LED running lights

[eqlso]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but I couldn't find an exterior lighting section.

So I got this idea from ZoomZoomz post on the mazda 3 forums. Link:http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=48772.0* Originally I bought the LED strips from www.autolumination.com, but they were WAY too thick to place inside the taillights.* So I msged ZoomZoomz, and bought some off him.*

Here's a pic of the lights:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDTaillights003.jpg

I basically used dimaorlov's guide to install them with a little modification.* I'm not sure how ZoomZoomz got his lights so perfectly round for his reverse housing.* My LED strip was about 1 LED too long and couldn't form a complete circle in it.* I had to cut that one off, and since they work in threes, my bottom two LEDs don't work anymore.* It looks pretty weird up close, but you really can't tell from afar.

Here are some pics:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDTaillights010.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDTaillights011.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDTaillights012.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDTaillights013.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDTaillights018.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDTaillights023.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDTaillights024.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDTaillights026.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/NightShots005.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/NightShots006.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDLicensePlateLight003.jpg

Enjoy* :D

[b]

Neat idea! Looks good!

[bluntman]

I agree, looks good!

[Cardinal Fang]

Interesting....this is the first time I've seen this. Yeah I know....I don't get out much.

[3GFX]

Dude thats awesome!!! I would get rid of the set in the reverse housing though, its unproportional and doesn't look right, but I love the other 4. Great idea man. I bet your car looks like an Infin G-series from a distance!

[Skarbro]

I like it. If you could make the brake lights LED as well, that would be TITS.

[eqlso]

The other thing I dont like about the reverse lights is the 2 missing LEDs, but I really can't fix it! :(

It would be pretty difficult to get the brake lights to be like that. I would have to saw off the end parts to fit a board of LEDs in there. I think it would look better if the turn signals and brake lights were swapped too, so the turn signals would be on the very outside.

Since I'm not using the running lights anymore, I wonder how it would look if I swapped the brake light and the turn signal wire? I think it would be interesting.

[bubba1983]

nice to see someone north of the border finally doing this mod!

[eqlso]

Didn't notice all my pics were dead. Re-linked pics and added a couple more. My camera blows for night shots :(

[3GFX]

You should try and get some shots of it with the brake lights on. Still looks great!

[cwp_sedan]

Those look great!!

[queens49]

What is the visibility of the LEDs like during the day? I was thinking of doing it for the rear turn signals. I've tried the replacement LED bulbs for the turn signals, and they were not bright enough during the day. I think this would look really nice for the turn signals...matching the LED tails I already have.

[eqlso]

You'll see them, but they're really not that bright, especially since its red on red. You might notice them better if they're blinking though.

[Azi]

that does look awesome.

[EvilEric]

I noticed you said they aren't being used for "running" lights anymore. What do you mean by that?

Can you a show a picture with Brake depressed and brake applied?

[eqlso]

I disconnected the wire for the running lights bulb, so only the LEDs are my running lights and not the bulb.

I'll try to get some pics tonight.

[eqlso]

Here's some more pics in the day.

Normal:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDtaillights001.jpg

With brake:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/LED%20Taillights/LEDtaillights002.jpg