LED tail light conversion

[Freeman]

Anybody have any info on the LED brake light conversion?

I figured while I'm messing around with things back there, such as the logo mod, I might as well upgrade a few things. I'm very interested in putting LED brake lights as well as reverse lights in my SVX.. I've seen the brake lights but not reverse ones. Are they avaliable or even doable?

Also, anybody have a "how to" on these things? I'd also love to see what they look like installed in the car. Especially at night.

Talking about these of course:

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/svx-motorsport-accessories_2030_10611742

Thanks for the help!

[subeman90]

you can get clear led lights at a trailer shop. tell them you want a light for your license plate "on your trailer" and they should have a fixture for you....this should work well in the reverse light area. :D

[Green1995SVX]

Here are the specifics:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=17087

[Freeman]

Here are the specifics:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=17087

Yeah I saw that thread and it's not too detailed.. Also that's with a different LED housing.. He used a custom one he built himself..

[Green1995SVX]

Yeah I saw that thread and it's not too detailed.. Also that's with a different LED housing.. He used a custom one he built himself..

He used the same truck LED's shown in the picture that you posted. :)

[Freeman]

He used the same truck LED's shown in the picture that you posted. :)

Truck LED's... Hm... Anybody know how much these would cost at a retailer rather than buying some from the MS Warehouse site?

[Green1995SVX]

Truck LED's... Hm... Anybody know how much these would cost at a retailer rather than buying some from the MS Warehouse site?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=TRUCK

[Freeman]

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=TRUCK

It'll be some work/fun trying to get them to fit and rewiring things to work, I'll tell you that much.. The ones from MS are pre-made to fit easier..

These are much cheaper.. Your assistance and information is invaluable, thanks friend..


EDIT: Has anybody else done this mod at all? There is no really detailed "how to"? I would love to know if this is worth it before I start and I'd really love to see some night pics if possible..

ANOTHER EDIT: There are a lot more posts on this than I thought. People we're making their own there for a while. All I had to do was misspell a few things and I found the posts! This'll be a fun project and I'll post a "how to" when I do it..

[SubaruSVXCrazy]

A while ago I bought the led bulbs off ebay and they set off the brake lamp. Do these?

[Freeman]

A while ago I bought the led bulbs off ebay and they set off the brake lamp. Do these?

I don't think so.. Do you still have yours in? If so, any pics?

[SubaruSVXCrazy]

I don't think so.. Do you still have yours in? If so, any pics?

Na I took them out. Every time I touched the brake pedal the warning lamp would come on. Really, it was pretty close to stock but a tad bit brighter and and would tight and turn off instantly. It was sweet but like I said the warning lamp is annoying and I didn't want to tape it. :D

[subeman90]

Na I took them out. Every time I touched the brake pedal the warning lamp would come on. Really, it was pretty close to stock but a tad bit brighter and and would tight and turn off instantly. It was sweet but like I said the warning lamp is annoying and I didn't want to tape it. :D

unhook the warning bulb or put a regular bulb in somewhere in line so that it provides the required resistance to keep the light off or buy a resistor.

[SubaruSVXCrazy]

unhook the warning bulb or put a regular bulb in somewhere in line so that it provides the required resistance to keep the light off or buy a resistor.

I didn't think of it. I gave them away too.

[Landshark]

Here are the specifics:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=17087

that looks HORRIBLE. that crap is all lopsided and uneven! :lol:
another Lwin hack-job.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/Seraph/15715.gif

[Green1995SVX]

that looks HORRIBLE. that crap is all lopsided and uneven! :lol:
another Lwin hack-job.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/Seraph/15715.gif

lols. I guess somebody had to say it.

[Freeman]

that looks HORRIBLE. that crap is all lopsided and uneven! :lol:
another Lwin hack-job.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/Seraph/15715.gif

Hence the reason I'd like a better write up, lol.

[SVXMAN2001]

LED's won't work in our cars, or imo, look good because the light housings weren't made for LED's. Simply putting LED's behind the clearly dated 90's era brake assembly's just won't look right. I would think that the thought of installing these LED's in our svx's will give it the look of today's audi's, bmw's, heck most modern mid to high end vehicles have them now. But the difference is that there are different and unique plastics incorporated into the brake housing that make the LED's reflect in such an attractive manner.

