I need my front indicators LED

Anybody replaced indicator bulbs in side mirrors?

 

I find those are quite weak actually, looking both from the front and side, considering they affect safety very much.

I'm also unhappy with the brightness of the indicators in the side mirrors.

I have some bright SMD LEDs to play with so I checked the indicator unit.

Bad news, the plastic pieces are welded together.

I would say it's not impossible to open it somehow (and reglue) but this won't be a 5 minute project...

Edited 30 July, 201510 yr by aki78

If anyone interested here's the video about disassembling the mirror:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcNjrArG-KI

Finally I have found a good one for the front idicators:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Amber-Yellow-Error-Free-PWY24W-PW24W-LED-Bulbs-For-Audi-A3-A4-A5-Q3-VW-MK7/32283343574.html

(Previously I had a "50W CREE" bulb with fake chips, low brightness and terrible reflection in lamp.)

This one also has some reflection issues but is bright enough to compensate this.

Color is closer to yellow than amber.

When installed, brightness is equal or a little bit more compared to the original bulbs.

I don't know if they are "canbus friendly" or not, I recoded them to leds with VCDS.

Check my video with xenons for reference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OucV_xwZrMQ

 

Do you have a link to the ones you used for your rear indicators?

This is the best LED bulb I found.

Comparison photo and video with a 'CREE 50W' bulb:

This is the best LED bulb I found.

Comparison photo and video with a 'CREE 50W' bulb:

 

 

Great! Those are the ones I ordered. Looking forward to having them in.

 

Are your videos still available on Youtube? It looks like some of the detailed ones have been removed :|

On 10/2/2014 at 16:15, aki78 said:

Hi LED fanatics

I think I've found an easier way to change the front indicator bulbs (without bumper and headlights off).

After removing the wheel and 16 pcs. of screw and some "fighting" with the pIastic cover I gained access to the back side of the headlight.

My big hand goes in easily.

It was a 15 min. job for me but I think next time I will be faster

I stopped at this point and put everything back as I don't have the LED bulbs and the repair kit. But I will order them soon

Any thoughts on this method...?

I've checked only the left side but I think it's the same on the right...

Pictures:

http://www.imagesup.net/?di=10141226195112

http://www.imagesup.net/?di=1214122620195

http://www.imagesup.net/?di=11141226204314

pictures are dead can you repost thank you please

aki78 have you found anything brighter than the standard halogen fogs? i have had no luck. and what fitment are the fogs? 

Edited 7 December, 20178 yr by JohnnyType2

Managed to do this yesterday with full bumper removal. I would say although it is possible to do without removing the front of the car, it made life much easier and made the job of cutting those holes a lot neater. I did try @aki78's method, but many swearwords later I decided the bumper was coming off! Hat's off to you for managing it!

12 hours ago, Peeba10 said:

Managed to do this yesterday with full bumper removal. I would say although it is possible to do without removing the front of the car, it made life much easier and made the job of cutting those holes a lot neater. I did try @aki78's method, but many swearwords later I decided the bumper was coming off! Hat's off to you for managing it!

 

if you had the bumper off then you had to remove the arch linings, you would have had full access with the liners out, why go to the hassle to remove the bumper too? 

6 hours ago, JohnnyType2 said:

 

if you had the bumper off then you had to remove the arch linings, you would have had full access with the liners out, why go to the hassle to remove the bumper too? 

To be honest, by the time you have the arch linings off it’s another 10mins to get the bumper off and I mainly did it so that the hole you make in the headlight to access the indicator bulb was a clean cut as I wasn’t working in a confined space. If I was to need access to those bulbs again though, you’re right - I would only take arch linings off.