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Converting Non-Led bulbs to Led

56K views 143 replies 26 participants last post by  wilddieng  
#1 · (Edited)
Anyone know which bulbs are not LED from the factory? I'd like to replace them - but I'd also like to do them all at once.

i THINK: License Plate bulbs; Courtesy Lights (in door) - unsure about any others?

Anyone done this? If so - best recommendation on manufacturer and bulb color? (K)

TIA

EDIT

Well - I just answered myself: http://q50tech.blogspot.com/2013/09/replacing-q50-lights-with-leds.html

I swear I searched before posting - I guess spelling counts! LOL

Question still remains: best manufacturer and color? Thanks all!
 
#2 ·
My favorite has been VLEDs. Their bulbs are a little pricey, but you get what you pay for and they are the only place that has reliably had 5000k bulbs (pure white, no blue tint).
 
#4 ·
Here's how some of them look in my I30. I know they are bad quality photos, but they give you an idea of how bright they are and how they look. In these they are in my dome light, map light, courtesy lights, clearance lights (inside the headlight), and front side markers.







 
#6 ·
Finally got around to doing this....

The puddle lights in the door were easy..as was the rear reading lights.

The license plate lights were VERY easy...as was the trunk light.

The vanity light was a royal pain! I gave up and put the old bulb back in...MAYBE the LED was too big (diameter not length)...I could not get the little plastic trim on with the LED in place. I am not heartbroken in the least..

Other than that, there was only one odd thing: on one of the license plate sockets...the bulb would light upon contact but would go out upon full insertion. This occurred with multiple bulbs. I finally adjusted the wires on the bulb and it seemed to work. I will watch that one. Otherwise this was the result I desired (other than cursing at the vanity light). The light color matches the other (factory) LEDs. The puddle light looked so incredibly yellow against the welcome light LEDs. Now everything looks cohesive.

I did not venture into the glove box light - I open that about once a year...or less. The involved replacement procedure was not worth the benefit to me.

Other than the color match - the trunk light replacement is an improvement IMO. When I first got the car - I didn't think it HAD a trunk light - the factory one is so dim. The new LED at least throws a bit more light. Very nice...
 
#12 ·
I am actually in farmers branch if you'd like to meet let me know and i can show you my LED set up, I've already helped out 4 other members as well. I did the turn signal as well too since i did not like the halogen look on the rear turn signal. Let me know if you like to meet
 
#10 ·
I see.....well as they are already LED - I have not read where anyone has tackled the task of changing the bulbs. Good luck with that one...
 
#18 ·
I did this modification at the dealership when I took possession of the car. My G37 already had the full LED set-up so before leaving it at the dealership, I just removed the factory bulbs from the Q50 and exchanged them with the LED bulbs that were already in my G37. I then placed the factory Q50 bulbs in the G37. I was able to do this for the whole car, Minus the front map lights of course which left me with two extra bulbs. I plan on placing one of those in the glove compartment the next time I change my Cabin Filter. The full LED setup looks so much nicer than the factory setup IMO. All replacement bulbs were from Vleds.
 
#23 · (Edited)
I have actually done mine total cost was $30.00 including load resistor....tonight i will post a picture of how its done, you can get the bulb at a local autozone or auto part store you will need a load resistor and double sided tape so you can mount the load resistor. For the turn signal you will need bulb number 7440LED its by philips. I am working as well on getting a group order for the interior LEDs that match the map light in the front. I did the turn signal to give it a crisper look when turning as i didnt like the halogen bulb look on the rear.
 
#24 ·
I have some LEDs on order for my Q50S. Went to eBay for the license plate lights and went with a bulb design I haven't tried before but I think they'll look fine since each housing has a reflector inside. Went with a 5K white bulb from VLEDs for the rear reading lights, but they are backordered so hopefully they ship out within a week so i can see them. I'll reuse 5K LEDs from my I30 for the courtesy lights. I'm debating doing the rear turn signals since you practically never see them and I'd want to get in-line resistors since I don't want to cut wiring. I can live with the glove box light since it seems like such a hassle to change.
 
#25 ·
Well as for the wiring when you pull the tail lamp out you can use a tap so you don't have to splice as I did below. Yes you are correct you won't see them but it doesn't make sense to me why the front is LED and the rear is a halogen bulb, I wanted it to look crisp and as well make it stand out.... Before you order from VLED the bulb you need if you want to match the front map lights are the osram 194 in a 4k its called a warm light. It's a dead on match the picture below kinda gives ahold example. Sorry if too much info just trying to give you and everyone an idea or help on matching bulbs. Working on as well on getting a bulk order ready so everyone can order at a cheaper price.
 

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#29 ·
I finished my LED conversion this evening by finally getting around to the rear turn signals. I got a pair of the Philips 7440s in red and a pair of load resistors. Much easier than I thought it would be. I wish I would have done it sooner, so much brighter and vibrant. Total cost was $35 for the bulbs and load resistors.
 
