DIY LED Tail Light Bulb Swap

[STA4]

The aforementioned changes to the coding work!

Will definitely be buying LED replacement bulbs for the tail lights now.


**Edit** Sorry for the potato quality. Taken on my phone.



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Yes! Thanks for testing for me. :)

Wow...that looks so much better. Do they flash when you lock/unlock?

Note: your rear fogs are now disabled.

[Iridium.]

Yes, the trunk lights now flash when locking/unlocking.

Never used my rear fogs anyways.

Thank you Mrav and STA4 for listing what is needed to code this in!


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[STA4]

No problem.

I just ordered these bulbs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251426623824

They look exactly the same as Mrav's

[STA4]

Mrav, did you have any problems with your running light/ rear fog light? I used the same bulbs as you and all the others work great. The running light/ fog light kicks the alarm every time the lights kick on or I turn them on manually.

If you're still getting the bulb errors, here's how you may be able to disable the messages (courtesy of rlarsen):

If the Germans (from motor-talk.de) are correct then the below coding of Channel 191 (and Channel 192) should handle the error detection.

[Iridium.]

No problem.

I just ordered these bulbs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251426623824

They look exactly the same as Mrav's

Are white bulbs going to affect the colour of the output at all? I know that superbrightleds offers a red option for the 1156 tower bulbs.

[STA4]

Are white bulbs going to affect the colour of the output at all? I know that superbrightleds offers a red option for the 1156 tower bulbs.

Red bulbs have much lower light output, so stay with white. The lenses create the color.

[Jmstrag]

Yes, the trunk lights now flash when locking/unlocking.

Never used my rear fogs anyways.

Thank you Mrav and STA4 for listing what is needed to code this in!

Just finished coding them in as well. Makes the halogens sooooo much more tolerable now that they behave like the LED Tails. The rear fogs are pretty useless, never used them in the 5 years ive had the car.....although i always did want to use them to scare tailgaters lol

A second thanks to STA4 for the coding. Loving this!

[MatZo]

No problem.

I just ordered these bulbs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251426623824

They look exactly the same as Mrav's

I just ordered these as well. :) Thanks for the write up hopefully they get here soon!

[STA4]

I just ordered these as well. :) Thanks for the write up hopefully they get here soon!

I just noticed that the price is now $70. Looks like they've jacked up the price. I paid $50.

For others, try searching on the same keywords as there are other sellers.

[Mrav]

STA4, Iridium, thanks for helping everyone else out with this while I've been MIA. You guys are kick ass. Sorry for the slow timeline on my side. I'll be trying out the changes in the coding tonight.

[Mrav]

Everything worked! Thanks for the help STA4.

[Iridium.]

Happy to help! Glad someone took the leap and gave the LED bulbs a shot! Can't thank STA4 enough for the instructions on the tail light coding.

[STA4]

We all have Rlarsen to thank! I just brought it all together.

While I await my LEDs to arrive, would you mind posting a vid with the new coding mrav? Would love to see the end result.

[Mrav]

Sure I'll do it tonight after the gym. Btw my rear fogs are still running. What gives? For context I made changes only to channels 195, 196, 203, 204.

[STA4]

Are white bulbs going to affect the colour of the output at all? I know that superbrightleds offers a red option for the 1156 tower bulbs.

I installed my passenger side bulbs today and to let you know, there IS a difference in color using the LED bulbs. Because the bulbs are much brighter and whiter, the light output is less red (a little pinkish...lol).

I can't fully compare because my car is backed into the garage And I don't want to pull it out until I get the front bumper back on.

[STA4]

Sure I'll do it tonight after the gym. Btw my rear fogs are still running. What gives? For context I made changes only to channels 195, 196, 203, 204.

What were the codes for 203 and 204? Did you subtract 2 from each?

[Mrav]

What were the codes for 203 and 204? Did you subtract 2 from each?

Yessir, I did that.

Here are the videos by the way, shot last night. You'll see what I'm seeing there.

Video 1
Video 2

[STA4]

Yessir, I did that.

Here are the videos by the way, shot last night. You'll see what I'm seeing there.

