Based on the requests I had on my pics thread, I decided to post specific details on the installation of the OEM Lexus lighted door sills.

There have been some confusion on ths installation of illuminated door sills on the Lexus IS (250/350/F). This is due to the different level of pre-wiring done on the car depending on the year, model, or trim of your IS.

Some cars are pre-wired for plug-and-play installation. Some have the plugs but are not grounded properly. Others don't have the plugs at all. On my IS-F, there was a plug on the passenger side that's not grounded properly, and no plug on the driver side at all. So depending on how your car is wired, just follow the relevant section of this guide and it should work on your car.

The pictures indicating "driver" and "passenger" side are based on my IS-F.

To remove sills and B-pillar cover, just pull them off. They're just held on by plastic clips.

Scenario: Has plug, but not grounded properly






Scenario: No plug




Careful handling the + and ground wires! especially since they're placed so close to each other in the plug.

This installation results in a simple ON/OFF function of the illumination. For cars that come with it from the factory, they fade in with the interior lights. If that is your goal, then I suggest grounding the wire onto the footwell light. I considered this option but decided on the door switch because both tapped wires are in the B-pillar, and also based on my experience with a demo IS250 with it the fade-in is so barely noticeable I saw no point in it.

Result:

 

My white sills have been installed for a few months... Just not wired!!!!

Now I have motivation for an excuse..

 

Thanks for sharing

 

now i have more detail thanks for the guide.

 

Just to mention that I used this thick white automotive wire for this install because I just happened to have it available at the moment. Thinner wire is fine and might be easier to work with. You may also choose to color-code the wires especially on the driver side in order to keep track of which is positive and ground.

 

Very nice, Ice....thanks for sharing.
C.

 

Helps a bit but I'm no electrician and wouldn't know how to tap into the goddamn wires or actually ground the thing.

 

excellent!!!!! u r the man
exactly the info im looking for
looks great

 

thanks, I think I will do this once I get my sills back from DFLORES. wink wink.

 

Very nice! Great info.

 

Verrrrry cool - this is something I seriously think Lexus should have done OEM!

 

if someone could clear this up for me that would be great

im about to install my sills this weekend
I would like to have them fade
ice suggests wiring them to the footwell light
is this the easiest location?
does anyone have experience with this?
what colour is the footwell light wire?
and where can it be found?

any help will be much appreciated
thanks

 

Very nice write up. Now it's an excuse to buy the sills.

Terrance

 

Thanks for the writeup ice

 

This is what CL is all about. Helping everyone out. Thank you Ice.