DIY: LED license plate bulb swap & comparison pics

**hoppy6698** · 03-09-2010 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by PG2373

They do look too bright for my taste. Is there another version that would be error free and not as bright?

Try the 6 LED version from superbright LEDs and rotate the terminals to face the reflector panel inside the housing (you will see what I mean when you open it).

**hender** · 03-09-2010 04:40 PM

I just ordered a pair and god damn they do look bright. I wonder if wrapping some masking tape around them would help calm them down a bit!!!!

**hoppy6698** · 03-09-2010 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by hender

I just ordered a pair and god damn they do look bright. I wonder if wrapping some masking tape around them would help calm them down a bit!!!!

I wouldnt put anything on the LED itself - try putting a film on the inside of the lens. Should bring it down a bit.

**legbend** · 03-09-2010 05:42 PM

I didn't really understand the explanations either, so here's what I figured out:

The whole goal is to move the assembly. The screwdriver is just there for leverage.

1| Insert a medium sized flathead screwdriver appropriate for the hole.
2| If the bulb is to the right of the hole, push to the right, no need to angle the screwdriver, until you feel the assembly move. (It's very slight).
3| With an available finger, grab the edge closest to the screwdriver and pull down. The corner should start to come out.
4| Slowly work on that corner, keeping a bit of force in the direction you pushed. Then pull the assembly out.

Just make sure you feel/see the assembly move before you start tugging. Hopefully these help.

**akinaboy** · 03-09-2010 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by PG2373

They do look too bright for my taste. Is there another version that would be error free and not as bright?

You can simply flip the LED unit so that it shoots light upward not downward. Then, the light amount should be reduced much.

**Quattrolover** · 03-09-2010 07:24 PM

I like them bright. I have to say I still get a little chuckle when I see people block out their plate numbers on forums. Everyday you drive around everyone on the road see's it so what is the difference??? LOL

**legbend** · 03-10-2010 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by akinaboy

You can simply flip the LED unit so that it shoots light upward not downward. Then, the light amount should be reduced much.

Mine are angled toward the back, but still facing down. Like: / vs __ Seems to have similar brightness as the regular bulb, just whiter color.

**hender** · 03-10-2010 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by legbend

Mine are angled toward the back, but still facing down. Like: / vs __ Seems to have similar brightness as the regular bulb, just whiter color.

nice--that's exactly what im looking for. no need to draw all that attention to my plates!

Originally Posted by Quattrolover

I like them bright. I have to say I still get a little chuckle when I see people block out their plate numbers on forums. Everyday you drive around everyone on the road see's it so what is the difference??? LOL

i agree ** but weird shit can happen! i tell you guys im going to germany, and davidb8 decides to run my plates with his buddy to get my address. whadya know, david stole my car AND my jonas brothers posters.
it happens every day.........

**Gunner** · 03-11-2010 07:33 PM

i am putting in the hidconcepts.com ones tomorrow. I will have pics on quartz grey up tomorrow night.

**mike@hidconcept** · 03-13-2010 11:48 AM

Can't wait to see pics.

**Gunner** · 03-14-2010 07:23 PM

I have them angled at 45 degrees so they are not as bright. No error codes! There GGGGGrrrrrrreat! Thanks HIDCONCEPT.com

**mctuners** · 03-29-2010 08:28 AM

Anyone has a clear picture on Red color B8 A4?
I wonder what it would look like.

**joeyo** · 04-16-2010 06:24 PM

Just swapped my license plate bulbs for these, and OMG what a difference in person! They look great! Definitely ordering a set for my Rabbit as well...

**A5MD** · 04-17-2010 11:42 PM

Should ask this in the A5 forums but it seems to more active here. Would these bulbs be the same as for an A5? Also as thinking about going with polargs but according to the sylvania website, its bulb type "6418". Is there another/number for this type of bulb? Thanks

**LB_NY_B8** · 04-18-2010 04:35 AM

Just bought a pair of them from http://www.hidconcept.com/LED-Festoon.html

Hope they look good. I assume from other posts that if they are TOO bright, just angle them in a bit.

Post some result pics.

lata

**joeyo** · 04-18-2010 07:09 AM

here is a comparison pic of the lights on my car, and then the finished product:

**lxnguy3n** · 04-21-2010 06:41 PM

just got them installed. They're great! Thanks!!

