DIY: Installing LED interior lights

Dude, nice write-up. I'm half done but got stuck on the rear seat reading lights. Thought I was going to bust something so I came back to the forum to look for more info. I'll try your tip. Thanks.

With LEDs I noticed the vanity lights would drive me crazy turning on or off with the position of the sun shade. With a bulb, light intensity would weaken or strengthen which I found less annoying. For these lights, plus the rear plate, I simply went xeon bulb over LED.

um, i realized that there is dimming with the xenon bulbs, so im guessing wit the leds, it'll just turn off instantly right?

Originally Posted by kkeddy

um, i realized that there is dimming with the xenon bulbs, so im guessing wit the leds, it'll just turn off instantly right?

I got mine from JLevi, but I assume it's the same across the board. They will dim nicely to about 25% brightness and will shut off. The effect is close enough to OEM.

As for the DIY, buying from JLevi I did not have to do anything to adjust the fitment of the dome light (no dremeling or taking off the cover), it fit nicely.

Originally Posted by menncars

Dude, nice write-up. I'm half done but got stuck on the rear seat reading lights. Thought I was going to bust something so I came back to the forum to look for more info. I'll try your tip. Thanks.

With LEDs I noticed the vanity lights would drive me crazy turning on or off with the position of the sun shade. With a bulb, light intensity would weaken or strengthen which I found less annoying. For these lights, plus the rear plate, I simply went xeon bulb over LED.

I got stuck on the c-pillar reading lights too. look very closely at the points posted in the DIY. FWIW, I used the following pry points in the attached pic. I stole that pic from another diy about removing the C pillar.

I've had LEDs for a while, but I didn't know that the vanity light intensified or got dimmer based on the mirror position, I thought the light went on or off even with a bulb. Can someone else confirm this?

EDIT: Pic is upside down but you get the idea. Those points worked for me.

oo ic, i live in canada, i got some led bulbs from my store (i work at car accessory store) 194 bulbs, i nvr tried them on my car, i guess ill post back if other generic led bulbs have the semi dimming function!

Good write-up... I did mine (ebay) about a month ago. However, I did have to use a dremmel to get them to fit.

Originally Posted by JK1150

I got mine from JLevi, but I assume it's the same across the board. They will dim nicely to about 25% brightness and will shut off. The effect is close enough to OEM.

As for the DIY, buying from JLevi I did not have to do anything to adjust the fitment of the dome light (no dremeling or taking off the cover), it fit nicely.

yea but they are also overpriced and not as bright. already had them once before.

Originally Posted by JK1150

I got stuck on the c-pillar reading lights too. look very closely at the points posted in the DIY. FWIW, I used the following pry points in the attached pic. I stole that pic from another diy about removing the C pillar.

I've had LEDs for a while, but I didn't know that the vanity light intensified or got dimmer based on the mirror position, I thought the light went on or off even with a bulb. Can someone else confirm this?

EDIT: Pic is upside down but you get the idea. Those points worked for me.

yes it does do the dimming. it's cause of the switch on the side for the pivoting of the mirror position.

Originally Posted by sillieidiot

yes it does do the dimming. it's cause of the switch on the side for the pivoting of the mirror position.

ok well I can confirm that the JLevi bulb just goes on or off.

yea i get it to go on/off/barely lit/half on that's like pretty much everything you can do with a bulb lol

i did half of the diys, i realized he leds i bought from my store aren't that bright, gonna exchange for something brighter! but deifnitely looks nicer lool

Do the LED lights pull less power from the battery? We do a lot of car camping and with the trunk and open and shut a lot, have had problems with the battery getting drained (had to have a boost).

Yes, they pull less power. How long do you leave the lights on? I left them on for an hour straight so that my friend could take pictures of them.

Where would one find LED's that are slightly more along the lines of 8000k?


Also, there is a light that shines down from where the map light is that illuminates where the shifter area is. Its normally orange, how do you change that one as well?

Originally Posted by stussystatus

I was going to buy the ones from JleviSW, but those pictures gotten me. My interior looks 10x better and updated. I haven't installed the passenger footwell ones yet but will do soon. Great product Mike@F1Autohaus! Thanks for DIY Sillieidiot.

Follow sillieidiots DIY and you should be good to go! I was just so eager to installed these, even in -14deg temperature lol! Here are you teasers. Like sillie said they are not really that blue but pure white, ~5500k.

Great pics! Glad you like them

Cameras have a tough time picking up the actual Pure White color indeed.

Here are some new photos the Sillieidiot took with his friend's DSLR:

5500k Pure White


There's no blue hue in real life:



5500k LED License and Reverse:

for the led reverse, wouldn't the "bulb check light" go on .. because leds uses less power? or does the one you sell have like a built in resistor to compensate for the less power used by led's

Originally Posted by FocusXi

Where would one find LED's that are slightly more along the lines of 8000k?


Also, there is a light that shines down from where the map light is that illuminates where the shifter area is. Its normally orange, how do you change that one as well?

there is no 8000k LEDs for interior. blue is probably the closest. as for the 2 orange LEDs, you need to know how to solder then find the correct LEDs and replace

Originally Posted by kkeddy

for the led reverse, wouldn't the "bulb check light" go on .. because leds uses less power? or does the one you sell have like a built in resistor to compensate for the less power used by led's

apparently, there is no rear warning lights for the reverse lights to begin with. so you just plug n play (literally)

have you guys experienced license plate leds going out easily? I went thru so many license plate leds...they just would not last.
I wonder if interior lights will be the same.

Originally Posted by sillieidiot

there is no 8000k LEDs for interior. blue is probably the closest. as for the 2 orange LEDs, you need to know how to solder then find the correct LEDs and replace

i beleive there is actually 8000k LEDs for interior bulbs, you can find them...i think so. 8000k is blue isn;t it?

i just finished the led diy mod. the bulbs i used were the eurolite 194s, and for the middle on in the front when the door opens, i managed to fit a led 921 bulb in there. its a 5 led bulb, in different angles...one shooting down, and 4 different sides. the bulbs i have is not pure blue. but white-ish-blue. will definitely take some pictures tonight to show u guys!