Improved Under Bonnet Light - LED Strip

[Tnarkowicz]

Here is an improved under-bonnet light I rigged up - far better than the single festoon lamp glow worm lurking under there! It lights up the whole engine bay nicely. Details:

I used a warm white 12V LED strip light cut to length, with self adhesive back.

Its mounted on the rear edge of the bonnet, well away from engine bay heat. There's a nice sloped surface there, which provided a good aiming of the light when the bonnet is fully lifted.

Its simply wired to the exiting festoon style lamp. Huge improvement over stock!!


https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-8DgtCDr/0/M/IMG_0157-M.jpg (https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-8DgtCDr/A)

https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-QFvVfPF/0/M/IMG_0159-M.jpg (https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-QFvVfPF/A)

https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-dFd2Fnt/0/M/IMG_0163-M.jpg (https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-dFd2Fnt/A)

https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-nJ2vcQj/0/M/IMG_0162-M.jpg (https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-nJ2vcQj/A)

https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-WtpWNWr/0/M/IMG_0156-M.jpg (https://narks.smugmug.com/BimmerForums/Bonnet-Lights/i-WtpWNWr/A)

[smashervt]

Great idea! Im going to do this right now lol. My lamp does not work and I literally have a whole roll of these LED strips around. Might even do trunk too.

[fiveseven808]

This is genius! I might still have some left over as well!! I gotta try this!

[DaHose]

Agreed. Great little mod!

Jose

[dwal95008]

Where would one get a strip of these around town?

[Tnarkowicz]

Most electronic shops, and some lighting shops will sell this 12V LED strip cut to length. You'll just need to solder the wire leads to the end of the strip, and connect it to the existing cabling for the festoon lamp.

[dwal95008]

Id rather just go to a store, ebay is a hassle compared to a short walk. Thanks fellas

[DaHose]

Your local auto parts stores and WalMart will likely have 12V LED strips ready to go. They will probably have nice end mouldings as well. However, if you want a clean and flat looking strip like Tnarkowicz used, ordering from ebay or Amazon will be your only option. I don't know of any retailer that stocks that kind of bare strip.

Jose

[smashervt]

Thank gpd for performance shops. Decided to get led tape from them. Much better look to it and got a new knob while i was there.

[Dash01]

This idea is also suitable to light the trunk, tool kit, glove box, fuse box, dash, interior, etc. Red LEDs would save your night vision. You could even get carried away with this, and install in LED strips in fender wells for roadside tire changing in the middle of the night.

Do these things work well with a simple dimmer switch to adjust light intensity?