Re: Any body change License plate lights

are you asking if they make them?

-tom

 

Re: Any body change License plate lights

yeah ..i'm gonna change all my lights to xenon super white....i put some blue lights in my reverse lights....thought it was cool...saw someone that had green in theirs and it gave me the idea..only they had a civic..not an e...i thought about putting blue ones in my side markers but someone told me that was illegal...i don't know ...why do they make them and sell them if they are illegal..go figure...i'll just have to check for cops before i back out of a parking place :lol:

 

Re: Any body change License plate lights

I've seen cars like your describing.
I think it would look cool but I never understood why someone would want to make it easier to read their plate at night.

 

Re: Any body change License plate lights

I had bright whites in my license plate lights, but I moved them to my side markers when I put clear lenses in.

 

Re: Any body change License plate lights

i just hate the way those dingy halogen lights look..they should put xenon bulbs in every new car... :lol:

 

Re: Any body change License plate lights

anybody know what the bulb type is? :?

 

Re: Any body change License plate lights

the license plate lights are 168 or 194..either one will work

 

Light bulb numbers

http://www.skidmore.edu/~pdwyer/e/parts.htm#bulbs

 

Re: Any body change License plate lights

that's correct except for the map and dome lights....i think they are switched around...map lights are 3175 and dome lights are 211...3022 might work...don't know...there are several different numbers for the same size bulb..go figure

 

Ok I'm a chicken! I can't see how to get the lenses off the tag lamps so I can replace a bulb. I don't see a screw at all,just a sort of slot looking thing. I'm afraid to pry it with a screwdriver for fear of breaking the lens? How does one remove them? Thanks!

 

I haven't done this, but it looks to me like the lens just pops out. Gently pry by that slot. Even if you break it, the replacement part is cheap.

 

Thanks!

 

just stick a little flat head screw driver tip in there, slightly push and pull, it will pry off. It may be stick in there due to the weather strip or gasket being sealed so dont let the "frrrrrp" noise scare you. Once its off, reach up in there and pull the bulb downwards making note of the metal contacts on the bulb. If by some chance you get LED's that dont match that, simply get a pair of needle nose pliers and reverse them. Just bend them over to the other side.

Im not a fan of the super ultra blinding white hot lights for plates. It just doesnt make sense to blind people behind you since plates themselves are reflective. Here in LA some kids think its great to put 1 watt LED's in the plates. Its just distracting and can even appear to be a car driving along the wrong side of the road at a distance..

 

Im not a fan of the super ultra blinding white hot lights for plates. It just doesnt make sense to blind people behind you since plates themselves are reflective. Here in LA some kids think its great to put 1 watt LED's in the plates. Its just distracting and can even appear to be a car driving along the wrong side of the road at a distance..

I guess the blinding issue would have a lot to do with the location of the tag bulb housings. It seems as though some vehicles have bulbs that can be quite visible, but on the Element it doesn't seem to be a problem since they point down. I've got a pair of 2watt super white leds in mine and they're not distracting at all, myself and others seem to think it looks great. 8)

 

You could also try your own owner's manual.
On my 2009, it is page 267:

 

Good point, Jazzy. 2003 is different, but it's covered on page 262 of the '03 owner's manual.

 

so your running 4 watts of LED's on your license plate? Must be bright as the sun. Im running 0.25 watts and its more than bright enough. Im only using those as I gave the 0.18 inverted lens ones to a friend. Those ones are perfect as they dont light up the rear bumper. The whole basis of LED's is to consume less power while producing a more pure light.

Im curious as to why 4 watts of LED's on a license plate is desired?

 

so your running 4 watts ... The whole basis of LED's is to consume less power while producing a more pure light.

4 watts is a lot for LEDs, but the OEM incandescents are 5 watts, so it's still a slight power savings.

 

For a comparison, I can light a room with a one watt LED bulb. Im not trying to stir a pot, im just honestly curious as to why someone needs so much light on a license plate. On a lighter note, wonder if anyone has ever thought its a UFO when seeing that from a distance, in the woods, miles away, like a new Fox special "Axe Men, when UFO's attack".

 

Im not trying to stir a pot, im just honestly curious as to why someone needs so much light on a license plate.

Me too....:?

 

So it was function over super light, the needle in a haystack!

In most states anything covering the plate isnt legal. Here in Cali, with the budget crisis cops are looking for any reason to hand out tickets. Tinted drivers windows and plate mods are like printing money while handing out tickets.

 

You got it.

The ones I have are the PlateFrame model, so mine doesn't actually cover the plate. Although they do sell a version that does cover the tag, but since we also can be ticketed for covering our tags, I chose not to purchase them.

Here's what I have.
http://www.weathertech.com/store/product.aspx?ItemGroupId=49's

 

Ive got a tin frame that the plate sits in not behind. Reason is a 1200 watt stereo (not made for bumping but for sound quality) makes things rattle and plate rattle is a terrible thing. The frame allows me to add butyl around the entire frame sealing it to the vehicle preventing any hint of a rattle. That and it would be a good head scratcher for anyone trying to steal the plate itself. Its now part of the car.

 

^^Yeah, I saw your install in your thread...very nice. 8) I would agree plate rattle is a terrible thing.

 

anyone have any pics of their upgraded plate lights? i think they actually look good and are starting to be more and more common on the newer european cars. such as bmws and mercedes etc.

i had white leds on my jettas plates, and loved them. i wish our headlights had the option to add the led/wedge style bulb for city/parking lights like i also had on my jettas european spec hids. they look superb when running them by themself in addition to the xenons. what a combo.

mmmmmm.....im thinking retrofits in the future....:razz:

to each their own.

 

Installed brighter ones on my 07 SC as the standard LED's I installed on another make vehicle for a friend.

 

^^Looks great. 8)

If you, or anyone else with that style l.e.d. bulbs wants more of an even spread of light, just add some white reflective tape to the interior sides of the bulb housing.

 

agreed!

rob, eww or anyone else, can you link me or tell me which LED bulbs i need to get for this mod? i would go fishing throught this thread, but i think my pc is about to self implode!!

 

Dale, I used to offer kits of interior and license plate LED's but some phantom rule on the site isnt allow me to do so any longer. Your best bet is to read up on this thread and make your own decision. I prefer lower output LED's while others prefer one watt LED's. It can get expensive finding the proper light output that doesnt illuminate the bumper and ground below you but instead the plate itself.
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41134

 

Clarification

The "phantom rule" Rob Dobbs refers to is this: Members who occasionally have Element-related items for sale (e.g., accessories after a car is sold) are allowed to post them in Trading Post for free. Using the EOC as a source of free advertising for a regular or ongoing concern (i.e., a "kitchen-table" business) is not allowed. Our site sponsors pay for the privilege of advertising here, and that arrangement entitles them not to have to compete with other businesses trying to fly under the radar. This has been the policy since the beginning.

From the Trading Post rules, stickeyed at the top of the TP forum:

"You can promote your products on our site, but only after contacting us to discuss an advertising deal just like so many others have done and do."

 

"You can promote your products on our site, but only after contacting us to discuss an advertising deal just like so many others have done and do."

and this is exactly what ive been trying to get an answer on for 100 days from numerous admins with no end in sight. Nobody knows whats going on or seems to be doing anything about it. I sold extras I had, people asked for more, I spent out of pocket to get more and test other options that were requested. This is the only forum ive ever been a member of that has this "rule" which has also made me abandon custom parts for the E as I wont be able to sell them to members to fund the projects. Its the most anti rule im aware of.