LED tail lights

[podwin]

I decided to add LEDs to the inside tail light of the Passat.

It's a mod' which I read about on a US forum, and did it over a few evenings (I tend to tinker in the shed so to speak when I'm bored).

I wasn't sure if I could be bothered to do the Near Side, but now I've installed it I think I will because I think it actually looks ok.

What do you guys think?

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00002.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00003.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00004.jpg

[marcus_asparagu]

I'm liking that!

Was it simple? Doesn't sound simple...............can you post the link to US site as I fancy pinching that idea for myself.

Details, give us the details.....cost, time, parts.

Ta. Mark

[jonsey24]

Looks Good as if its OEM

[Slick]

nice work, looks good

[james_tiger_woo]

Nice. Better than leds at the front :-) i take it they're not on all the time?

Got any night shots?

[podwin]

Thanks for the positive feedback.

I bought some rear tail lights from Ebay, one was £30 and the other £15, (probably because it has a mark slight across it).

Each unit takes £20 LEDs and got these from Ebay here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20-x-Pre-wired-3mm-Bright-Red-LEDs-Prewired-12V-LED_W0QQitemZ360137781764QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_3?hash=item53d9e27204&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1683|240:1318|301:1|2 93:1|294:50

They are 12v so no need for any resistors, and I wired 4 in series at a time to make them 25% brightness in an attempt to match the current tail lights.

To get them installed is a little time consuming, it involves cutting open the light cluster using a Dremel along a plastic seam at the rear of the casing. You can then drill 20 holes for the LEDs. Fit them, and glue them into place, then wired them up using sumitube, the heat shrink stuff. You can make it quite neat with this stuff.

Then sealed the unit back up with Epoxy resin, and wired the lights into the lights for the registration plate, so they illuminate when I turn the lights on in sync with the existing tail lights.

I got the idea from this forum, http://forums.motivemag.com/zerothread?id=2968265 where people there bought them off the shelf from this place, http://oempl.us/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=75_21_49 but they no longer sell them.

Hence why I had a go myself.

[marcus_asparagu]

Podwin,

Can you show us some pictures of how you split the light clusters apart, as that's the part worrying me the most....total carnage of expensive lights! Ahhhh.

Seems that the Yanks just bust them apart! More ahhhhh. Do I have to be brave and attack with a screw driver or is there a more civilised method?

Still going to pinch this mod...........its waaaay cool!

Mark.

[Slick]

I found some pictures of the process here:

http://www.areavag.com/foro/showthread.php?p=70347#post70347

[podwin]

Hi Mark,

Here are some pictures of how I split the light. Remember I have bought ones off Ebay so that I can keep my originals, well, original.

Cut along the seam with a Dremel:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00007.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00009.jpg

Then pull apart:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00010.jpg

Mask off the main light to protect it while drilling the 20 holes for the LEDs:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00011.jpg

Drill each hole in turn using a 5mm drill bit max:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00014.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00015.jpg


I'll post some more as I go along.

[podwin]

I found some pictures of the process here:

http://www.areavag.com/foro/showthread.php?p=70347#post70347

That looks a much more professional job than mine.

I bought an outer cluster off Ebay to use the OEM LEDs but decided against it due to getting them into the inner cluster.

The American forum mentioned that splitting the light cluster how they have (i.e. taking the front off) makes it difficult to seal so it's water tight, for the seal to look neat. By splitting it at the back means you can pile on loads of resin without worrying about looks, which makes it strong and water tight.

The method I have used is quicker / lazier, but looks more messy and less neat, but you don't see the back once installed.

[podwin]

20 Leds from Ebay, 12v and pre-wired:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00001-1.jpg

Half of the installed, side view:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00002-1.jpg

Half of them installed, front view:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00003-1.jpg

Half of them installed, rear view:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00004-1.jpg

I have now wired these up and will take some photos of that, and of bonding the light back together.

[eob]

Was there ever intended to be inner LEDs on the Passat ala the Phaeton?
Looks good though, well worth the effort. :fing02:

[ledburyloafer]

seems like a lot of hard work..:confused:

[podwin]

Was there ever intended to be inner LEDs on the Passat ala the Phaeton?
Looks good though, well worth the effort. :fing02:

I think so, due to there being 20 holes moulded into the plastic reflector. When drilling I am drilling through a blanking plate at the back of the reflector, the holes acting as a guide for the drill bit.

Also each hole has a small reflector angled around it, like any other light. Why not just make it a flat silver surround?

[podwin]

seems like a lot of hard work..:confused:

So many people won't attempt it and my car has a unique mod which is also subtle

This second one has probably taken 4 hours in total.

[podwin]

All LEDs now installed:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00003-2.jpg

View of the wiring:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00001-2.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00002-2.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00005.jpg

LEDs powered on:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00004-2.jpg

LEDs powered on - dark shot
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00006.jpg

Installed with light cluster:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/AGF00007-1.jpg


All that is left to do is bond it back together with Epoxy Resin and install it back into the car!

[jonsey24]

Will this not throw up th dreaded bulb out light on the dash due to the low wattage of the LED's.

Yes im aware the car comes with them as standard but after a modification i would of thought you would need to Vagcom the car

[james_tiger_woo]

Looks good - some hardcore dedication there :)

[podwin]

Will this not throw up th dreaded bulb out light on the dash due to the low wattage of the LED's.

Yes im aware the car comes with them as standard but after a modification i would of thought you would need to Vagcom the car

No because I am adding LEDs to an existing power supply for the registration plate lights, and not replacing an ordinary bulb with LEDs.

Also, I ran the car without one of the registration plate bulbs in and didn't get any warning, unlike the reversing and fog light bulbs if they weren't there (or replaced with LED bulbs).

[podwin]

Final pictures of the lights installed:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/107_0254.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/107_0255.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/podwin/Cars/Passat/107_0256.jpg

[ledburyloafer]

nice result podwin :beerchug:

[podwin]

Thanks :)

It looks better in the flesh, honest.

[ledburyloafer]

only problem with fitting them is that if it was mine, I , would want to drive behind my car in the dark so I could enjoy them!:confused::D:1zhelp: