$35 DIY Audi headlight mod - Page 3 - Kia Forte Forum : Sedan and Forte Koup Forums

ridecolby · 03-24-2010, 05:17 PM

CAn you do some more pics that are closer up of the finished product installed.

Theta · 03-24-2010, 05:38 PM

sexiness, ive seen this done on a altima as well, looks very very good, deffinatly will do it when i get my baby

jakeabbott · 03-25-2010, 01:28 AM

After about 2 hours of trial, error, and running back to the hardware store I finally got my LED lights working. Had to splice a ~26 gauge wire together with an 18 gauge wire and then use tap-ins to connect to the parking lights. The wires for the led literally have like 8 strands of copper in them. Had to use a lighter to strip them and then fold it up about four times for it to stay in a 22 to 18 gauge wire splicer. Sorry for the bad pic, but night and Iphone cameras do not get along well.

soar4fun · 03-25-2010, 10:56 AM

Can we please get a daytime picture up close so we can see the gap you described.

You might also run a variable resistance pot or rheostat to reduce the brightness to dial in the look.

Also, you should get the new two way V-LED 1157 (2357) that is 6000K White for Parking and Amber for Turn... That will complete the look.

PharaohKoup · 03-25-2010, 11:37 AM

The gap I am talking about is the distance between the LEDS themselfs. IF you look up in the actually instructions to the photo where I have the light sitting on the car for testing you can see that the LEDS are grouped together in 3's so there is a group of 3 then a slight gap. The space between all the leds is not the same so some have said they dont like the look of it. The gap is there because there is acutally a junction on the circuit that you can cut to shorten the lenght of the LED strip of you dont like it as long as I did it. It is safe to cut it here withough breaking the path of electricty hence rendering the strip useless.

The gap you may be thinking of is after install between the light and the bumper. These actually fit in the gap between the headlamp and the bumber perfectly. Acutally taking away that space completely making it apear there is no gap at all. I will try to take a daytime photo after lunch and edit this post and attach it.

as promissed

in this one i tried to split the group of 3 leds so you can see how the 2 on the left and the 2 on the right have a "gap" between them. the distance between the groups of leds is greater than the distance between the leds in each group... hence a "gap"

soar4fun · 03-25-2010, 02:26 PM

Excellent. Think about the Turn Signal LEDs (that change color) and a potientiometer to reduce brightness if needed. I might go with another strip with more seperated LEDs. I wish I knew the distance between the Audi LEDs....

Good job on this. It works well.

PharaohKoup · 03-25-2010, 02:30 PM

thanks and i would love to try the turn signal upgrade.. do you have a link?

jakeabbott · 03-26-2010, 03:41 AM

If you decide to use the 24cm LED strips you will have a gap in between the bumper and the head lights. Here are a few close up photos showing the gap.

CrashVector · 03-26-2010, 05:13 PM

sweet.....ordered a set last night. Just got the email that they were shipped.

cadieux · 04-12-2010, 07:28 PM

Ya, looks good. How do they look with your headlights on? Highbeams?

goodfella84 · 04-16-2010, 08:33 AM

hey pharoah, does this LED strip function as a turn signal as well, or just as DRL/parking light?

ile2010 · 04-16-2010, 10:51 AM

I've just had 6 LEDs burn out on mine (after a few months of use). Prior to burning out, they were blinking any time they ran off the alternator.

My mistake was starting the engine with the LEDs on. They're not equipped for the power surge. So, I will treat my replacements with a bit more care.

However, there still may be a voltage problem down the road, which will require resistors.

If that's the case, this mod became more expensive. But then again, I only pay $4 per pair for the strands, so who cares if I have to pay for resistors?

pishu · 05-26-2010, 11:24 PM

Hey Pharao! from Argentina here (probably most of the people wont know where the fck is it)....
i just did my mod, but to a Sedan Forte...and with white LED lamps.... check it out
please let me know your opinion...

sk0ll · 06-10-2010, 04:24 PM

Hey guys.. I live in Brazil lol

forte owners all over the world..

I have a black forte, I would like to know if I should buy the white or black led color???

wich one will look better in your opinion??

thanks!!

daddyeddy · 06-11-2010, 05:56 PM

What! i paid 19.99 i'll post some pics. shortly