. These are the ones I installed, they are the 3610_x4led festoon bulb in cool white.

 

[jake the snake]

I got the 10 led bulb and they are awsom

Check out the link
http://cgi.ebay.com/2x10-white-Fest..._trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318#pa

They are realy not expensive

CIAO

 

[PINGGOLF]

Here is my install!

I LOVE THEM!!!

 

[GS300rich]

Thanks for the link Jake, will definately check them out.

Pinggolf, which bulbs are you using? That looks great

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[PINGGOLF]

These ones from Koreanautoimports.com

http://www.koreanautoimports.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=31_237_238&products_id=1525

 

[GS300rich]

I did see them on KAI, but thought they would be too bright, but they look perfect. Is the price for 2 or just 1? I would also like to try the trunk module they sell but it is something like $60, and if that is for only one that is too much.

 

[jake the snake]

I got 2 of these for $ 6.00
and they look great

http://cgi.ebay.com/2x-10-C5W-LED-F...40:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting

CIAO

 

[jonah]

I did see them on KAI, but thought they would be too bright, but they look perfect. Is the price for 2 or just 1? I would also like to try the trunk module they sell but it is something like $60, and if that is for only one that is too much.

i decided to take apart the trunk lights to see what type of light was installed and if i could upgrade without blowing $120.

as it turns out, inside the clear and black plastic fixture is a 30mm by 10mm "festoon" light. it was hard as hell to get out of there but i managed to put it back together and it still works(!) i ordered the following from superbrightleds.com

Quantity: 2
Product: High Power 2-LED Festoon bulb $ 6.95 (each)
Options: Cool White 3022-CWHP2

These only have two "high-power" LEDs per, so may not be as bright as the $120 jobs from KAI, but they just might do. I'll let you know how it goes with the install when they come in.

::update::

i got them in and they work great. they're probably not as bright as the ones from KAI but they have the same cool white color as the license plate lights. for the price i can't see any reason not to try them... cheers!

 

[genesis@genesisworld.com]

I did see them on KAI, but thought they would be too bright, but they look perfect. Is the price for 2 or just 1? I would also like to try the trunk module they sell but it is something like $60, and if that is for only one that is too much.

Rich- I did the trunk lights and it is a 'module' that inside, it is also a festoon bulb when you get down to it. I DID get hte KAI modules, largly for simplicity and that I didn't know any better. I'm going to get some pics to show how any LED festoon of the same size will work. BUT... having said that, the KAI modules are spectacular! I put both in (left and right side) and it is like daylight in the trunk!

I THINK it's the same 'module' in the glovebox and for that one, I have another VERY inexpensive solution. I'll know later today if it will work. I'll post pics in a new thread if it goes the way I think it will.

 

[GS300rich]

The KAI modules do look spectacular, but I like to be a DIY guy and am going to try to simulate almost the same effect. If you look in this pic you will notice they are using a plate that has 9 hi power led.

The same type module can be found on superbrightleds.com for $21.95:

But I am going to go an even cheaper route with roughly the same output with these bulbs, they are only $14.95, but they also only have 6 high power LEDs. So they wont be as bright as the KAI but they will be close and at a fraction of the cost.

Pics to come when I receive them and can put them in.

 

[GS300rich]

I havent even looked at the glovebox lights, but that may be the next thing to go.

 

[BaywayRic]

Looks like the $21.95 solution might have a connector issue. The $14.95 solution looks like it might be great. Is that EACH or for the pair?

 

[GS300rich]

That particular one wont work, I was using it to illustrate the look more or less, but there are others that would work with a little manipulation. The $14.95 is for each one. But you have to see what a huge difference it will make.

 

[puertorico]

I just ordered 2 10LED C5W Festoon Xenon for 11.50 with S&H from ebay.
I will post the pics later.