Lighting mods
Lead Lap
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
I hate to restart this thread, but after reading 50 pages of material I'm still confused.
My first goal is to update my puddle's with a bright white light. I was going to go with these: http://www.v-leds.com/Interior-LED/D...-p5168709.html Later I will look at upgrading my internal lighting (door, overhead, etc), and I would like to pick something that "matches" the puddle lamps, etc. so I don't have different color/style lights all over.
Anyway, I noticed some conflicting information on that URL I posted. There were some people that said the 4 led one was brighter, and then other people saying neither is a good selection because the polarity is reversed on some of them so they point up instead of down.
Can anyone give me a quick summary on these options and/or a better option?
My first goal is to update my puddle's with a bright white light. I was going to go with these: http://www.v-leds.com/Interior-LED/D...-p5168709.html Later I will look at upgrading my internal lighting (door, overhead, etc), and I would like to pick something that "matches" the puddle lamps, etc. so I don't have different color/style lights all over.
Anyway, I noticed some conflicting information on that URL I posted. There were some people that said the 4 led one was brighter, and then other people saying neither is a good selection because the polarity is reversed on some of them so they point up instead of down.
Can anyone give me a quick summary on these options and/or a better option?
Last edited by rebs; Jul 31, 2009 at 02:09 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11,030
Likes: 7
From: Windward, Oahu
Anyway, I noticed some conflicting information on that URL I posted. There were some people that said the 4 led one was brighter, and then other people saying neither is a good selection because the polarity is reversed on some of them so they point up instead of down.
Can anyone give me a quick summary on these options and/or a better option?
Can anyone give me a quick summary on these options and/or a better option?
AND...
how bright something appears also depends on the color of your car, the color of your lites...
Lead Lap
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
yes this is true, the polarity for the 2w hipower flanks are reversed... the only way to 'fix' this is by cutting the wires and swapping them (i did not try to pull the wires out of the harness nor will i)... the 6smt in your link (different from the 2w hipower) are a 50/50 chance the polarity will work (they need to have that small black capasitor looking thing on the back, some have some dont).
AND...
how bright something appears also depends on the color of your car, the color of your lites...
AND...
how bright something appears also depends on the color of your car, the color of your lites...
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11,030
Likes: 7
From: Windward, Oahu
no
yea but cutting and splicing wires isn't rocket science
you want to mod your car different from 'stock', you have to expect some modification/fabrication to make things 'work'.
yea but cutting and splicing wires isn't rocket science
you want to mod your car different from 'stock', you have to expect some modification/fabrication to make things 'work'.
Lead Lap
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
May not be rocket science, but I don't want to do it, and honestly I think it's kind of silly that just because occasionally the polarity is reversed on the bulbs you have to splice it. Seems to me that finding bulbs with the correct polarity (or better quality control) is the better option. ...but that's just my 2 cents.
Driver
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: CA
May not be rocket science, but I don't want to do it, and honestly I think it's kind of silly that just because occasionally the polarity is reversed on the bulbs you have to splice it. Seems to me that finding bulbs with the correct polarity (or better quality control) is the better option. ...but that's just my 2 cents.
http://www.v-leds.com/Interior-LED/D...-p5768086.html
no splicing needed, the leds worked facing the correct position (thank god). they are most definitely whiter than the stock bulbs, but in terms of brightness, i'll have to wait to see it at night before judging. but, i will say that the transition as it dims on and off is not as smooth as stock. you can see very slight "steps" in brightness as it goes on and off. so it's a give and take i guess. this is my first led install, so i'm guessing this is just how led's are? if someone can let me know and give me some peace of mind that the led's i got are not POS, i'd appreciate it.
oh, it might also be slightly easier installing them on an 06-08 than 09. i have an 09, and the plastic piece surrounding the turn signal is kind of a *****. i ended up breaking the little plastic tab when putting everything back together.
, i tried to do a 09 the other wk and got no luck whatsoever 
Driver
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: CA
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: CA
Has anyone have tried this bulb in the rear seats...Are they really bright?
http://www.v-leds.com/Interior-LED/C...-p7381012.html
http://www.v-leds.com/Interior-LED/C...-p7381012.html
Any vendor's site where I can order all these for my car? Front dome, rear dome, courtesy, puddle and trunk LED's all in white?
Thanks to llamaboiz for pointing me in the right position.
I have a 09 IS, anything different from previous models that I can't do?
Thanks to llamaboiz for pointing me in the right position.
I have a 09 IS, anything different from previous models that I can't do?
