sandiegodrive

Ok so I wanted to know what you guys think. This is datmrman's car I used to show you guys a L.E.D. mod for the lower grills.

What do you guys think?



We got the idea from these pictures:










I just happen to think they look GREAT on our 3G TLs

ayethetiense

thats just psd right? how would you plan on making it work? like what materials?

i think it would look better if it was all the way towards the side then in the middle of the grills. can you try one towards the outside and one towards the inside all the way?

sandiegodrive

First the original



And now what ayethetiense requested



I think they both look great!

sandiegodrive

I have a guy I'm working with right now who is ordering different parts and also talking with his people to make this a reality. The L.E.D. strips can be installed anyways you'd like them though.

Per your request here are three options. All look great
Thanks for your suggestion.

The original



And the two new options:

First all the way to the inside



Then all the way to the outside

lusid

I'd like to see what they would be on at night, how it'd illuminate the ground and such

deke

I know this isnt exactly what is the idea here but this is what I have. These are not used as fog lights but in using them in day and night time they put out pllleeennty of light with only 3 LEDs per unit in the lower grill ones.




Now moving onto how this applies here. These units are 100% self contained, sealed and already being made. They have a "steady burn" feature where they just stay solid burn on as aposed to flashing. Of course mine are blue and well thats prolly not the best thing for the application let alone legal. But they do make these in white...

there are a couple different lens options im aware of. First is whats in mine.


"linear" which im assuming puts more light out in a flat stream...




These run about 50 bucks a pop. however they make 6 led units which doubles the light capacity and those only run about 80 bucks a pop.

Just food for thought.

deke

Welp cant edit my post -

PIAA makes LED fog lights... 99 bucks... a pop..or a pair im not sure...

http://www.shopatron.com/product/pro...PIA19152/353.0

These are kinda intresting too. 170 for a pair

http://store.racinglab.com/poledsala.html

datmrman

Although it was suppose to be a secret project , I'm glad you posted this here with a photochop. I'm on the fence with the look though.

The other advantage of this post is that we have the help of other members.

Thanks for the info deke. I've been looking at the PIAA one, but I'm going for a more bar-like shape with big LED bulbs. The Polarg pair looks interesting though.

deke

Another thing I was looking at..

http://www.superbrightleds.com/fit.htm 55 bucks a pop however...


If it was the ... glass bead look you were going for.. I think these end up offering the best bang for buck and gets your damn near spot on with the looks if you mount them into some lexan cleanly....



or for the unclean look...



I personally used 2 of these units for my rear license plate.. and they sure do light the fawk outta it.... for 20 bucks over all...

Thorin78

I'm still looking for someone to make the A emblem in the front Grill out of LED so it can light up at night.

KB1Spec

iTrader: (4)

Actually, I'm having my source in China to make that DRL strip from the Audi S6. BUT it is really hard because not all bumpers are the same. So I am currently testing out a prototype LED strip that are brighter. It is similar to the one I am selling on the vendor section but brighter and flexible.

I have these LED Foglight that is bright enough during the day time. I would say if it's REALLY sunny outside then you can somewhat see it. But if it's like during early morning or during sunset then it is noticable. So I am selling this on the vendor section but I just go the shipment over the weekend and post it on the vendor forum.

Here is the


Similar to the IPF LED foglight

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

I think so far sandie's A6 look is the best one so far. I like them as originally photshopped, not "pushed"

A cheaper alternative that may come out OK is the "unclean look" that deke posted. I think that could actually work if the LED were mounted side by side, close to each other hiding the loops of wires. It could look something like the A6 look.

All these ideas sound great but what would it really look like installed?

sandiegodrive

Wow great reponse everyone! Thanks deke for all the looks at different LEDs + the rest of you. I only saw 1 led that might work for the look I'm aiming for and that was that black bar that has a 2 inch space in between each LED.

Anyone has any other choices?

I'm going to meet up with the guy who owns that car shop again and see what the progess is and what else we can do.


Thanks! That look is exactly what I'm looking for. To be honest either of the three look good. But it has to be a very similar to the look above or spot on.

sixsixfour

i think it looks good, but gives the 3G the look of having teeth

sandiegodrive

Haha, I wonder how it must look in he rearview mirrors of cars. "I'm going to eat you if you don't get outta the way!"

FiveLiterCheater

That would actually look really hot if done right IMO

sandiegodrive

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

Sandie,
Can you try a different angle, with the LED bars on the lower side of the grille?

sandiegodrive

Is this what you meant?



I still perfer top mounted though. I don't think it flows well being on the bottom. On the top it looks as if it belongs on the car. My

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

You got me thinking...Hmm top mounted DRLs pushed inwards....with 07 fogs with yellow HIDs and meshed grilles....Too many lights maybe lookin state trooperish?

sandiegodrive

Whatever floats your boat bro. Just my

I personally feel its too cluttered

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

ya definitely looks like overkill.....I guess it's 1 or the other; DRL or fogs. It seems to go better with the ribs instead of mesh. Maybe if the DRLs were fewer and larger (fill the upper half of the mesh) Thanx for the photoshop!

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

I'm in the process of doing the "mesh" lower grills. No intent to do the 07 fogs... to TSX.

I think these would look great hidden behind the mesh. It would be ideal to have them fabriacated to run the length the grill opening.

datmrman

Some food for thought:

An issue with DRL LEDs is that the LEDs need to be bright enough to see during the day. I did some research on the Audi S6's (car that sandiegodrive posted) LEDs and they are Phillips Luxeon I LEDs. Details on the LEDs are here.

xrs

Hi Guys, Im new to the forum and I saw your posts regarding the DRL idea. I had these mod like since six months ago and I thought I should share this. Here are the pics, let me know what you think.

sandiegodrive

Sorry but its not working. You need to put them in photobucket or something first, then copy the link to this thread. I want to see them though!!!!

datmrman

I prefer imageshack over photobucket. Here are some tips for imageshack.

P.S. I will clean up this thread once you've posted pictures.

xrs

Haha sorry for being a newbie!!

http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=IMG_1891.jpg

http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=IMG_1895.jpg

http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=IMG_1894.jpg

http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=IMG_1892.jpg

xrs

I think this is much better...

datmrman

I've cleaned up the mess.

Nice work. Can you give us the specs on the lights you're using? Also, pictures during the day with them on and off please.

xrs

Thank you Datmrman!

Im using 72 low power Osram LEDs and these are clustered in a PCB driven by an IC, not a resistor. The 3W or 5W luxeons can be used as well just like what is in Audi however it will require a heatsink because of their high power dissipation. I will post more picture tomorrow.

sandiegodrive

Looks great man! Can't wait to see the pictures in the day time!

deke

Hah. I read that and though you used 72 5 watt luxeons...

voigt

I wonder how led's would look horizontally, like the reflectors on the Z, on the outside of the grill?

xrs

Hi guys, I got home a little bit late and no more sun unfortunately I dont have my camera with me while at work. Anyways these are the pics of the LED strip light turned off. During daytime though its not really as bright because color temperature is cool white 7000K which is close to daytime light. I think the warm white 2800K would be more noticeable during daytime.

Deke, it would require 12 Luxeon LEDs spaced 1inch apart on a 1ft strip, however as i've said it is required to have some kind of heat sink to do this. The one I have doesnt require a heat sink and runs cooler.

Thorin78

In the dark and with them on, they look awesome. But when they're off I wish there was a way that it would tilt in or be hidden. But nice job.

sandiegodrive

Yeah, thats what I was thinking. I'm going to intergrate mine in between the lower grill bars. And also hide them with a black cover so you can't really see them installed unless they're on.

I'm going with a long bar/strip though.

sandiegodrive

Ok I ordered some led strips to attempt to see how it would look. The led strips are red and NOT being used for DRL, but engine compartment.

They do however will let me see how likely these are to work. If I can get the look correct with the lights I ordered then I'll order the proper white LEDs and make a final product. Everything should done by months end.

99tlguy

dam nice led lights guys.

darksom1

I like this one the best! I don't know how it would look on other colors, but it looks very nice on the WDP. I wouldn't do this though as it goes against my blacked out NBP theme!

Nice work sandiegodrive and datmrman!