Interior/Exterior Colored LED Dome Lights
#151
The license plates use two 36mm festoon bulbs. This vendor has them in that type of LED: http://cgi.ebay.com/1pc-Festoon-Dome...QQcmdZViewItem. It would be crazy bright with two of them!
#152
#153
#155
No, all blue. It will go well with my instrument pannels and switches, once theyre done.
And are the map lights or the dome lights the ones that come on when the door opens?
And are the map lights or the dome lights the ones that come on when the door opens?
#157
#158
This an 02 MC
See how the maplights are "wedged" in there.
EDIT:
**See Post #161**
Link - Post #161
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#161
Ok I figured out how to get 'em out. I'm not sure if it matters between years. But here it is for an 02 MC
Remove 2 Screws:
Pull Lamp Assembly Down:
Turn Black ****(Holder)-- (One for each maplight):
Bulb and Holder pulls out:
And Bulb pulls straight out of the Holder(assembly):
Hope this helps. Its probably similar on later models.
Remove 2 Screws:
Pull Lamp Assembly Down:
Turn Black ****(Holder)-- (One for each maplight):
Bulb and Holder pulls out:
And Bulb pulls straight out of the Holder(assembly):
Hope this helps. Its probably similar on later models.
#162
#163
Yes, in every state that I'm aware of, RUNNING the car with colored lighting, especially red (other than in the rear) or especially blue is a ticketable offense. In most states, amber is leagal for side and front markers and red is the ONLY color that can show in the rear (other than white lighting above the rear license plate). This includes any exterior lighting (underbody kits, lamps, grille lighting) as well as any interior lighting clearly visable from outside the car. In other words, if you replace your dome AND map lights then be careful - you might get stopped while trying to read a map on a dark night.
What *I* did was hook all of my colored lighting up to the existing OEM cabin lighting. Since that lighting only turns on as a result of the doors opening (or manually turning on the cabin lights via the dome lamp switch - something I seldom do while the car is running), I never need worry.
I kept my map lights white, as these are lamps that, IMHO, need to provide pure, white light when you need it. Additionally, since the convertable does not have a dome light mounted in the roof between the front and rear seats, I added in a separate, white LED overhead lamp for reading/extra illumination:
What *I* did was hook all of my colored lighting up to the existing OEM cabin lighting. Since that lighting only turns on as a result of the doors opening (or manually turning on the cabin lights via the dome lamp switch - something I seldom do while the car is running), I never need worry.
I kept my map lights white, as these are lamps that, IMHO, need to provide pure, white light when you need it. Additionally, since the convertable does not have a dome light mounted in the roof between the front and rear seats, I added in a separate, white LED overhead lamp for reading/extra illumination:
#164
#165
Map lights are 194's.
I used this lamp, which i got on eBay, but I hear that similar-looking units are avaiable here and there.
I meant for this to just be a temporary solution until I puzzled out a way to run permanent power leads from my fuse box to the top of the moving roof (it's held on with simple Velcro onto the roof support just AFT of the main roof brace), but because it works so well to light the back AND because it is small enough to fold into the roof without havng to be removed, I think I'll just use it as a permanent solution. It runs on a single AAA battery, and should lasts for months and months on that power cell.
HERE is my thread detailing the project and some other people's possible solutions...
I used this lamp, which i got on eBay, but I hear that similar-looking units are avaiable here and there.
I meant for this to just be a temporary solution until I puzzled out a way to run permanent power leads from my fuse box to the top of the moving roof (it's held on with simple Velcro onto the roof support just AFT of the main roof brace), but because it works so well to light the back AND because it is small enough to fold into the roof without havng to be removed, I think I'll just use it as a permanent solution. It runs on a single AAA battery, and should lasts for months and months on that power cell.
HERE is my thread detailing the project and some other people's possible solutions...
#166
To be clear to the above poster, the lights located in the assembly with the dome light are not techically, map lights. They are overhead lights. I refer to the map lights as those located on the front of the headliner near the sunroof controls.
To get at those you need to push the whole assembly forward, then pull the trailing edge down as it is weged in.
To get at those you need to push the whole assembly forward, then pull the trailing edge down as it is weged in.
#169
White LEDs are a bit more intense, mainly because they're more focused and directional. I've read fairly involved and dry papers that compared LED light to halogen and found that LEDs, on average, produce a comparable AMMOUNT of light, but also concluded that the light from a LED is much more directional and focused, making them ideal point lighting sources. Plus they draw very little power compared to the OEM lamps (the same circuit that runs a single OEM bulb can support a dozen or more LEDs with no issues) and generate no real heat. Plus there's no filliment to burn out.
That said, it's tough to compare colored LEDs with white - colored LEDs still seem more intense to me (likely because of the focusing effect noted above), however because the light has a narrower spectrum, you can't see as much, obviously. They're certainly more eye-catching, even the white ones, which have a hard, pure light and a bluish tint (compared to the very yellow incandescent light thrown by the OEM lamps.
And, as stated above, the ability to add in many LEDs to replace a single white OEM incandescent bulb is very appealing.
That said, it's tough to compare colored LEDs with white - colored LEDs still seem more intense to me (likely because of the focusing effect noted above), however because the light has a narrower spectrum, you can't see as much, obviously. They're certainly more eye-catching, even the white ones, which have a hard, pure light and a bluish tint (compared to the very yellow incandescent light thrown by the OEM lamps.
