IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013) Discussion about the 2006+ model IS models
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LED Lighting Replacement Guide (w/Pics)

Old 06-13-10, 08:56 PM
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brociouz
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Default LED Lighting Replacement Guide (w/Pics)

UPDATED: 2/4/2013

I have compiled the following LED replacement guide using the V-LEDS lineup. IMO, this is as good as it gets - these are the brightest (which is not for everyone), highest-quality LEDs I could find after trying and comparing several different brands over the past 2 months (and wasting a few hundred $$$ in the process). I also really like the V-LEDS because you don't have to deal with adapters, wires snaking around and double-sided tape, like with universal LED boards. (And yes, these V-LEDS are even brighter than the LED boards I've tried.) For more information, I made a separate thread comparing V-LEDS to LED boards: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ed-boards.html.

Below are 3 versions of the guide - 6000K, 5000K and blue. I also added a list of less bright alternatives for 5000K and 6000K.

If you're torn between choosing 5000K and 6000K, I highly suggest you try to compare the colors in person; it's hard to get accurate color representation through a picture on a screen. In general, 6000K is white with a hint of blue while 5000K is "pure" white. Blue... is blue.

Remember, most of the V-LEDS come in pairs, except for the trunk and rear dome lights. Be careful not to order more than you have to.

############################################



2IS 6000K (ULTRA BRIGHT) LED Replacement Guide:

Front Dome (3 slots in '06-'09, 2 slots in '10+): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 4 LED 2W HIGH POWER BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (forward style)

Rear Dome (2 slots): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 1.5W 3 LED HIGH POWER UNIVERSAL DOME LIGHT BULB 31-36MM ADJUSTABLE (festoon style)

Vanity Mirror (1 slot for each mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 4 LED 2 WATT HP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Door/Courtesy (1 slot for each door, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 4 LED 2 WATT HP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Trunk (1 slot): V-LEDS HP LED 6K WHITE MULTI SOCKET 158 168 194 906 921 3175 211 1895 1156 57

Puddle Lights (1 slot for each side view mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 4 LED 2 WATT HP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Parking Lights (1 slot for each headlight assembly, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 3 CHIP 5 LED LIGHT BULBS 194 168 158 2821 | 1 PAIR B/O (See this thread for an in-depth discussion on parking lights: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ive-guide.html)

Reverse Lights (2 slots): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 19 LED 8W HIGH POWER BULBS 917 918 920 921 922 923 579 | 1 PAIR

'06-'10 LED DRLs (2 slots): DRL UPGRADE KIT HB3 9005 LEXUS IS250 IS350 IS-F SC430 GS300 GS350 GS460 ES350 LS460 RX350 | 1 KIT

############################################



2IS 5000K (ULTRA BRIGHT) LED Replacement Guide:

Front Dome (3 slots in '06-'09, 2 slots in '10+): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 4 LED 2W HIGH POWER BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (forward style)

Rear Dome (2 slots): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 1.5W 3 LED HIGH POWER UNIVERSAL DOME LIGHT BULB 31-36MM ADJUSTABLE (festoon style)

Vanity Mirror (1 slot for each mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 4 LED 2 WATT HP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Door/Courtesy (1 slot for each door, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 4 LED 2 WATT HP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Trunk (1 slot): V-LEDS HP LED 5K WHITE MULTI SOCKET 158 168 194 906 921 3175 211 1895 1156 57

Puddle Lights (1 slot for each side view mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 4 LED 2 WATT HP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Parking Lights (1 slot for each headlight assembly, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 3 CHIP 5 LED LIGHT BULBS 194 168 158 2821 | 1 PAIR (See this thread for an in-depth discussion on parking lights: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ive-guide.html)

Reverse Lights (2 slots): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 19 LED 8W HIGH POWER BULBS 917 918 920 921 922 923 579 | 1 PAIR

'06-'10 LED DRLs (2 slots): DRL UPGRADE KIT HB3 9005 LEXUS IS250 IS350 IS-F SC430 GS300 GS350 GS460 ES350 LS460 RX350 | 1 KIT

############################################



2IS Blue LED Replacement Guide:

By popular demand, here are the links to the BLUE equivalents:

Front Dome (3 slots in '06-'09, 2 slots in '10+): V-LEDS BLUE 4 LED 2W HIGH POWER BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (forward style)

Rear Dome (2 slots): V-LEDS BLUE 1.5W 3 LED HIGH POWER UNIVERSAL DOME LIGHT BULB 31-36MM ADJUSTABLE (festoon style)

Vanity Mirror (1 slot for each mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS BLUE 4 LED 2 WATT HP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Door/Courtesy (1 slot for each door, 2 slots total): V-LEDS BLUE 4 LED 2 WATT HP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Trunk (1 slot): V-LEDS BLUE HP LED MULTI SOCKET 158 168 194 906 921 3175 211 1895 1156 57

Puddle Lights (1 slot for each side view mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS BLUE 4 LED 2 WATT HP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

############################################



2IS 6000K (LESS BRIGHT ALTERNATIVES) LED Replacement Guide:

Front Dome (3 slots in '06-'09, 2 slots in '10+): V-LEDS 6K WHITE HIGH POWER LICENSE PLATE MAP PARKING LED BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (forward style)

Rear Dome (2 slots): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 3 CHIP 4 LED DOME LIGHT BULB 3175 DE3175 31MM (festoon style)

Vanity Mirror (1 slot for each mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 4 LED 3 CHIP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 2825 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Door/Courtesy (1 slot for each door, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 4 LED 3 CHIP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 2825 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Puddle Lights (1 slot for each side view mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 6K WHITE 4 LED 3 CHIP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 2825 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

############################################




2IS 5000K (LESS BRIGHT ALTERNATIVES) LED Replacement Guide:

