OE led taillight conversion

[trance]

Hi guys.

I managed to get hold of used original led tailights.

I am having some difficulty sourcing the wiring adapter harness that will allow me to fit these.
Has anyone thats already done this conversion got details of suppliers?


Cheers

 

[RS5UK]

I made my own. What car have you got? I may be able to help you make your own if you're good with a bit of diy. There are various options regarding how much you might end up spending (if you get Audi connectors and terminals etc.) but you could do it for as little as £10-£15

 

[hollows wife]

wiring kit on ebay if your not upto diy .

 

[trance]

Def up for the diy, save me a fortune . You got a link?

Do you need the module as well?

 

[RS5UK]

What you need depends on a few things. What lights are on the car as standard? Bulbs or LED? and are the new lights LED or Facelift LED? The lights will also need some coding. Do you have Vagcom/VCDS?

 

[trance]

Hi mate,

I am changing from bulb to LED, the new lights are from a 2012 model, mine is a 2008 model. I don't have a VCDS but my local audi specialist can code. I have been told by a member on here that I need instructions with the adapters to code and without the instructions with the cables it cannot be done?

 

[RS5UK]

Well I went to Audi and they hadn't a clue and they could only code their own upgrade package. Basically they plug your car in and run a piece of software. They don't use VCDS.
Saying that, your local dealer may have someone who can do it with a VCDS they have themselves but it's unlikely that Audi would support the work being done.
Give me a few minutes and I'll root out the coding and wiring changes.

 

[trance]

Spot on mate, appreciate that

 

[RS5UK]

Before I post these I better just say that I haven't tried this so I can't accept responsibility if it goes wrong. I have done the LED to FL LED conversion on my car and used the coding from the same source and it was spot on so I have no reason to doubt it's accuracy. The below channel adaptations are for Halogen to LED (pre facelift only)

 

[RS5UK]

Double Checking coding - BRB

 

[trance]

Great info cheers.

How do I go about making the adapter harness?

Cheers

 

[RS5UK]

Coding is done from within 46-Central Conv. - Adaptation; but you'll need to enter the security access code first. The code is 16017

 

[RS5UK]

I'm just having an issue with formatting the details. I'll pop up the wiring in a few minutes.

 

[RS5UK]

Double checking coding - will be right back

 

[RS5UK]

As regards the actual parts to use, if you want to keep the cost to a minimum, you can use ATX power connectors available from Maplin. The female connectors fit snug over the pins in the light and the male pins are a good fit in the the plug which goes into the light. Just make sure you insulate all of the outside of the female connectors with insulating tape or heatshrink and the unexposed areas of the male ones in the same way. They're a really good fit and plenty capable of carrying the power in the wires.

Or you could get the parts listed on the pdf. The prices have changed since it was put together. Mine cost around £140 for plugs and wires with connectors from Audi but even they thought the price was a bit steep which prompted my visit to Maplin. The maplin connectors cost about £3 for a set of 20 Male and £3 for a set of 20 female connecting pins.

If you're anywhere near Bolton I could give you a hand with the wiring and can do the coding for you over the weekend.

 

[RS5UK]

Here's a link to the connectors on Maplin

Maplin ATX Motherboard Male Power Connectors | Maplin

 

[trance]

Right I have downloaded your link. I am understanding some of it, coding, inner + outer r/l Lamps. Just not sure on connectors and type of cable required?. Can I get this stuff on eBay? I had a search but not entirely sure what to look for.

 

[trance]

Ah o.k you beat me to it!

 

[RS5UK]

Cable is 0.5mm squared. Again, you can get this from Maplin. If it's a bit thicker thats ok but I wouldn't go much thicker

 

[trance]

Thanks for the offer on the coding, just a bit far out for that I think. I am across the border, near Stirling.

The maplin way sounds like it works well, just a bit heath Robinson!
Far prefer the idea of the proper connectors, altough still sounds expensive for what is basically a few connectors and small bits of cable!

For that kind of money I have been offered them with instructions. Shame, was looking forward to a bit of diy!

 

[RS5UK]

The plugs are about £21 from Audi. It's the wires with connectors on that are expensive and they don't supply the pins without the wires. I've done mine using heatshrink and insulating tape with the Maplin connectors and theres no damage to anything until I decide to splash out on the Audi wires. It worked a treat and everything is watertight, sealed and neat.

