Door pocket lights retrofit

[Retom]

My previous Q7 had door pocket and red exit door lights installed. Probably due to the savings Audi decided to discontinue these lights in Q7 in mid 2017 and not to install them also in new Q8. What is interesting A5 and A6 still have these lights but more expensive Q7 and Q8 don't.
I decided to "upgrade" my new SQ8 with these lights. Red warning lights retrofit is very easy (I did it before) and there is even no need to remove the door panels. Door pocket lights are a bit more complicated and of course I had to remove door panels and also door armrests.

Door armrests still have dimples for lamps as a reminders of good, old times

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Below the lamps and connectors which are needed. To make cutting hole easier and safer i prepared a kind of a template.

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Ready for cutting: Dremel + file + not shaking hands

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And that's the final result. Lamps are connected to door modules and are dimmable via MMI together with the ambient background lights. Lamps also work together with floor lights during opening/closing of the doors. No need of coding, however there could be a need of deleting of exit warning lights error which jumped in were plugins were disconnected during removal of panels. There is an option to instal also proximity sensors as it was in Q7 but I prefer to have these lamps glowing together with ambient illumination.


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The LED in the lamps are installed at an angle towards door panel so they have to be installed in the proper direction. Total costs is CA 50 Euro and about 6 hours of work. It is doable in 4 hours but I spent 2 hours in understanding of my door panels harness which turned out different than in the wiring diagrams.

[andyhud007]

Fantastic Work Retom and thanks for sharing your methods and insight. Its great to see the end result too.



Andy

[VAG-Abound]

So tbey plug into the window/ door controller rather than needing empty plug on door loom? I wonder if its same oj Touran: I liked them as an extra night safety feature on our early one, but not present on later model - just reflectors. I'll take a peek at wiring diagrams and mayvmbe fit them...

[Retom]

Hi VAG-Abound,
I think that we have a small misunderstanding:
1/ Red door warning lights instead of reflectors is an easy retrofit. You have to connect them with puddle lights. No need of door panels removal, just a bit of soldering to puddle light wires. You can easily pull the wires between reflector hole nad the puddle lamp hole. No existing empty plugins so you need red lamps + connectors + wires. You can find the ready sets of 4 lights and wiring loom on eBay.
2/ Door pocket lamps are more complicated. You need to remove door panels, door armrest, make holes in armrests and connect the wires to door modules. It could be a bit different for cars without Ambient Light option. Also no any empty plugins despite that they are shown on some diagrams or in ETKA.

[VAG-Abound]

Yes, I think I misunderstood. I'm referring to red + white lights in verical of door that faces backwards as you open it. You've inspired me to check how they're fitted though as control module rather than loom would make sense.