License Plate LEDs

When I bought my car, it had been tapped in the rear.  It was hit good enough, that the styrofoam support around the license plate light was cracked on one side, and I needed to replace one bulb.  Since one of the plastic coverings was cracked, the light would shine through and be brighter on one side.  This was unacceptable.  I looked around the house and found some LEDs that I was using for another project.  I quickly disassembled the license plate mount, and cut some plastic sheeting to hold my LED housings.  I mounted the LEDs and got the exact effect I was imagining, and hoped for.

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/lic_led_01.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/lic_led_02.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/lic_led_03.jpg[/img]

I mounted the LEDs high enough above the license plate so that you don't see them unless you stick your head under the bumper, which was the point. I only wanted to see the residual light emmitted from the LEDs, not the diodes themselves.

Two spots that shine across the plate and illuminate the ground below...

What do you guys think?

i like the way it looks- a little dramatic flare. a nice white light, rather than the slightly yellowish tint of standard bulbs for license plates.

seems like you were ahead of the game, as the newest lexus gs/aristo now has l.e.d.'s for the license plates.

hey don't the new lexus gs have standard led bulbs in the plate?? I noticed that a few weeks ago but I highly doubt an oldl white man changed it out to look fly ???

[quote=TLontheDL ]
hey don't the new lexus gs have standard led bulbs in the plate??


[quote=uncle_el ]
seems like you were ahead of the game, as the newest lexus gs/aristo now has l.e.d.'s for the license plates.
[/quote]


[/quote]

[quote=TLontheDL ]
hey don't the new lexus gs have standard led bulbs in the plate??  I noticed that a few weeks ago but I highly doubt an oldl white man changed it out to look fly  ???
[/quote]

yes they do. great mod.what size LEDs did u use?

[quote=mdenoga ]
yes they do. great mod.what size LEDs did u use?
[/quote]

3mm

How many LEDs per side?
Looks great by the way.

[quote=jstyle ]
How many LEDs per side?
Looks great by the way.
[/quote]

one per side. two total.

did you just plug it in, or splice them in or what? DIY writeup.... hehe

[quote=Caoboy ]
did you just plug it in, or splice them in or what? DIY writeup.... hehe
[/quote]

well first of all there is a metal frame that held in the plastic housings for the OEM lights. that got bent, so i had to bend it back into the best shape possible.

i cut some plexiglass and epoxied it to the frame, drilled some holes, and soldered in my LEDs to the factory wiring. the leds consume much less current than the OEM bulbs.

and im surprised the ecu doesnt detect that there isn't enough voltage being drawn from those two licence plate lights (inside joke for all you g50ers).

cheers.

* if i ever remove the plate, ill do a write up... like it i ever get around to swapping them out for 5 or 7mm leds.

Did you use resistors?

[quote=firelizard ]
Did you use resistors?
[/quote]

yes

just in case anyone has "a bright idea"...
i already checked how much it would be for the OEM License Illumination Assemblies..
the led and assembly is all 1 unit, they want 80.00 USD a side..
so its a little bit under 200 for the pair from lexus
lol..

[quote=hahajoey ]
just in case anyone has "a bright idea"...
i already checked how much it would be for the OEM License Illumination Assemblies..
the led and assembly is all 1 unit, they want 80.00 USD a side..
so its a little bit under 200 for the pair from lexus
lol..
[/quote]

total parts for my project cost around 80 cents. i didn't factor in the cost of the plexi used, since it was such a small scrap piece laying around, which can be purchased from your local plastics shop for less than a buck.

i used PIAA LED #168 bulbs turned alot brighter than stock and are very similar to viplife's

[img]http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/482000-482999/482284_78_full.jpg[/img]

Awesome. It adds a classy touch to the overall look.

well see i wanted that distinctive white with a lil bit yellow tint..
all the LED bulbs i found on the market, aren't as bright, and have more
of a HID/Superwhite look to the white. its not a yellowish white like the
lexus(new ones) are.

