My BRZ Exterior LED conversion (Incl. Fogs)
 

So I went about changing my exterior bulbs to LEDs. I didn't do the interior lights because I prefer the warmer incandescent light inside.

Here are what I picked up:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8299/7...b577b468_c.jpg

From left to right, starting at the top:
Turn Signals, Fog Lights, Flasher Relay, License Plate Lights, Reverse Lights, and future Rain Light.

I got them all at SuperBrightLEDS.com except for the Fog Light bulbs. Those I found on Amazon [ame="http://www.amazon.com/PSX24W-Light-Replacement-Bulbs-White/dp/B006FYI5WU"]HERE[/ame]. They aren't direct replacements despite the description, but they are close enough to work with a small modification. I'll get to that later.

The first issue sharp eyed people might see is the amber bases of the turn signal bulbs. Sure enough, they are visible in the reflectors which defeats most of the reason why I want LEDs in the first place. So, I painted the bases.

Masking:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7...ea089d23_c.jpg

Painting:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7...7f2c4d59_c.jpg

Finished Result:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7...b4e7ffa7_c.jpg
(The chrome rings are plastic, not metal.)

Now the rear turn signal sockets have very short leads. I had to hold the bulb half way in and then press the socket onto it. A bit of a PITA, but not too hard to do.

Rear Before:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8308/7...e0bc60b4_c.jpg

After:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7...fcaa234d_c.jpg

Comparison:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8308/7...40d96473_c.jpg


The fronts were really easy to do with plenty of slack in the wires:

Front Before:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8290/7...5223a13e_c.jpg

After:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8431/7...465651f7_c.jpg

Comparison:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/7...4727f344_c.jpg

Replacement of the Flasher Relay was relatively easy. It's rather high up under the dash just to the left of the steering column. There are a couple threads showing the location HERE and HERE. Just unplug the original and pull it off the bracket. The plastic fastener comes off with a thin screwdriver and slides right into the replacement flasher. Then just snap it back onto the bracket and plug in the harness.


The Fog lights were a little more involved. You'll want to prep the bulbs first.

Original:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/7...9ddd37fe_c.jpg

Replacement:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7...7c458197_c.jpg

There are quite a few small differences, some matter, some don't. The first differences are the keyed tabs around the socket. If you look carefully, you'll see one on the side of the socket. Compare the two and you'll see that the new socket is actually upside down. Luckily, this isn't a big issue. The plug will fit the new socket, just make sure the tab on the side matches the plug.

The next differences are the keyed tabs around the edge. Here are two of them on the new bulb:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/7...07b91e13_c.jpg
There is a third on the opposite side of the bulb as well. These need to go. They don't line up with the slots in the reflector. Use a small pair of snips or a file and take them off:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8425/7...079119c2_c.jpg


Ok, now we get at the bulbs via the method in the owner's manual. Turn the wheel to the opposite side and remove the three plastic fasteners:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7...fd7015f1_c.jpg
Do this by turning the centers with a screw driver as if you were removing a screw. They are a PITA to pop free as you need to press hard enough to engage the fastener, but light enough so you don't push it back in. Just turn it about a quarter turn until the center pops out. THen you can pry the fasteners out.

Pull away the fender liner to get at the back of the fog light:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7...0b09fb04_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/7...552edfbb_c.jpg

The plug has a tab to press in, then pull it straight off:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8442/7...041ec19a_c.jpg

Then press the tabs at the top and bottom of the light socket and pull the bulb straight out. Now, take the new bulb and pay attention to the keyed tab on the side of the socket and how the plug will line up with it. Push the new bulb straight into the socket until it clicks in place and then press the plug on firmly. It may not snap into the socket, but it should seat with enough friction to stay in place. Turn your lights on and check that it's working.

New Front corner:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7130/7...267bca73_c.jpg

New Fogs (hard to tell, but they match the headlights better):
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7...5419dd6c_c.jpg

Now, a note about doing this to the fogs. These bulbs put out a lot less light. This is PURELY for appearance. Personally, I don't think the stock fogs do enough to matter. If I feel like making them useful, I'll probbaly get a set of Hella fog lights like these: http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=132

But the car looks a lot better now. Proof that it's the little things that count. :)

i would have gone with ambler for the turn lights and fogs, nice to know that its that easy to change

The turn signals flash amber.

Got any pictures or videos of them lighting up?

That's the one thing on the exterior of the car that bugs me, the orange bulbs and the fact that the fog lights don't match any of the other front lighting.

Do mine? Ill pay $$$ :)

Not much to see..
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCPDdpUfIV8"]LED turn signals.. - YouTube[/ame]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7...8133b2cf_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8441/7...64f796ee_c.jpg

is that a reverse back up camera? is that hooked to the stock head unit?

I think it looks great, but I'd never put an LED into a foglight until they develop one that put out MORE usable light rather than less. Do the turn signals and hazards work normally once the flasher is changed out to compensate for the decreased amperage?

