HOW-TO: Black-Out & Add Audi LED strips to your headlights
09-05-2009, 11:27 PM
#1
HOW-TO: Black-Out & Add Audi LED strips to your headlights
Alright, as my final HOW-TO on the .org, I am going to be detailing how one can black out your headlights and add the newly coveted Audi LED effect to your headlights. Without much adeiu, let's begin!
ITEMS NEEDED
Flexible LED strips from Oznium ($40) *CLICK HERE FOR LINK*
Amazing Goop from Home Depot ($4)
About 5 hours...this is actually a pretty quick mod
STEP #1
Remove headlights. I am not going to detail this, there are two screws to remove that are exposed at the bumper level then just pull out...HARD.
STEP #2
You're going to need to remove some hardware from the headlights before beginning. All rubber components, bulbs, and any screws that will come out. One universal item the bulbous thingie that was a beotch to remove in the previous step.
STEP #3
Obtain a flat baking sheet and a large towel. Wet the towel so it's wet, but not dripping wet. Drape across the entire length of the sheet. TEST FIT THE SHEET WITH THE HEADLIGHT IN POSITION. Once you're comfortable with the fit, preheat the oven to 250F. Place the headlight facing UP.
STEP #4
Bake for 10-12 minutes, ONE AT A TIME. Feel free to nervously pace the kitchen floor. *DING* That's the sound of opportunity! Take your headlight out. I recommend using leather gloves, you'll need the dexterity. Start be removing the two screw where the bulbous thing is...they are easier to remove once the adhesive is at working temp. Pry your headlight apart by using a flathead screwdriver to pry the mechanical attachment points open. Then pull...I only did 10 minutes and pulled...hard.
STEP #5
Remove the chrome components from the body. Here's a shot of the only two screws for the 5th gen. The 5.5 gen will have more, sorry, I have limited pics of the 5.5gen. NOTE: Your lens portion will need to be warm for the 5th gen shroud to be removed; this allows proper expansion...believe me, it ain't comin out otherwise.
STEP #5
You're going to want to tape the chrome sections you want to retain. This is actually easier then it sounds. Use small peices when going around the corners. TIP: Take the tape and slowly walk it across the contours...you will have 0 difficulties if you do so.
STEP #6
Paint using Duplicolor's High Temp Engine Enamel. Do 3 coats; two light coats at about 12" distance, very quickly. Do a third "wet" coat; you can do multiple light coats, but I've used close to 100 cans of spray, so I have an unfortunate familiarity with how it behaves. Allow 2 hours cure time, then peel away.
ITEMS NEEDED
Flexible LED strips from Oznium ($40) *CLICK HERE FOR LINK*
Amazing Goop from Home Depot ($4)
About 5 hours...this is actually a pretty quick mod
STEP #1
Remove headlights. I am not going to detail this, there are two screws to remove that are exposed at the bumper level then just pull out...HARD.
STEP #2
You're going to need to remove some hardware from the headlights before beginning. All rubber components, bulbs, and any screws that will come out. One universal item the bulbous thingie that was a beotch to remove in the previous step.
STEP #3
Obtain a flat baking sheet and a large towel. Wet the towel so it's wet, but not dripping wet. Drape across the entire length of the sheet. TEST FIT THE SHEET WITH THE HEADLIGHT IN POSITION. Once you're comfortable with the fit, preheat the oven to 250F. Place the headlight facing UP.
STEP #4
Bake for 10-12 minutes, ONE AT A TIME. Feel free to nervously pace the kitchen floor. *DING* That's the sound of opportunity! Take your headlight out. I recommend using leather gloves, you'll need the dexterity. Start be removing the two screw where the bulbous thing is...they are easier to remove once the adhesive is at working temp. Pry your headlight apart by using a flathead screwdriver to pry the mechanical attachment points open. Then pull...I only did 10 minutes and pulled...hard.