 

[RS5UK]

Just so you're aware, in the wiring part of the PDF you'll see X1 and X2. This means you'll need to have one wire on each side connecting the 2 lights on that side together (Pin 7 on the outer light to Pin 1 on the inner light). It should be easy to route so that it's not seen. Whether you buy harnesses or make your own you'll need this wire for full functionality

 

[hollows wife]

Channel	Old​	New​
181	65535​	64608​
189	16383​	16380​
191	16143​	16383​
195	14852​	5125​
196	14884​	5157​
197	14980​	5124​
198	15012​	5156​
203	8266​	73​
204	8298​	105​

you forgot login code for module

 

[RS5UK]

you forgot login code for module

It's in Post 12

 

[hollows wife]

im blind lol ,forgot to mention i never had to add a wire to the car for full functionality ,sure all can be done with coding now ,il find coding out tomorrow see if there's any differences in the coding you posted.

 

[RS5UK]

If its pre FL LED to FL LED you don't need to add the wire. Was yours originally Halogen or LED?

 

[hollows wife]

halogen to pre fl led ,by adding the wire what does it achieve ? inner brake lights ?

 

[RS5UK]

Just double checking my info. I'll get back to confirm asap

 

[RS5UK]

Trance, exactly which model do you have? There are some differences between different versions.

 

[trance]

A4 B8 3.0 ltr tdi s line on a '08' plate

 

[hollows wife]

this is my coding which didnt need the extra wire for the led lights to function correctly

channels
181 65535 > 64608
187 16383 > 16368
188 16383 > 16368
195 10753 > 5123 inner brake light with fog
196 10785 > 5155 inner brake light with fog
197 11268 > 5124
198 11300 > 5156
203 7754 > 7753

there is 1 channel missing 204 ive missplaced it over the last few days was jotted down in a note pad ,im sure il find it but my head is up my *** atm with these meds

 

[trance]

Nice one hollow, cheers. I am hoping the coding instructions come with the adapters. Managed to source a set, works out cheaper than the proper Audi connectors, a bit of a wait to get them though!

 

[A6tyy]

just a question, i got a 2009 a4 and have a bcm from a 2013 car which i had the FL led lights, will it still need coding? i know i will have to change a few other things as my car might have extras or lack of them.
thank you for any help in advance

 

[ScottishA4B9]

Whats the difference between the LED rear lights and Facelift LED Rear Lights?
Are the face lift ones from the newer 2012/13 facelift model? Sorry if that sounds abit daft but just wanted to confirm.

I too, want to carry out this converstion so I'm reading this thread with great interest. I just need to find a good set of LED rear lights on eBay now!
I'm amazed that it's always (genuine that is) Avant LED rear lights that are for sale on eBay. I don't know what that says about Avant drivers?...Are they crashing all the time or what?

 

[A6tyy]

Automobile Trends: 2010 audi s4 that's the old led lights

and these are the new ones
2013 Audi A4 Rear Photo 6

 

[A6tyy]

2013 Audi A4 Rear Photo 6
these are the new ones

 

[A6tyy]

and heres a thread with the old ones on
2010 Audi S4 B8 V6T: First Arrival expected August

 

[A6tyy]

and mine at the moment look nothing like either of them lol. I have the se standard bulb ones.
if you have a saloon then you need a new bootlid the shape of the inner lights slightly different. also I picked up a bumper because its slightly different too but you can use your old one if you wish.
Seen a few sites where everyone saying its not worth doing the conversion on the back and front as its too expensive, but honestly I just been getting the bits off ebay slowly so far
£200 (best offer made) was up for £275 - Face lift rear led lights
£120 (best offer made) think one item was up for £70 and the other £80 - boot lid and rear bumper off a 2013 se
£60 (best offer made) was up for £79 - bcm from the same car as the led lights so coding shud be set up already im hoping
and paints cost me £250 for the back end (guys gotta flick it in as they were painted off the car)

but basically if you keep looking you will find the bits cheap enough, only thing I am stuggling with are the front lights used complete they going for around £800 but going to keep looking.

 

[ScottishA4B9]

Sounds like an expensive job then!

Does anybody know what the aftermarket LED lights are like?

 

[trance]

Bit of messing about for the FL rear light's as mentioned.

The aftermarket rear LED lights only have a brake light on the outer light, you don't need these coded either. My concern with them was the quality. I had read various people were having problems with some of the aftermarket lights.