**A5MD** · 04-21-2010 07:09 PM

I ordered mine yesterday and since they are coming fromJersey, I hope they are here tomorrow

**LB_NY_B8** · 04-23-2010 01:03 AM

just got mine, installing this weekend, along with hid kit for low beams and silverstar fogs. hope looks good on my ibis white

**A5MD** · 04-23-2010 06:36 AM

Just got mine yesterday...Hope to install this weekend.

**LB_NY_B8** · 04-23-2010 06:37 AM

So should they be angled so theyre not TOO bright or just put em in regular?

**hender** · 04-23-2010 06:41 AM

i angled mine at a 45 inward (facing the car) and it gave off the best light imo

**LB_NY_B8** · 04-23-2010 06:43 AM

are they THAT much brighter if not angled?

**Emission** · 04-23-2010 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by LB_NY_B8

are they THAT much brighter if not angled?

They are not obnoxious (they do aim down), but the combination of the brighter LED illumination combined with more lumens does make a huge difference. I like the color, and I like showing them off, so mine are not angled.

- Mike

**hender** · 04-23-2010 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by LB_NY_B8

are they THAT much brighter if not angled?

it's all about preference, so you should try for yourself; it takes 10 seconds to re-angle them. when I installed them, it lit up my plate, bumper, and the entire ground beneath it. personally, if that was the only option, i might have taken them out. but for me, the angling gave me the results i was looking for.

**LB_NY_B8** · 04-23-2010 06:59 PM

Heres my pics. Bare with my, lol the pics were taken on an htc touch pro smartphone, all 3 pics are taken at differnt brightness levels. I love it. I didint angle the bulbs at all. This with possibly some smoked out tails may just be hott.

The first pic is most similar to how I see it. the rest are at higher brightness levels

**A5MD** · 04-23-2010 07:16 PM

More and more I see these it looks brighter every time lol. I guess I will have to angle the different directions to tone them down a bit when I do mine.

**LB_NY_B8** · 04-23-2010 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by PG2373

More and more I see these it looks brighter every time lol. I guess I will have to angle the different directions to tone them down a bit when I do mine.

Like I said, the top pitcure is how me and u see it, the others are just crappy camera settings.

**gx93117** · 04-25-2010 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by mike@hidconcept

The Blesk LED's will fit on B7 and B6 but error message pops up for some unknown reason.
We are in the process of getting re-developed version to resolve this issue.

Any updates on when you'll have have it working error free for the B7? I can't seem to find an Led, that won't throw an error code with the color in dash display.

**LB_NY_B8** · 04-26-2010 03:14 AM

Tinted Tails on the way....Lamin-XXXXXXXXXXX

**mike@hidconcept** · 04-26-2010 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by gx93117

Any updates on when you'll have have it working error free for the B7? I can't seem to find an Led, that won't throw an error code with the color in dash display.

We have experiemented several diffeernt versions of Festoon LEDs but the error message randomly appeared on some of B6/7 models.
Once we find out exactly what trigerred this random error message, we will post a new info on the forum.
Thanks

**mctuners** · 05-07-2010 11:17 AM

I finally had a chance to install them on my B8.
For $24, this is the best mod. My friend bought the type of lens with built-in LEDs for $70 something and mine looks no different than his if not better.

**akinaboy** · 05-07-2010 08:30 PM

Glad to hear that many B8 owners are happy with my suggestions.

**LB_NY_B8** · 05-08-2010 07:56 PM

Heres my tinted tails and blesk festoon leds

**Malaka** · 05-17-2010 03:59 PM

OK so I got the assembly out. But how the hell do you take the bulb out? Are you using a screwdriver for leverage or just by hand? Should I just pull it out? Im afraid if I use too much pressure ill break the bulb.

**GOREXinFX** · 05-17-2010 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by Malaka

OK so I got the assembly out. But how the hell do you take the bulb out? Are you using a screwdriver for leverage or just by hand? Should I just pull it out? Im afraid if I use too much pressure ill break the bulb.

Kind of just pull the tabs out that are holding the bulbs in. The bulb should just pop out.

**FuzzyDuck** · 05-17-2010 10:40 PM

I'm using these. Complete replacement of the OEM housing, nor errors, and oh, so much brighter and whiter than the regular festoon LED globe replacements.

Notice, 3 rows of 7 LED's, 21 in total.

Notice how much light it projects around the rear of the car. Now I only wish I had the facelift LED tail lights to match