Video 1
Video 2

Thanks.

I didn't see the foglight on. I only saw it flash like the other bulbs.

[Jmstrag]

I installed my passenger side bulbs today and to let you know, there IS a difference in color using the LED bulbs. Because the bulbs are much brighter and whiter, the light output is less red (a little pinkish...lol).

Today I installed the bulbs on one side as well. They really do look pinkish. That's disappointing. I was hoping that since my tail lights are slightly tinted that it would still look red. Guess I'm gonna have to look for an alternative, or go with a red bulb. It's too bad cause they really are bright bulbs

[Carlos74]

Today I installed the bulbs on one side as well. They really do look pinkish. That's disappointing. I was hoping that since my tail lights are slightly tinted that it would still look red. Guess I'm gonna have to look for an alternative, or go with a red bulb. It's too bad cause they really are bright bulbs

Can you post a link of the lights you bought? So we know which ones not to buy... Thx

[STA4]

Just avoid white LEDs. The problem is that red LEDs are probably 25% the brightness of white. I was looking at 5630 Type SMD LEDs, which are brighter than 5050, but they're not CANBUS.

[Carlos74]

Just avoid white LEDs. The problem is that red LEDs are probably 25% the brightness of white. I was looking at 5630 Type SMD LEDs, which are brighter than 5050, but they're not CANBUS.

Well, this is what I bought... I didn't know exactly which ones. So I'll give them a try and post pics when they arrive.

http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...623422&alt=web

[STA4]

This is the one that I was looking at: http://m.ebay.com/itm/231446484045?nav=SEARCH

[GilliamOS]

So I tired out those two codes STA4 suggested (10760 and 10792), but I wasn't able to subtract two from channels 203 or 204. I can subtract one, but then it errors out. The 10xxx codes worked, but they only light up two of the three bulbs in that row, leaving the inner most bulbs unlit when signaling. Also as read, my rear fogs are disabled, which is fine. Didn't really use them on my B5 anyway, so being without them on my B8 isn't a deal breaker.

So my question is, is that behavior normal/expected because I have an Avant, or does the video above make it look brighter than it actually is? I couldn't find any Avant-specific codes for this mod and I've been searching the hell out of posts about this.

[STA4]

So I tired out those two codes STA4 suggested (10760 and 10792), but I wasn't able to subtract two from channels 203 or 204. I can subtract one, but then it errors out. The 10xxx codes worked, but they only light up two of the three bulbs in that row, leaving the inner most bulbs unlit when signaling. Also as read, my rear fogs are disabled, which is fine. Didn't really use them on my B5 anyway, so being without them on my B8 isn't a deal breaker.

So my question is, is that behavior normal/expected because I have an Avant, or does the video above make it look brighter than it actually is? I couldn't find any Avant-specific codes for this mod and I've been searching the hell out of posts about this.

Yes, your coding will be different. Can you post a video of how your lights behave (tail, lock/unlock, brake, signal and fog)?

Edit: Can you try adding 7 to both 203 and 204 instead. You may be able to retain your rear foglight functionality on the Avant.

[rlarsen]

On the Avant, Channel 200 and 201 are for the Fogs

They also both have the coding 01001

[GilliamOS]

Yes, your coding will be different. Can you post a video of how your lights behave (tail, lock/unlock, brake, signal and fog)?

Edit: Can you try adding 7 to both 203 and 204 instead. You may be able to retain your rear foglight functionality on the Avant.

Sure, I can do that when I have a second set of hands. Here is my stock coding:

195 Left middle - 14849
196 Right middle - 14881
197 Left outer - 13320
198 Right outer - 13352
199
200 Fog left (only Avant) - 0
201 Fog right (only Avant) - 0
202
203 Left inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14849
204 Right inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14881
205 Reverse left - 13
206 Reverse right - 45
207 Signal left - 73
208 Signal right - 105

[rlarsen]

Sure, I can do that when I have a second set of hands. Here is my stock coding:

195 Left middle - 14849
196 Right middle - 14881
197 Left outer - 13320
198 Right outer - 13352
199
200 Fog left (only Avant) - 0
201 Fog right (only Avant) - 0
202
203 Left inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14849
204 Right inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14881
205 Reverse left - 13
206 Reverse right - 45
207 Signal left - 73
208 Signal right - 105

And this is (or was) my RoW stock Bulb Coding:

195: 14849
196: 14881
197: 14852
198: 14884
199: 0
200: 73
201: 105
202: 0
203: 14849
204: 14881
205: 13
206: 45
207: 12
208: 44

[STA4]

Interesting how your values are the same for left and right sides.