#31 ·
Awesome !!!! I felt that it made a big difference glad to have helped lol

I felt since I got the Q it was missing that pop from the rear turn signal. Glad you noticed the difference
 
#33 ·
I'm now interested in the rear lights!!!! I agree with wgallupe - how do you do the tail light removal?
 
#34 ·
1. Go to your car
2. Hit the trunk release button on your fob/ or from inside the car
3. Hahaha sound like a smart a$$

I will get serious

When you open the trunk you will see a plastic trim piece next to the tail lamp.
1. pull up/down gently or what I did was move it back ( meaning forwards the trunk ) and you will see it seperate from the tail light.
2 once you see separation pull gently because once you remove you will see a very delicate tab at the bottom it looks pretty cheap.
3. Once removed you will need a 10 mm and you will pull the light out. It will feel like you are breaking the light off but you are not. It has a metal tab and one plastic one that holds the light to the car you will be pulling out ward to remove.
4. Once light was out I removed the two light sockets one is the LED second is for break light.
5. Run a tap to both positive and negative or splice which ever works to the load resistor.
6. Make sure you have enough space from resistor and tail lamp because the resistor does get hot and mount with thermal double sided tape or double sided tape ( which has worked for me ).... If you look inside where bumper and body of the car meet you will see a dip and I mounted mine there because it can sit firmly.
7. Check your lights to make sure they are not hyper flashing
8 . Reinstall following process in reverse.

If you guys want to order the 194 for interior here is the link

http://www.motivemods.com/OSRAM-LEDriving-W5W4K-p/osr-led-w5w4k.htm
 

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#35 ·
On the interior led everyone has different opinions I simply wanted a look that looked as if it was made by factory. There are many respectable companies that make LED, I did an extensive research and bought a crap load of 194 to see what did and didn't work. I am currently going to be doing 6 more q50's with the osram bulb and the same set up for turn signal. If anyone needs help drop me a message and I will get back with you ASAP, I didn't get any help in/on doing this I just used my vehicle as a lab rat and saw what did an didn't work. So anything I can do to help I am free cause it can suck not getting any help.
 
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#37 ·
CFB-50, thanks for the tips. Really appreciate it. Seem crazy to me that the whole tail light assembly needs to come out to replace a bulb! I put LED turn signals and resistors in my 2012 G and everything was accessible from the trunk. Simple.

Anyway, I'm a little worried that I'll break that trim piece on the Q...
 
#40 ·
Nah you will be fine just be easy with it , move in either direction until you can get some separation and then pull out slowly. My car was a few hours old and I was already pulling it apart.
 
#53 ·
You need an Osram Bulb 4000k 194 for interior there is a link as well from whom you can order them from very reputable . The package comes with 2 Bulbs and free shipping, look at my prior threads I posted the link to order them.

license plate go with Sylvania 6000k 194 they will match your head lights

Turn signal light bulb for the rear is a Philips 7440LED and you will need a load resistor as well.
 
#54 ·
good info on those Osram bulbs for people looking to match the front map lights and getting it right the first time. I wish I had known this before buying several sets that still didn't match perfectly.
I will still attempt to convert those map lights to "pure white" color down the road...but for now these will do.
 
#55 ·
Finally got my rear reading light LEDs in the mail today. They are ridiculously bright but they look great. They are slightly "whiter" than the front map lights, but it's not too noticeable (iPhone 6 camera shows it more than it really is); looks much better than the incandescent bulbs in the back. Went with 5000K from VLEDs for them, and reused some 1-LED 5000K bulbs for the courtesy lights in the doors. Got some 5730 LED bulbs off eBay for the license plate lights, but I think they are a little overpowered since I noticed them flickering the other day. It's been cooler the past few days in NJ so maybe the ambient temp is better for them. My bet is that with 8 LEDs per bulb, plus resistors since they are CANBUS, and that there's not much room for the heat to be displaced, that the LEDs are getting damaged. Worst case I get some different ones for there.

Here's how my interior is looking now:

Q50S LEDs by miccris93, on Flickr
 
#56 ·
Can someone help me out? I ordered my led bulbs and I already installed them in the trunk, vanity mirror, rear dome light. I'm having trouble with the step door lights and the license plate lights. I can't seem to get the step door lights even with a needle nose pliers. I tried shaking and wiggling it and it just won't come out. I can't get the glass part out from the rear lights located above the plate. Can someone help me out? Thanks.
 
#61 ·
For the license plate lights, all I used was two very thin Flathead screwdrivers. Slid the first screw driver underneath the light on the right hand side and popped it out a tiny bit. Held the light with my right hand while I repeated the process on the left hand side and the whole light fixture popped right out. Honestly once you know how to do the license plate lights, they are actually the easiest to do on the car.

The step door light was a tad awkward. Using the same thin Flathead screwdrivers, you have to push the screwdriver into the crack between the light and the door trim. Once it slides in a bit, it should create a tiny crack between the door trim and the light. I then used my second screwdriver and stuck it in and used both screwdrivers and it popped out.