 :'(

but good work guys

I have blue leds in my plate lights but the light isnt nearly as cut as the setup you have... I think im going to switch over 8)

[url]www.superbrightleds.com..they[/url] have a lot of different setups, maybe you could what you are looking for there?

Will buying the plug and play LED bulbs from that site or other company provide the same result as VIPLIFE's Q ?

They'll probably be similar

i dunno. they do have bulbs that will shoot out the light like a cone like that. . they have multiple LED's from 2-like 230196502386 if you want (haha) that point in one direction, or they have multiple LED's that point in like 5 directions. why dont you search on the sight find one you like? they look better than stock halogen bulbs anyways. I got some for my parking/marker lights, and they made one helluva difference. i bought the 5 way LED's, because they shoot light out in a + configuration plus straight out. a LOT brighter, and matches the HID really well. 

[quote=Caoboy ]
i dunno. they do have bulbs that will shoot out the light like a cone like that. . they have multiple LED's from 2-like 230196502386 if you want (haha) that point in one direction, or they have multiple LED's that point in like 5 directions. why dont you search on the sight find one you like? they look better than stock halogen bulbs anyways. I got some for my parking/marker lights, and they made one helluva difference. i bought the 5 way LED's, because they shoot light out in a + configuration plus straight out. a LOT brighter, and matches the HID really well. 
[/quote]
let me see some pics dude? I might do the same if i like

[quote=AME_VIP ]
Will buying the plug and play LED bulbs from that site or other company provide the same result as VIPLIFE's Q ?
[/quote]

It really depends on what you buy.  Most plug and play kit led's don't even give off a crsip white like VIP life's.  I have had both plug and play and made my own led's before.  let me tell you, the diy led's have a much more crispier white(which is what I prefer and more classier) than a blue/purple-white (which in my opinion is 'ricy').

i had no idea this was going to be such a popular subject.

time to go and find more of those LEDs ive got laying around!

lets get a writeup for the DIY LED for the license plate. :)

your wish just might come true. i think im going to abandon the leds. got another idea.

I'm bored and I've got some LEDs laying around. I might pop in some of my surplus green ones to see how it turns out. I'll document my progress if I do.

I was going to order some from superbrightled's but its a $25 minimum for orders outside the US. what a joke !

they look great in the city lights! throw them in your side markers, there ya go! just order a few different ones, 5 bulbs would be about 25 bucks anyways...
OR, have someone order them for you, and then have them ship it to you. 

I thought about those ones in the headlights. I agree that would look nice. However they warn against using them in headlights because of the heat? 

its no problem. my friend has him in his soarer headlgihts, but then he also has an HID kit. the led's in the city lights were in the headlights when we got them, and they also had stock halogens. it was no problem, and they look cool!

nice thanks. I can always get some spares incase they burn out/stop working. 

just mounted a pair of blue Eurolite 194 LED lights.  They have two leds in each pod.  
They are REALLY bright. sadly though I think the blue is a little ricey and will get too much cop attention 

I'll try them in the headlights next to the 6000K HID and look for white 194 LED's

I've replaced all of my interior lights (doors, maps, dome) and license lights with white leds from [url]WWW.VLEDS.COM[/url] They've been in for a few months now with no burnouts and they are bright with a wide light dispersion (i used the refractor led bulbs). I've also replaced all of my exterior lights as well including front and rear signals and brake lights with amber and red. I'd recommend [url]WWW.VLEDS.COM[/url] if your planning on getting the plug/play led bulbs.

I have some LEDs for my license plate as well. I purchased them from [url]www.superbrightleds.com[/url]

just thought i help out:

[img]http://www.lightlens.net/bulbchart/automotive_lamp_guide1.jpg[/img]

[quote=DORIMON ]
I've replaced all of my interior lights (doors, maps, dome) and license lights with white leds from [url]WWW.VLEDS.COM[/url] .
[/quote]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/bagaong_bandit/nightshots007.jpg[/img]

Got thier plate lights also..single led in each bulb with inverted lens for better light dissipation..Drop in replacements.