STEP #5
Remove the chrome components from the body. Here's a shot of the only two screws for the 5th gen. The 5.5 gen will have more, sorry, I have limited pics of the 5.5gen. NOTE: Your lens portion will need to be warm for the 5th gen shroud to be removed; this allows proper expansion...believe me, it ain't comin out otherwise.
STEP #5
You're going to want to tape the chrome sections you want to retain. This is actually easier then it sounds. Use small peices when going around the corners. TIP: Take the tape and slowly walk it across the contours...you will have 0 difficulties if you do so.
STEP #6
Paint using Duplicolor's High Temp Engine Enamel. Do 3 coats; two light coats at about 12" distance, very quickly. Do a third "wet" coat; you can do multiple light coats, but I've used close to 100 cans of spray, so I have an unfortunate familiarity with how it behaves. Allow 2 hours cure time, then peel away.
09-05-2009, 11:39 PM
#2
STEP #7
Cut your LED strip to size and attach using the double-sided tape included. One the 5th gen, you'll use 21 LEDs. The 5.5 gen is considerably more, just cut to size. NOTE: The array on the strip is in denominations of 3, so you must have a multiple of 3 in order for the full length to light!!! (i.e. 36, 33, 30, etc.)
STEP #8
Drill a small hole to allow for wire passage...I did mine as seen here on the 5th gen...I recommend going toward the turn signal as it is less readily seen below:
STEP #9
Now this is what I consider to be the hardest step. In order to properly reseal, we need to reuse the existing sealant. SO, back in the oven we go...ONLY PLACING THE LENS AND BODY IN THE OVEN. Do so at 250F for 10 minutes. You're going to want to leave the body face up as the channels will likely contain the largest portion of sealant. Remove when the adhesive is glossy, meaning it's at working temp.
STEP #10
While everything is hot, QUICKLY reassemble. Be confident, you can do it. You'll need to do this for the proper seal. Push the body and lens together, making sure the mechanical tabs properly latch. Route the wire behind the lens shroud, you can drill your own hole or use the vent line aperture.
STEP #11
*WHEW*, ok, so you got the lenses probably 80% sealed. Time for some GOOP! Add some extra sealant, we've done all this work and don't want to blow it now.
Cut your LED strip to size and attach using the double-sided tape included. One the 5th gen, you'll use 21 LEDs. The 5.5 gen is considerably more, just cut to size. NOTE: The array on the strip is in denominations of 3, so you must have a multiple of 3 in order for the full length to light!!! (i.e. 36, 33, 30, etc.)
STEP #8
Drill a small hole to allow for wire passage...I did mine as seen here on the 5th gen...I recommend going toward the turn signal as it is less readily seen below:
STEP #9
Now this is what I consider to be the hardest step. In order to properly reseal, we need to reuse the existing sealant. SO, back in the oven we go...ONLY PLACING THE LENS AND BODY IN THE OVEN. Do so at 250F for 10 minutes. You're going to want to leave the body face up as the channels will likely contain the largest portion of sealant. Remove when the adhesive is glossy, meaning it's at working temp.
STEP #10
While everything is hot, QUICKLY reassemble. Be confident, you can do it. You'll need to do this for the proper seal. Push the body and lens together, making sure the mechanical tabs properly latch. Route the wire behind the lens shroud, you can drill your own hole or use the vent line aperture.
STEP #11
*WHEW*, ok, so you got the lenses probably 80% sealed. Time for some GOOP! Add some extra sealant, we've done all this work and don't want to blow it now.
09-06-2009, 04:51 AM
#5
You're a mind reader Metal Maxima. It's exactly what I've been wanting to do to the Max. Unsure about the LED strip for me, but the painted chrome piece is a must. In an earlier thread I asked if anybody had ever wrapped that chrome piece in carbon fiber cloth to try to compliment the look of the SE tails, but I never got any responses, so I'm assuming this has never been done? My concern was heat from the light bulb possibly melting the cloth.