And, as stated above, the ability to add in many LEDs to replace a single white OEM incandescent bulb is very appealing.
#170
The short answer is no, if you mean directly replacing a regular bulb with an LED bulb, the result is usually less bright. See the notes on this page: http://superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes.htm
It depends on the situation however. Brightness depends on the entire package of bulb, lamp housing, reflector, lens, power usage, etc. Consider tail lights. A tail light for standard incandescent bulbs is really very specialized in how its lenses and reflectors are designed. Notice how a "true" LED tail light from a car manufacturer has a completely different design. If you drop in a direct replacement LED bulbs into a standard tail light, they won't shine light into the reflectors and lenses the way they were designed for. Some bulbs will work better than others. The tower style LED bulbs are designed to similate the light pattern of an incandescent and will do a better job of shining light into reflectors.
It depends on the situation however. Brightness depends on the entire package of bulb, lamp housing, reflector, lens, power usage, etc. Consider tail lights. A tail light for standard incandescent bulbs is really very specialized in how its lenses and reflectors are designed. Notice how a "true" LED tail light from a car manufacturer has a completely different design. If you drop in a direct replacement LED bulbs into a standard tail light, they won't shine light into the reflectors and lenses the way they were designed for. Some bulbs will work better than others. The tower style LED bulbs are designed to similate the light pattern of an incandescent and will do a better job of shining light into reflectors.
#171
Your answer was soo much better than mine...
White LEDs are a bit more intense, mainly because they're more focused and directional. I've read fairly involved and dry papers that compared LED light to halogen and found that LEDs, on average, produce a comparable AMMOUNT of light, but also concluded that the light from a LED is much more directional and focused, making them ideal point lighting sources. Plus they draw very little power compared to the OEM lamps (the same circuit that runs a single OEM bulb can support a dozen or more LEDs with no issues) and generate no real heat. Plus there's no filliment to burn out.
That said, it's tough to compare colored LEDs with white - colored LEDs still seem more intense to me (likely because of the focusing effect noted above), however because the light has a narrower spectrum, you can't see as much, obviously. They're certainly more eye-catching, even the white ones, which have a hard, pure light and a bluish tint (compared to the very yellow incandescent light thrown by the OEM lamps.
And, as stated above, the ability to add in many LEDs to replace a single white OEM incandescent bulb is very appealing.
That said, it's tough to compare colored LEDs with white - colored LEDs still seem more intense to me (likely because of the focusing effect noted above), however because the light has a narrower spectrum, you can't see as much, obviously. They're certainly more eye-catching, even the white ones, which have a hard, pure light and a bluish tint (compared to the very yellow incandescent light thrown by the OEM lamps.
And, as stated above, the ability to add in many LEDs to replace a single white OEM incandescent bulb is very appealing.
#173
Got my V-LED flank bulbs today and installed in the footwells and puddle lights. They work GREAT! Nice, bright, diffused white light. Dim like OEM bulbs. I'm ecstatic that someone found these...
Now waiting to receive the LEDs for map and overhead lights, and festoon for license plate, and Oznium strips for rear footwells, and I'll be set!
Now waiting to receive the LEDs for map and overhead lights, and festoon for license plate, and Oznium strips for rear footwells, and I'll be set!
#174
OK - got some more stuff installed.
I got my high intensity festoon bulbs - I forgot that the glove box had one - so I installed one there and ordered another to have a pair for my license plate. The one in the glovebox looks great. I also got one of these 5-way high intensity 194's:
Installed it as the cabrio dome light - OMG that thing is BRIGHT. It lights up the whole cabin like the inside of your refrigerator!!! But I love it - combined with the V-LED flank high intensity bulbs in the footwells, this looks GREAT in the cabrio - I'd take pix, but it's impossible for me to really convey what it looks like in a photo... It's a bit oversized, so I had to carefully drill out the hole a bit for fitment, but no worries.
I used some not-great white LED 194's I already had in the map lights for now, just ordered some new high intensity LEDs for there... then will be set. I got my short Oznium strips for the rear footwells, but won't have time to install those until this weekend (hopefully)...
Installed it as the cabrio dome light - OMG that thing is BRIGHT. It lights up the whole cabin like the inside of your refrigerator!!! But I love it - combined with the V-LED flank high intensity bulbs in the footwells, this looks GREAT in the cabrio - I'd take pix, but it's impossible for me to really convey what it looks like in a photo... It's a bit oversized, so I had to carefully drill out the hole a bit for fitment, but no worries.
I used some not-great white LED 194's I already had in the map lights for now, just ordered some new high intensity LEDs for there... then will be set. I got my short Oznium strips for the rear footwells, but won't have time to install those until this weekend (hopefully)...
#175
Got my V-LED flank bulbs today and installed in the footwells and puddle lights. They work GREAT! Nice, bright, diffused white light. Dim like OEM bulbs. I'm ecstatic that someone found these...
Now waiting to receive the LEDs for map and overhead lights, and festoon for license plate, and Oznium strips for rear footwells, and I'll be set!
Now waiting to receive the LEDs for map and overhead lights, and festoon for license plate, and Oznium strips for rear footwells, and I'll be set!