It's aftermarket and has a separate monitor I mount next to the windshield mirror. That particular one has a condensation problem which is why it's missing in the photo above your post.

The problem is heat. Some 35W HID kits will work. But believe it or not, true high power LEDs generate a lot of heat. So I don't think we'll be seeing practical LED replacements for fog lights or headlights in the near future. Going to an aftermarket set of fogs like the ones I linked will work better than stock anyways.

As for the flasher, the turn signals and hazards work perfectly fine once you replace the flasher relay. One thing that does change is the arm/disarm flashes. They now strobe once or twice (for lock and unlock respectively) very quickly.

Looks great! Any reason why didn't go HID conversion on the fogs ? I did everything you have done including complete interior conversion.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Do you need a flasher relay replacement for all blinkers or just one and youre done?

Price, and there's a risk they'll melt the housings. I plan to replace them completely if I ever feel I need more light.

There's only one flasher relay. So replace it and you'e good. The only downside is that if a bulb fails, it won't quick flash to let you know. Just check your bulbs every now and then for the first few months to catch any defective ones. After that the chances of one failing is pretty low.

I never replaced my flasher relay as of yet. 4-way flashers work at normal speeds as it is. Just high speed when signalling, I don't mind it as long as the guy in front or behind me doesn't have a ceasure ;)

Newbie here with an FR-S. would this work with the Scion?

Nice, u are awesome and I suck(and are hungover :) )

Amazon didnt no shipping to Norway on the foglights so i found those on Ebay but a parts and quantity list with whats needed from superbright would be awesome to make sure I get the right stuff.

I'm on my laptop and cant read some of the labels.

In advance. thank you very much!

Yup. You wont' have the fogs, but the rest of the bulbs should be direct swaps. I would just double-check that your front turn signals are 7440 bulbs. You should be able to change them the same way I did the fogs by going through the fender liner.

Flasher Relay: CCF18-08
Turn signal bulbs: 4x 7440-A18-T
License Plate bulbs: 2x WLED-WHP5 (If you want to do your marker lights as well, just get two amber versions and two red versions of this bulb)
Reverse Bulbs: 2x WLED-CWHP15T

Thanks!

I love those LEDs. Simple but a very clean look. Thanks for the write up!

-Zach

Funny.. I like the front end on the BRZ in your color with the Foglights.. Also after the conversion.. It looks great btw!

Very nice looking. I planned on doing this but was concerned with day time LED visibility. Can you take pictures of comparisons between LED and incandescent lighting for the signal and reverse lights during the day?

Is it possible to do the brake lights? Not sure if LED's can change in intensity. I know it's a fairly popular conversion on the Fit but it also has a separate bulb for brake and tail lights.

I put LED bulbs in the brake lights on my F150, worked beautifully. It was really cool how the intensity change was instant and not gradual.

Oh cool, would be interesting to replace the brake light with a red LED. I've heard the red gets really red.

Looks good I got to get me some clear turn lights after seeing this

also did you black out your tail light housing or are my eyes going?

Thanks a lot @Draco-REX,this helped a lot today!

Where did you buy the relay? I could not find it on Superbrightleds.com

I just used your DIY for the led fog light conversion. Your directions were perfect and super easy to follow. 20 minute job. The new fogs look a 1000% better. No more ugly off color beige fog lights, nothing but perfecty matched white lights in front now. :thumbup:

Thanks for posting this thread.

Oops, looks like I forgot about this thread. Sorry.

The reverse lights are fine in the day since really they're an on/not on thing. The turn signals are bright enough to notice, but not exactly as bright as the incandescents. I can see my turn signals in the paint of the car ahead of me.

Ultimately, so few use or pay attention to turn signals, I'm not concerned. I'm always expecting the other boneheads to ignore my signals anyways.

LEDs can change in intensity, but the brake lights in our cars are all LED anyways. Both sides and the high mount are all LEDs.

If your car is black or DGM/Asphalt, simply tinting the side markers can make a HUGE improvement.

As for blacking out the tails, not yet. That's just reflections. Ever since the weather turned cold I've had condensation in my tails. So I plan to cut them open and black/reseal them in the spring.

No problem

I got the relay there.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/morei...asher/786/840/

It's under LED Car Bulbs/Car Bulb Installation Supplies/Flashers and Load Resistors. You want CF18-08 used for Toyotas and I *think* the 05+ Subaru Legacy/08+ Impreza.

I'm glad it helped you out.

What kind of paint did you use for the bases? I would like to paint them for the same reason you did, but I don't really know what would be appropriate for this application.

Not high temp, so anything should work, really. I'm going to just rattlecan them a flat black with some higher-quality spray paint.

followed your direction to change my fog light today.

thank you for saving me some time with tips

Glad it helped.

To remove the amber coloration in the indicators and not use leds you can use what they call chrome bulbs. No amber colour when off but amber when on.