LED Question: Clear Bumper Side Lights

LDM

LDM

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I put these Clear Bumper Side Lights on today:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Anyone else notice the fit isn't as good as the originals? The end that doesn't have the metal spring clip is hard to fit in, and that side stays bowed out more than the factory light does. Drivers and Passenger side fit the same. I put it in anyway (I did use a dremel in places, but I didn't find exactly where the issue is to make it a proper fit).
 
I had the same issue as well a dremal was definetly used on my Ls, I thought i was crazy at first not putting them in correctly;)
 
I haven't done this but; I believe you could pop them out from underneath/inside the front bumper.
 
No need to take the bumper off. To remove use a butter knife and insert it between the lens and bumper at the edge facing the rear of the car. There is a metal spring clip that will release and then the lens comes out.

To put it back in, I had to remove the 3 bottom screws of each fender well under the bumper and one screw in the fender wheel well where the bumper meets the fender... and reach in to hold the bumper tab when inserting the light for the metal spring clip to click in place. Put the 4 screws per side back on. Done.

0531111808.jpg
 
Or its 3 push tabs and 3 8mm bolts I believe to pull the headlights and they're easily removable then.
 
I just pulled the drivers headlight (3 5/16 bolts on Gen1), and noticed you can get to the bumper lights. I came in to update this info, but noticed Disk already mentioned it.

I went ahead and put in Jam Straight 194a LED lights in the bumper markers.

BUT... they came ON at dim brightness, still on after 10 minutes (tried each LED)... with the car completely OFF. I put the standard 194a amber bulbs back in (they did not light up).

What's up with the 194a LED's being lit with the car off, and headlight switch off?
 
Its nothing to worry about at all. The residual electricity remaining in your system is whats powering the LED when you turn your car off. Once it drains the 1-2watts roughly left in the wiring, it will turn off.
 
Cool. Thanks Disk!

Baking one headlight now to remove the amber lens... (so now is the time to put that 194a LED back in).
 
Not a problem at all. The LEDs are a great option over standard bulbs I've got them everywhere but the dome lights. (Hate how bright they are as it is haha) Can't wait to see the finished product man! It really will amaze you just how easily the headlights pull apart after 9 minutes.
 
Well it didn't pull apart at all. I went around with a kitchen knife along the black where it meets the clear glass, lifting the black as much as possible. (They are both black adhesive). Oven was 250 degrees at 15 minutes.

I used a dremel cutting disk and had to cut all the way around it.

Got it apart. Pulled the amber lens. Cleaning it up now before resealing using Permatex black.

Turned the oven off, as it's after 10PM and I don't want to use the dremel this late in the garage (being considerate of the neighbors). The passenger side will have to wait until tomorrow.
 
Drivers headlight is now sealed and setting up now.

3157 Chrome Amber bulbs ordered $8.45 for a pair, free shipping (eBay)
 
Update: LED 194a bulb went out in about 30 minutes after turning the car off (I only have the drivers front installed for now for testing, maybe it will drain faster with more LED's installed). I do like that LED in the bumper clear marker lens, as it's brighter and more noticable at night... and fills the clear lens with amber light better.
 
LDM said:
I put these Clear Bumper Side Lights on today:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Anyone else notice the fit isn't as good as the originals? The end that doesn't have the metal spring clip is hard to fit in, and that side stays bowed out more than the factory light does. Drivers and Passenger side fit the same. I put it in anyway (I did use a dremel in places, but I didn't find exactly where the issue is to make it a proper fit).
Click to expand...

Where exactly did you guys use the dremel? I just bought a pair of these and tried to fit them in real quick and it wasn't working. I'm gonna put them in later when I have more time.
 
Dremel didn't really help, maybe it did a little, on top non-spring side inside raised edge & corner of the marker light itself (don't dremel the bumper, as it's not an issue with the bumper). I got another set of smoked side markers and they had the same issue. Just keep fudging & messing with them until you find the best look and leave it at that. That's what I ended up doing. Manoli mentioned same issues. Appears to be too tight on non-spring side at the gap where the bumper inserts into it. It'll fit, just keep laboring with it. It also doesn't fit the best on the spring side either... but once in move it around some. You may have to press on the bumper tab from the inside at the clip (remove headlight) to get the best alignment.
 
I'm thinking of buying these as well. When you put the bulb in was it a 90 degree type or just a regular bulb? I saw the 90 degree ones from vleds and thought about it. did you need resistors when you installed them?
 
Regular - not 90 degree. I went back to a standard bulb and took out the LED's. You will probably need a resistor so they don't stay on.
 
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