DIY tail lights

[PranK]

This is a project that I have been considering for a while. I want to pull apart my OEM tail lights (or get a 2nd set) and build my own LED arrays in them.

The reason I want to DIY is because;
a) I love DIY
b) I don't like the look of most aftermarket tail lights and their quality is generally iffy
c) Most aftermarket LED tail lights still use a regular bulb for the indicator, which is silly IMO. (The FK tails are the best looking, but suffer from non LED indicators and are quite pricey @ ~$350 delivered)

It will be a finicky thing to do but I think it will be awesome and would provide great results.

The idea would be;
3x6 LEDS for brakes
3x6 (dimmer) LEDS for parkers
2x4 for indicators and reverse.

If I could source some OEM GLi tails it would be better but I'm not overly keen to buy anything additional incase I break things. And, I can always replace the cover down the track, or move the LED's to a new casing etc.

Anybody else thought about this before? Have a look at the cool outcome of this guys BMW 2002 LED tails DIY.

Super awesome and super easy.

EDIT: Another option for this that I was thinking about is to buy some SMD LED replacement plate light's (the full container, not just the bulbs) and pulling them apart to use. I think that the size of them would be perfect.

[DkN]

Have you thought about the Valeo OEM LED tails? I've got them and they are pretty much what you are looking to achieve. It will be much more suited as with a non LED tail you also have to worry about the housing and reflectors perhaps not playing along as nicely.

[PranK]

Have you thought about the Valeo OEM LED tails? I've got them and they are pretty much what you are looking to achieve. It will be much more suited as with a non LED tail you also have to worry about the housing and reflectors perhaps not playing along as nicely.

Yeah, I cant find Valeo's for a MK4 though.