[Freeman]

LED's won't work in our cars, or imo, look good because the light housings weren't made for LED's. Simply putting LED's behind the clearly dated 90's era brake assembly's just won't look right. I would think that the thought of installing these LED's in our svx's will give it the look of today's audi's, bmw's, heck most modern mid to high end vehicles have them now. But the difference is that there are different and unique plastics incorporated into the brake housing that make the LED's reflect in such an attractive manner.

Agreed.... That's why you gut the housing!!! :D

[SilverSpear]

Agreed.... That's why you gut the housing!!! :D

Agreed Freeman!

[Freeman]

See, someone stated that they had to gut the housing and I'm a little troubled as well as worried to do a major modification like this one without knowing all the details.. I don't want this to backfire especially since I loooove my SVX..

[SVXMAN2001]

simply gutting the housing isn't enough, look at today's brake lights, there is a lot of reflection and refraction going on to get the LED's to appear they way they are, unless you are a talented lighting engineer, its going to be difficult to make the LED's look "right". good luck though!

[Green1995SVX]

simply gutting the housing isn't enough, look at today's brake lights, there is a lot of reflection and refraction going on to get the LED's to appear they way they are, unless you are a talented lighting engineer, its going to be difficult to make the LED's look "right". good luck though!

Chris is right. LED's have a very limited viewing angle. If the housing doesn't have the proper refraction properties, the LEDs will not serve a wide enough viewing angle, and will cause a dangerous situation.

[Freeman]

Chris is right. LED's have a very limited viewing angle. If the housing doesn't have the proper refraction properties, the LEDs will not serve a wide enough viewing angle, and will cause a dangerous situation.

If you say so... I believe it depends on the type of led's as well as the housing.. Ever have a problem noticing LED's on the back of a trailer? No.. Do they have refracted lenses or housing? No.. The point is, you won't need to see my brake lights at an angle in the first place.. As for the turn signals, They're on the sides of the car as well.. I don't see a problem with being able to view them at all..

[SVXMAN2001]

Mike is on the right track, I am kind of aluding to that. But in addition to that, I am thinking in pure aesthics. Putting LED's behind our brake lenses, be it "gutted" or what have you, it is still going to look just like that. No matter what you do you aren't going to change the properties of the stock brake lens, so much that it will compliment the LED's. A complete new housing and brake lens would need to be fabricated.

Freeman, you mention the LED's on a trailer, BINGO, that's pretty much what I am trying to say, you do that to your brake lens and it will look just like that. Like you put LED's behind your stock brake lens. I know this is just my opinion, and I think it would like out of place. But I just would hate to see you go through that effort, expecting the rear lights to look like today's cars with LED's. But if that's what you want, and that's what you like, enjoy!

[Freeman]

No, your trying to help and giving your honest opinion and I greatly appreciate that! Thanks for your honesty and concern. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Although I'm also looking to argue the point to make sure it is either good or bad to do..

Do these look hard to see to you?

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/mohrds/27444.jpg

Can barley tell they're there during the day..

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/mohrds/27435.jpg

[siceclipse]

i try to stay out of these topics, but here goes.

There is a guy on DSMTuners that did his whole taillight bar in LEDs

Here is what it looks like.
http://www.rcaz.com/movieclips/led_demo.wmv

and this:
http://www.rcaz.com/movieclips/eclipse2.1.mpg

His website
http://www.rcaz.com/default_automotive.htm

Dave is a huge asset to the DSM community when i t comes to custom lighting.

BTW he designed, built and did all the animation programing for this, and i should also add that these lights without the animation controler work just fine as normal tails/blinkers/brake lights when only hardwired to the cars harness.

[SubaruSVXCrazy]

No, your trying to help and giving your honest opinion and I greatly appreciate that! Thanks for your honesty and concern. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Although I'm also looking to argue the point to make sure it is either good or bad to do..

Do these look hard to see to you?

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/mohrds/27444.jpg

Can barley tell they're there during the day..

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/mohrds/27435.jpg

I think those looks great. It also seems to me that it has LED directionals.

[SVXMAN2001]

Those do look pretty good, I remember when the guy who did those. That was a complete custom job. Meaning he didn't use the motorsport ones. Looks pretty good.

