New Mod - Audi R8 style parkers

BlackLS · 15-09-2008, 11:14 AM

I just thought I'd fill you in on my next mod.

On Saturday morning I went down to my local Jaycar and got some 10mm white LEDs.

I spent the next few hours hacking the back of the headlights with tin-snips and managed to *just* squeeze the headlight reflector out!!!! (scratching the hell out of the headlight cowling surround in the process :( )

I spaced 6 LEDs 5 cm apart in the headlights (4 LEDs soldered in series, and 2 LEDs with a resistor on each.

At the moment they are in the headlight held in place by little double sided tape squares. Problem is the springyness on the LED legs pulls them up off the double sided tape, so 1 or 2 LEDs on each side is a bit crooked. I tried epoxy but the LED's didnt like sticking to it? I may have had to sand the bottom of the LED so it would have something to grip.

Result: Looks a bit ghetto during the day with the cabling showing and whatnot, but at night it looks sweet.

Pics to come tonight as it is at the moment, I don't like how I've mounted it with double sided tape, will probably sand/file the bottom side of the LED and try epoxy again or silicone

Also I'll probably paint the insides of the headlight to Zetec spec to get rid of the scratches.

BlackLS · 15-09-2008, 11:16 AM

Oh at it also ruined my headlight alignment, so right now my headlights are crosseyed! Will fix that tonight.

Velociraptor82 · 15-09-2008, 11:57 AM

Looking forward to the pics....

Loris · 15-09-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velociraptor82

Looking forward to the pics....

same

zetec · 15-09-2008, 02:25 PM

Picsorban

20focus05 · 15-09-2008, 03:47 PM

BlackLS+LEDs+Soldering iron= something special LOL

can you use the soldering iron to "plastic weld" the LEDs in place?

BlackLS · 15-09-2008, 03:53 PM

I don't trust myself that much... RJO89, I may need to buy your headlights!

fordel · 15-09-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetec

Picsorban

I fully endorse this statement.!

zetec · 15-09-2008, 04:03 PM

Chris, you're alive!!!!!!!

fordel · 15-09-2008, 04:20 PM

Yep !!!

Im still around keeping an eye on this place ;)

BlackLS · 15-09-2008, 05:15 PM

Here's some pics from last night. It was hard to take a photo in pitch black:

RJO89 · 15-09-2008, 05:46 PM

Jesus Chris that didn't take anywhere near as long as I thought it was going to!!! Did you hook up the turbo timers? They have to be the brightest parkers I've ever seen in my life lol. Don't even need your headlights!!!!
PM me if you want my headlights. I might consider selling them!! Maybe..

TEKILA · 15-09-2008, 05:48 PM

pics don't seem to be working....or is it just me? :(

Loris · 15-09-2008, 06:07 PM

pics work fine.. they are frikin bright!

**Peuty** · 15-09-2008, 06:13 PM

You need to take the photos when there is a bit more sunlight around.

Looks good nonetheless.

fordel · 15-09-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU_bullet

pics don't seem to be working....or is it just me? :(

must just be you ;)

Pics are working here

They are looking good too!

Velociraptor82 · 15-09-2008, 06:40 PM

Myself I'm not keen on the audi idea of the led parkers but i LOVE the blue light comming from them... totally unique....looks fantastic... nice work...

BlackLS · 15-09-2008, 06:53 PM

Thanks peoples.

They aren't as blue as the pics show them, and are only bright looking into them. Otherwise they aren't more brighter than the stock parker light.

Regan made a comment about turbo timers. I planned to use a modified Jaycar turbo timer that keeps a relay energised for 5 seconds. The idea was, when using the indicators, the parkers switched from a 13.8v circuit to a 7v circuit effectivly dimming the LED's (Audi style

). Using a turbo timer keeps them dim for 5 seconds so that the parker wouldn't flash with the indicator.

BlackLS · 15-09-2008, 06:56 PM

And Regan, not yet.. That part of the mod will be for next pay.

BlackLS · 15-09-2008, 09:05 PM

More pics:

Loris · 15-09-2008, 09:08 PM

damnnnn, that looks so sweet! well done!!
gotta try hide the wiring in the first pic though

AnthonyTDCi · 15-09-2008, 10:16 PM

wow that looks unreal! excellent job man! i love the led strip parkers that audi do.

and btw.....do you even need your headlights on with those parkers on lol!?

well done!

Bucket · 16-09-2008, 10:13 AM

Chris, that looks wicked man!! You should start selling your own Focus Mods

Tj-zetec · 16-09-2008, 06:46 PM

Did you solve the problem of the LED's not staying in the hole you drilled for em.

Was thinking about this last night and i reckon (not having seen the back of an LS headlight) that you could solder them on to a Printed Circuit Board along with your resistiors and what-not.

Then mount the PCB to the light housing with the LED's protruding through the hole.

You would only need to mount the boards with a block of some sort at either end.
And it'd solve your messy wiring problem.

Just floating an idea. Feel free to outline where it falls flat :P

*Oh, looks S*Hot by the way.

BlackLS · 17-09-2008, 12:13 PM

LED's aren't in any drilled holes. I need to get some day pics to show you what's happening.

Your idea would work great if there was a flat vertical surface to mount the board on, and I thought of using the PCB as well. It could work but you'd have a rectangle piece of PCB sitting vertically inside the headlight. And then you'd still need cable to go back to the power source (parker globe holder)