09-06-2009, 08:40 AM
#8
You're a mind reader Metal Maxima. It's exactly what I've been wanting to do to the Max. Unsure about the LED strip for me, but the painted chrome piece is a must. In an earlier thread I asked if anybody had ever wrapped that chrome piece in carbon fiber cloth to try to compliment the look of the SE tails, but I never got any responses, so I'm assuming this has never been done? My concern was heat from the light bulb possibly melting the cloth.
It's moderately difficult in theory...so you can imagine the real life difficulty.
09-06-2009, 09:02 PM
#16
09-07-2009, 12:08 AM
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 24
09-07-2009, 08:37 AM
#19
Not new, I re-registered.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 12
Your response was really uncalled for. I've been surfing this site since 2003. If I were a postwhore, don't you think I would have more posts than 10...11, by now? I will ask the moderators to delete my previous comment on your "write-up". I didn't mean for it to offend. Jerk. And, thanks for YOUR response, thereby letting me add this one so that I may further "postwhore". Maybe I'll get banned.
09-07-2009, 09:20 AM
#20
Your response was really uncalled for. I've been surfing this site since 2003. If I were a postwhore, don't you think I would have more posts than 10...11, by now? I will ask the moderators to delete my previous comment on your "write-up". I didn't mean for it to offend. Jerk. And, thanks for YOUR response, thereby letting me add this one so that I may further "postwhore". Maybe I'll get banned.
I was planning on doing this with my R34s on my 4th gen. Great write up, I might do mine the whole length of the headlamp, including the corners
09-07-2009, 11:02 AM
#21
Your response was really uncalled for. I've been surfing this site since 2003. If I were a postwhore, don't you think I would have more posts than 10...11, by now? I will ask the moderators to delete my previous comment on your "write-up". I didn't mean for it to offend. Jerk. And, thanks for YOUR response, thereby letting me add this one so that I may further "postwhore". Maybe I'll get banned.
09-07-2009, 12:42 PM
#23
09-07-2009, 07:03 PM
#29
nice write up metal...still good to see some old school max dudes still hangin around here making this site what it is..
my side notes...on 5.5 lights..there are 3 tiny screws on the back of the light that need to be removed before seperating.. and the 2 times i opened mine.. when resealing.. i placed the headlight back together, even though the seal wasnt sticky.. and then once it heats i pull it out and its already in place.. leaves less room for mess/glue(which oddly smells like pine needles) getting on the lens..
my ?..what is the life/longevity on those led's,.. i have 2 stips that appear similiar to those that are under my dash.. and they started blinking/going out in rows of 3.. i know i needed a resistor.. but are u afraid of those going out...thanks
my side notes...on 5.5 lights..there are 3 tiny screws on the back of the light that need to be removed before seperating.. and the 2 times i opened mine.. when resealing.. i placed the headlight back together, even though the seal wasnt sticky.. and then once it heats i pull it out and its already in place.. leaves less room for mess/glue(which oddly smells like pine needles) getting on the lens..
my ?..what is the life/longevity on those led's,.. i have 2 stips that appear similiar to those that are under my dash.. and they started blinking/going out in rows of 3.. i know i needed a resistor.. but are u afraid of those going out...thanks
09-07-2009, 09:22 PM
#33
LEDs were white. They have built-in resistors, but I think they only calculate out the design for 12V draw, but of course, the altys can given 'em 14.4, so looks like I will have to put some fawking regulators on them 
Going to try and finish this tomorrow...too much time detailing the car.
Going to try and finish this tomorrow...too much time detailing the car.
09-08-2009, 07:37 AM
#34
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 744
nice!
i notice you have the LED strip for 5.0 gen lights up close to the clear housing
not bashing, but my first thought is it might be more natural placed flush along the rim in front of the chromed reflector
did you experiment with the strip location or just put it in the front?
i notice you have the LED strip for 5.0 gen lights up close to the clear housing
not bashing, but my first thought is it might be more natural placed flush along the rim in front of the chromed reflector
did you experiment with the strip location or just put it in the front?
