i thought i would share what my spare time was about. you know most new cars come with l.e.d tailights. i thought i might adapt my s5 taillights from bulb to l.e.d.

 

nice...how much did those cost you???..

 

interesting, how long does that take?

 

the total time was about 3hours for both sides. not bad for the first time. but cost of project was near 100 or so bucks.

 

where did u buy the bulbs
im lookin to do the same kind of project

 

I want some!!!!

 

We need more pictures, particularily shots from a few feet away. So far it looks neat

 

U used RED LED's right??? they will show brighter through the red lense than white will. Also i discovered that the lights the truckers use for brake lights fit inside the S5 tails... i just cant bring myself to rip them apart though....

 

it's cool...but how visible is it from a distance?

 

yea LEDS dont have the light spread of bulbs... they are really bright, but too concentrated bright... im sure someone understands me

 

i personaLLY dont like them, atleast in that pic, get more pics, some during day too please

 

Is it just me, or is there really a smiley face pattern in there?

 

Smiley face? I dont see it... Those are pretty trick Though.

 

That doesn't look very bright at all. Also, unless you used DOT approved bulbs, your insurance could void your coverage if you are rear ended.

 

You mean some people still have collision coverage on their 7's?!

 

I have $30K of coverage on mine.

 

Well aren't you special

 

I've been thinking about doing EXACTLY this, for QUITE a long time now!

Details, details, details!!!

As for the discussion about how bright they are, I'm quite sure that could be fixed/asjusted. He's right, many new cars are coming with LED taillights, and cars have had LED third-brakelights for a VERY long time now. It's been proven, actually, that because they light up faster, they reduce stopping distances of the people behind you by several feet at highway speeds... that could be the difference between a near miss and getting rear-ended.

 

You didn't say, but are the electronics happy with the low current load?

Here's a thought.
Use the LED unit on the inboard space only, with the tungsten lamp still in the center space.
That would give a sequential look to the brake signal.

 

I love LED's becuse of their visibility in poor weather conditions. Anyone in a bad fog bank who used a semi trucks tails to know where the road was will agree with me. The only complaint I have is that they aren't as visible during fair weather daytime driving. Kind of a catch-22, better sometimes, worse others. Honestly, though, the tungsten lamps are PLENTY bright on the s5. I have always heard good things from people who've followed me in poor weather about how well they can see my car, so I'm kind of heasitent to change them.

 

Day / dusk pictures please.

 

How about...
Are these D.O.T. legal???
If not, you're breaking a (U.S.) federal law...


-Ted

 

Ive been thinking about doing this too, and now seeing how good they look ill try it when I get some extra cash.

But why be up the goverments ***? Who gives a **** if the government thinks about your tail lights. **** them, I bought the car, not them, ill do what I want with it.

Anywho, the lights I was looking at were DOT approved.

 

screw US law:-P the ricers do worse **** quit being negative

 

But most of those products ARE DOT certified, otherwise it would be hard to sell them . Unless you're talking about their custom ****, but most of them aren't smart enough to take apart their rear lights ;o!