I love the way the new Lexus 350is license plate lights look. They have that HID look or hyper white. Does anyone know where I can get the bulbs or LED conversion? It would be nice if I didn't have to cut any wires or add resitors. Plug and play would be perfet for me, I have had too many headaches lately with my Mini.
M

 

? are they 194's? just get some Polarg or PIAA's... no?

LightMaster-ImagoX, any comments?

 

I replaced mine w/ festoon led's from autolumination.com. They are really nice and bright only problem is they flicker for a good 2 minutes after I turn off the ignition.

 

check out the bottom of this page....to date, this is the best I've found in terms of brightness...you need to make sure you get the right size though

http://www.42draftdesigns.com/leds_hi.htm

 

To remove the flicker, you'll need a small resistor to absorb the ambient charge in the system - check the "Light that Boot!" thread for details on what resisrtor people have used to eliminate the flicker.

 

Here is how easy uninstalling and installing is:

pry with screwdriver


take out stock bulb:


put in new bulb (without touching the glass). Theirs looks to be longer interestingly???

 

Why would touching the glass matter? I know it does with halogens, because the olis on your fingers makes a hot spot which then burns out the lamp, but with LEDs?

 

Are you using the 42's or 39's and what is closest to the Lexus, white or blue?
Thanks

 

hahaha oops....I'm so used to saying it about halogens that i didnt even think about them being LEDs. you are probably right....it doesnt matter with LEDs

 

I actually dont have those installed yet...i just know people who have them in their VW's. Lexus is gonna be the white colored which has a slight tint of blueness to it...the blue is a bright blue.

*EDIT* just did a search....for our liscense plate we have 2 39's back there

 

Best to go as white as possible there, folks... Legally, the only color that's legal (IIRC) on a plate light is white... If it's too blue you risk getting pulled over, and believe me, the plate IS one area that Joe Law WILL be looking at each and every time you drive by.

 

Im wire challenged and I was hoping you could walk me through the installation of a resistor. The bulbs I have are 39mm festoon's any idea what resistor I need and detailed instructions on the install would be awesome.

 

I have LED festoons from Autolumination and currently whenever the interior lights are on they license plate flickers. And there are 9 LEDs per bulb so it bright enough, the white doesnt look as bright cause of the color, my only complaint is that being directional there is a gap between them that doesnt light up the plate that well. I was thinking about installing another extra LED in the center to illuminate the "dead" spot. Only problem is there isnt any room cause of the boot latch.

 

it's actually the same size, optical illusion because the "after" shot is slightly zoomed/cropped. if you look at the negative space around the bulb it's the same.

 

hahah you're right glen....good to have you around cause i'm a bit slow

 

This type of LED gives off a wide light and may work better:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1pc-3...4591QQtcZphoto. The alternative is to use a "xenon look" standard bulb (i.e. with a bluish coating).

 

nice but our license plate lights (at least on the hard top) are 39mm instead of 36mm

 

Have been seeking the same solution to getting that Lexus rear plate lighting type of look. I'll be making a purchase soon! Should look awesome on an 02 PW/B with brake light mod and go mini go third brake light pulsar!

Thanks for starting this thread!

 

Do you have a pic of your setup with the LED's. I wanna know how big of a gap there is. Thanks

 

This car belongs to AZMCS....he posted in another bulb thread

 

Out of curiosity, I just measured one of my license plate bulbs and it is 37mm overall length. I think the crudeness of the bulb holder allows several mm variation in either direction. Many bulb vendors link to the Sylvania site for fitment guide, and it lists a 36mm festoon for MINI.

 

Ill go take some pics.

 

Here you go, in the interest of time and so as not to distort the light pattern i didnt edit out my lic plate. But i dont know why thats done anyway.

 

How long have you had these bulbs in for?

 

Maybe a week