Front Dome (3 slots in '06-'09, 2 slots in '10+): V-LEDS 5K WHITE HIGH POWER LICENSE PLATE MAP PARKING LED BULBS 194 168 158 | 1 PAIR (forward style)

Rear Dome (2 slots): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 3 CHIP 4 LED DOME LIGHT BULB 3175 DE3175 31MM (festoon style)

Vanity Mirror (1 slot for each mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 4 LED 3 CHIP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 2825 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Door/Courtesy (1 slot for each door, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 4 LED 3 CHIP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 2825 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Puddle Lights (1 slot for each side view mirror, 2 slots total): V-LEDS 5K WHITE 4 LED 3 CHIP FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 2825 | 1 PAIR (flank style)

Last edited by brociouz; 02-04-13 at 04:26 PM.
Old 06-13-10, 09:00 PM
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A couple of notes:

Check out this thread on HOW to change your bulbs: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ting-mods.html

Here's a nice DIY video as well:


You will need clear lenses if you want to get rid of the red in your door/coutesy lights. Sewell sells them here: http://is.sewellparts.com/accessorie...-2006-136.html

V-LEDS sells most of its LEDs in PAIRS (the rear dome festoon bulbs and the LED board for the trunk are exceptions, there is only one per order). So, you will need one order each for the door/courtesy lights, vanity mirrors, puddles and parking/city lights. You'll need 2 orders for the front dome if you have an '06-'09 2IS if you want to fill all 3 slots, and you'll obviously have one leftover. With the "Enform" equipped '10+ 2IS you only need one order for the front dome to fill the 2 slots. 2 orders for the rear domes, and 1 order for the trunk.

I also tried out the V-LEDS circuit boards for the rear dome, which are even brighter than the festoon bulbs in my guide. However, I don't recommend them because the color doesn't perfectly match the other bulbs in my guide, and it's not as elegant of a solution since it requires adapters.

For the trunk LED, if you go with the circuit board type like I recommend in my guide(s) above you will have to hammer in the ends of the festoon adapter in order to make it fit properly (the adapter is 31mm, but the stock size is ~29mm). Another option is to simply get a 29mm festoon bulb, which is 100% plug and plug but not nearly as bright as the circuit board. V-LEDS sells 6000K, 5000K, and blue 29mm festoon bulbs.

The ends of the festoon adapter are conical, you want to hammer them so they're almost flat, like so:





6000K output pics:










Last edited by brociouz; 02-04-13 at 03:42 PM.
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Old 06-13-10, 09:30 PM
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Great write up BrociouZ ! Im too lazy to change my boards haha
Old 06-13-10, 09:34 PM
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Good info Brian. This should be a sticky
Old 06-13-10, 09:38 PM
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hybridanim
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ijdmtoy . com has great LED interior lights also. great pricing also! would highly recommend it.
Old 06-13-10, 09:55 PM
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Nice write up!! bookmark approved.
Old 06-13-10, 10:25 PM
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adding this to my favorites. great work. thanks for the info!
Old 06-13-10, 10:46 PM
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nice work, i should change my interior lights when i get a chance, too lazy to change them
Old 06-13-10, 10:50 PM
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that is bright! THX for the details
Old 06-13-10, 10:54 PM
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Magicks
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You are comparing your old LED board(from Nigel) right?

Last edited by Magicks; 06-13-10 at 11:00 PM.
Old 06-13-10, 11:31 PM
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Why would you want your interior so bright? I thought about changing some interior lights to LED but I thought why would I want my interior that bright?
Old 06-13-10, 11:34 PM
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brociouz
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Originally Posted by KWang
Great write up BrociouZ ! Im too lazy to change my boards haha
For anyone in NorCal, if you drive to my apartment in Dublin (or come to a CL meet), I'll do all the interior lighting bulbs swaps for you. Takes less than 10 minutes now that I've done it a few times.

Originally Posted by Magicks
You are comparing your old LED board(from Nigel) right?
I have personally compared these high power V-LEDs to Nigel's LED boards, the premium LED interior lighting kit that Sewell sells, LEDs from iJDMToy and some I picked off the shelf at Wal Mart and Kraegen's. The V-LEDs are the absolute brightest. Some of the NorCal guys that have seen these in person can attest to that. If you look at the 3 dome lights with the lens off, it's seriously like looking at the sun - you have to look away or you'll hurt your eyes. For the record, Nigel's LED boards do come in a close second.

I have a video here I took on my camera but I'm having trouble uploading it... YouTube keeps saying error. As soon as I figure it out I'll post.
Old 06-13-10, 11:37 PM
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Magicks
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Haha, I am using Nigel's LED board and they are way bright already. I can't imagine how bright those VLED would be. Must be painful to stare at them :/
Old 06-13-10, 11:58 PM
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Originally Posted by soulsoarer
Why would you want your interior so bright? I thought about changing some interior lights to LED but I thought why would I want my interior that bright?
It's obviously a personally preference, but I think it looks sick at night when you can't see inside at all because of the tint, and when you hit unlock on the key fob suddenly your car is glowing. I also like the 6000K look in general, and how it matches my 6000K HID headlights. And my girlfriend appreciates the visors lights because it lights up your whole face.

Originally Posted by Magicks
Haha, I am using Nigel's LED board and they are way bright already. I can't imagine how bright those VLED would be. Must be painful to stare at them :/
If you look up, ya it hurts haha. Again, Nigel's are close, I'd say 80% as bright as the V-LEDs.
Old 06-14-10, 07:41 AM
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brociouz,
How do these compare to the LED light kit from Sewell? I am thinking about getting those. I don't really care for brightness. Just really want the LED coloring instead of the yellow bulbs.

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