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Thread: E39 Breaking News! $30 LED Angel Eye DIY

  1. #1
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    E39 Breaking News! $30 LED Angel Eye DIY

    The last time this subject was brought up, i used a pair of LED MagLite flashlight replacement bulbs. Not the best results as i imagined, so i didnt make a write-up.

    But heres an update.


    What You Need.
    $15LED Bulb #3157. Any color of your choice, any LED style of your choice. I prefer to use all forward directional LEDs since i want them all to aim directly into the CELIS unit. (I have OEM 01+ Hella headlights)
    Also keep note that when picking your LED bulbs, get the ones that are the most simple because you dont have much room to work with. The ones i picked has a circular circuit board with LEDs and resonators all on one board. The stacked LED style might not fit/work.




    Step 1.
    Remove your OEM halogen bulb socket.



    Then try and break the plastic weld holding the reflector to the bulb socket. (I found using a small flathead screwdriver is a good choice)



    Step 2.
    Now, take your #3157 LED Bulb, and carefully remove the led unit out of the housing.
    After doing so, joint the connectors + with + and - with - so you will have a cleaner install. Keep in mind that you would have to bend the terminals so it can fit though the reflector.
    Solder wires of your choice to each terminal, then pass wires though reflector. (At this point, you can make a small pigtail to your AE power source if you like)


    (Installed wiring not pictured)

    Step 3.
    Test with a 12v source to see if everything is working fine and all the connections are touching where they should, and not where they shouldn't.
    Then use a small dab of clear silicone under the led circuit board to the reflector. That should be good enough to keep it in place and water out, i also added some silicone through the rear of the reflector to add a another water barrier just to be safe.





    Step 4.
    Enjoy, and recheck to make sure everything is good.
    I was pretty impress with the end results, and how easy this was to do. Not sure if its as bright as the other LED AE bulb replacements, but its bright enough for me.



    P.S. I used red as an example beacause thats the only color i had access too (and it was free!), i plan on buying some all white or light blue LED bulbs and use it for my final piece. Might even source some unwanted AE sockets and make some in other colors w/ pigtails so i can switch up when i feel like it.


    Feel free to add tips/ideas.

    Thanks
    -Q
    Last edited by XCELMotorsports; 10-13-2008 at 03:41 AM.

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  2. #2
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    me likey! good work!! now if only I had some 01+ headlights to try this on...

  3. #3
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    Creative to say the least. Id like to see better pics on the car when youre done. I actually like the look of the stock angel eyes. Great job though!

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by 1BADBM View Post
    Creative to say the least. