LEDs in headlights

how do i do thiw i need to know where to mount the leds in the headlights so they light up real nice

1. Drill small hole
2. Mount LEDs
3. Silicone up the outside where the LED goes into the headlight
4. Run a fused wire to battery and ground

try to point the led back into the reflector so you get an even glow and no spots.

you could also shave down the tips of the led to spread the glow even more.

If you have sealed headlamp units, is there a trick to keeping shavings from getting inside the lamp housing when you drill? MINI headlights are infamously hard to open up - they have to be baked in an oven almost hort enough to melt the plastic to unseal the glue, and I don't want to jhave to mess with THAT...

ImagoX wrote:

If you have sealed headlamp units, is there a trick to keeping shavings from getting inside the lamp housing when you drill? MINI headlights are infamously hard to open up - they have to be baked in an oven almost hort enough to melt the plastic to unseal the glue, and I don't want to jhave to mess with THAT...

if they are plastic, just melt a hole in with a soldering iron tip. Then you dont have to worry about shavings

Not a bad idea...

so put a hole in the headlight cover?

no, in the back of the headlight, near where the bulb goes into the housing.

drill your holes then vaccum out the shavings. or even better put the vaccum over the hole where the headlight bulb goes and blow compressed air in one of the led holes.

worked fine for me.

ImagoX wrote:

If you have sealed headlamp units, is there a trick to keeping shavings from getting inside the lamp housing when you drill? MINI headlights are infamously hard to open up - they have to be baked in an oven almost hort enough to melt the plastic to unseal the glue, and I don't want to jhave to mess with THAT...

I think you guys are just doing it wrong The plastic should be able to take MUCH more heat than the glue.

200 degrees for ~15 minutes get mine done. Never exceed 250 degrees.

These pics show a strobe that was installed into a hole drilled in my headlights, so the hole is much bigger than it would be for an LED. Regardless, here are some pics for reference sake.






^The yellow arrow shows the actual strobe INSIDE the headlight.



L8R,

It might help if you told us what kind of car it is that you are installing this on...Just for kicks and giggles, 4" cathodes in headlight are awesome...and you never have to worry about holes that were drilled...

how did you get the cathode inside the headlight?

^ You use the hole that the headlamp bulb itself clicks into. Try dabbing some clear silicone to each end of the cathode before you squeeze it in so it doesn't rattle around in there, and your set

and thats the only way ive seen to get lighting in a 2000 neon headlamps.

wouldnt be my choice, but meh.

sounds like a cool idea. maybe i'll look into it with my saturn.

Like what pork said just fish the wire in through the headlight bulb hole and be very careful...I have actually had no rattling at all....I used to have leds and they were not bright enough...