[SubaruSVXCrazy]

These could make nice reverse lights.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1156-7506-WHITE-19-LED-BULB-LIGHT-TURN-TAIL-BRAKE-STOP_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a15Q 7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQh ashZitem390022498599QQitemZ390022498599QQptZMotors Q5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Freeman]

At least we're thinking positivly.. See how they aren't clear in the back when they're turned off.. They look almost stock except for when your looking for it. Although it's completly custom, there has to be a pre-made unit that could look almost similar to that, right?

[Green1995SVX]

I think those looks great. It also seems to me that it has LED directionals.

It does.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/mohrds/27451.jpg

[LetItSnow]

Another concern is how bright they are outside of when they're head-on. Lots of LEDs lose apparent brightness from shallow angles.

[Freeman]

From what is previously stated in other threads... Very bright. I'm also removing the defuser that breaks up the light too..

[SubaruSVXCrazy]

From what is previously stated in other threads... Very bright. I'm also removing the defuser that breaks up the light too..

Are you doing the side parking lights too?

[Freeman]

The entire back.. Also the turn signals..

[Brian]

LED's have a very limited viewing angle.

Wide angle LED's are produced. I've seen websites that sell them.

[Freeman]

Wide angle LED's are produced. I've seen websites that sell them.

Know of any? Links or anything? Thanks for that info..

[Johnybeas]

i try to stay out of these topics, but here goes.

There is a guy on DSMTuners that did his whole taillight bar in LEDs

Here is what it looks like.
http://www.rcaz.com/movieclips/led_demo.wmv

and this:
http://www.rcaz.com/movieclips/eclipse2.1.mpg

His website
http://www.rcaz.com/default_automotive.htm

Dave is a huge asset to the DSM community when i t comes to custom lighting.

BTW he designed, built and did all the animation programing for this, and i should also add that these lights without the animation controler work just fine as normal tails/blinkers/brake lights when only hardwired to the cars harness.

a little over the top but cool. I've seen bullet bikes with leds similar for their turn signals that go from out to in on the side that is turning. I think it'd be cool to do that and maybe get rid of the orange and do them red. I'd be interested to see how difficult this is and how much it would cost. the regular led conversion isn't bad. I think it would look better with less led's and maybe circular ones. anyone who does this should do a tutorial.

[redlightningsvx]

You mean the orange lights in our tail lights? Mine blink red and it cost me $2.

[siceclipse]

if i was going to do a custom light for the rear, i would make an LED tailbar that full illuminated and put the brake lights on the very outside where the blinkers are (kind of like an NSX)

[Johnybeas]

You mean the orange lights in our tail lights? Mine blink red and it cost me $2.

No, on a few bikes I've seen here in daytona they have led turn signals that light from inside to out like a wave like on that video that he posted a link to but it just did it for each turn signal when they are on and it would go from left to right repeatedly or from right to left respectively.

[Johnybeas]

No, your trying to help and giving your honest opinion and I greatly appreciate that! Thanks for your honesty and concern. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Although I'm also looking to argue the point to make sure it is either good or bad to do..

Do these look hard to see to you?

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/mohrds/27444.jpg

Can barley tell they're there during the day..

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/mohrds/27435.jpg

did we ever figure out who's SVX this is??? and where he got the LED's to do this??? I'm down to do it myself, I just want ones that fit as snug as these do.

[aust92pearl]

did we ever figure out who's SVX this is??? and where he got the LED's to do this??? I'm down to do it myself, I just want ones that fit as snug as these do.

+ 1 :D they look good

[svxcess]

did we ever figure out who's SVX this is?

This car belongs to Doug Mohr "mohrds" on the network. He is from Milwaukee but hasn't been around in almost a year and a half.

More photos in his locker HERE (http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?mohrds|27419)

His thread link to the information;
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26962&highlight=tail


.

[1986nate]

I wish he was around yet, I'd have someone to contact nearby for good info plus be able to actually talk to him in person...:(

Does anyone have any idea why he has essentially disappeared?:confused:

[Johnybeas]

seems like his were completely custom and a PITA to make. itd be nice if we could find someone who would do it, but if the prices are anywhere near what he payed, I don't know if it's worth it. 500-600 dollars!? that's a lot of money.