This may work for you:

195 Left middle - 14849 -> 14856
196 Right middle - 14881 -> 14888
203 Left inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14849 -> 14856
204 Right inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14881 -> 14888

If you didn't touch 200 and 201, then your rear fogs should still work, if not try what rlarsen has above for his.

[rlarsen]

Interesting how your values are the same for left and right sides.

This may work for you:

195 Left middle - 14849 -> 14856
196 Right middle - 14881 -> 14888
203 Left inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14849 -> 14856
204 Right inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14881 -> 14888

If you didn't touch 200 and 201, then your rear fogs should still work, if not try what rlarsen has above for his.

The coding for the inner lights (195, 196, 203, 204) should be the same in the stock coding, because they don't have signal enabled in NA and RoW

[GilliamOS]

Adding 7 to 203 and 204 got it to behave exactly like I want, save for the rear fogs. I'll try the coding suggestions above later.

[GilliamOS]

The coding for the inner lights (195, 196, 203, 204) should be the same in the stock coding, because they don't have signal enabled in NA and RoW

Interesting. What should I change then to re-enable the rear fogs if I ever feel the need?

[rlarsen]

Interesting. What should I change then to re-enable the rear fogs if I ever feel the need?

If you look at my stock coding, you'll see channel 200 and 201 has some values - try them :)

Does your Signal left and right work today ?? (Channel 207 and 208) - maybe you should change them as well ??

[GilliamOS]

Interesting how your values are the same for left and right sides.

This may work for you:

195 Left middle - 14849 -> 14856
196 Right middle - 14881 -> 14888
203 Left inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14849 -> 14856
204 Right inner (on Limo also Fog) - 14881 -> 14888

If you didn't touch 200 and 201, then your rear fogs should still work, if not try what rlarsen has above for his.

Nailed it. Rear fogs are back!

How are you calculating these codes? I'm used to the old school B5 coding, but this seems a lot more complex.

[STA4]

Nailed it. Rear fogs are back!

How are you calculating these codes? I'm used to the old school B5 coding, but this seems a lot more complex.

I'm using the lookup table to convert from what you have to what you want.

[rlarsen]

Nailed it. Rear fogs are back!

How are you calculating these codes? I'm used to the old school B5 coding, but this seems a lot more complex.

If you look at Channel 195 the value is:
14849 = 0011 1010 0000 0001 (Tail, CH/LH)

changed to:
14856 = 0011 1010 0000 1000 (Tail, Parking, Braking, CH/LH, Signal)

So you just take the decimal value convert it to bits, and then change it according to the table I've posted - and convert it back to decimal - that's it.

[rlarsen]

I have a small comment on the Parking light bit, I can see is been set on the inner lights.

The OEM way is that the inner lights are turned off when the car is parked, and the lights are switched on - but if you enable the inner lights to be on when the car is parked, then your battery will also use more power - so it is up to you what you want

[GilliamOS]

I have a small comment on the Parking light bit, I can see is been set on the inner lights.

The OEM way is that the inner lights are turned off when the car is parked, and the lights are switched on - but if you enable the inner lights to be on when the car is parked, then your battery will also use more power - so it is up to you what you want

Yeah, I'll work out the finer details now that I know how to do the coding. It is exactly like my B5, just converting the code to binary. This will be cake.

Thank you SO much for the quick answers!

[GilliamOS]

I did a quick video showing what the recoding did for my Avant. The lights behave the same braking, signaling, or un/locking. Rear fogs are also working as expected.

[STA4]

So the clear section on the outer lamps is only for reversing? On the sedan it comes on when brakin and signaling.