I like that look a lot, I think I'll look into thie VLed site. I was planning on getting stuf either local or from SuperBrightLEDS

[quote=firelizard ]
I like that look a lot, I think I'll look into thie VLed site. I was planning on getting stuf either local or from SuperBrightLEDS
[/quote]

i just bought some right now
after looking at some ppls lights it made me jsut want one. overall spent like 30bucks. 
i thought it was expensive for small bulbs...but then again i just received my garson night flashers yesterday which cost....my dad $50 so i guess its not that bad.... ;D ;D

[QUOTE=Caoboy;1983]did you just plug it in, or splice them in or what? DIY writeup.... hehe[/QUOTE]

sorry to bring this one back from the dead, but i found the pictures pre-install, hope this helps...

----------------------------

metal frame that previously contained two square lights.  light housings, removed.  epoxied piece of plastic covering the holes (you can see i didnt bother trimming the square edges at top ).  two leds mounted in each.  they are not angled.

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/led_lic_01.jpg[/img]


i used a chrome housing that fit the led, which is threaded on the back with a lock nut, to hold the led snugly in place.  important to mount the leds "straight" in the housings, or the light output may be directed/crooked if they aren't. some close-ups.

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/led_lic_02.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/led_lic_03.jpg[/img]


i made sure i got resistors that would handle the voltage load delivered through the wire.  because resistors were soldered inline, i just soldered directly to the factory wiring.  the plug was too far away to bother with.  mounted on the car.

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/led_lic_04.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/led_lic_05.jpg[/img]

night pics (from first post):

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/lic_led_01.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/lic_led_02.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/lic_led_03.jpg[/img]

note: this upgrade cost me more time, than money.  led's and resistors are barely cents each.  the plastic i had laying around from another project, but such a small size is considered scrap to any plastic shop.  check out their trash bins!

good stuff

wow, lots of HI residents on this forum...

looks good....

[QUOTE=viplife;1907]When I bought my car, it had been tapped in the rear. It was hit good enough, that the styrofoam support around the license plate light was cracked on one side, and I needed to replace one bulb. Since one of the plastic coverings was cracked, the light would shine through and be brighter on one side. This was unacceptable. I looked around the house and found some LEDs that I was using for another project. I quickly disassembled the license plate mount, and cut some plastic sheeting to hold my LED housings. I mounted the LEDs and got the exact effect I was imagining, and hoped for.

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/lic_led_01.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/lic_led_02.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.angrylife.com/temp/lic_led_03.jpg[/img]

I mounted the LEDs high enough above the license plate so that you don't see them unless you stick your head under the bumper, which was the point. I only wanted to see the residual light emmitted from the LEDs, not the diodes themselves.

Two spots that shine across the plate and illuminate the ground below...

What do you guys think?[/QUOTE]

my rear license plate LEDs turned into strobe lights.

I used the cheapo ebay 12led hyperwhite bulbs and they look sweet.

I just put some in my q45 touring yesterday and they look sick. they look even brighter on the pearl white paint

which ones exactly did you guys use?  link?  there are a thousand different ones on ebay

Hmmm... how could someone go about elminating the spotlight effect on the ground. Maybe put them further closer to the edge and angle them in? Would be nice to get them shooting side to side but that wouldn't look as clean.

i did this awhile ago on my audi using single Street Glow led's that come in a pack of 4. if you get the white they have a blue tint and look awesome. looks so much better and newer than stock

If you don't like the spotlight effect, then using a compact flourescent might be a better idea (same thing as pc case lights). You can get htem in a variety of lengths and colors, and you can blockoff the acrylic tubing they are in to focus the light more.

i got mines from ebay and they shine bright!!!

[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/youngkuickc/15314_120469511307973_1000003477480.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/youngkuickc/15314_120468111308113_1000003477480.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/youngkuickc/15693_117169454971312_1000003477-1.jpg[/IMG]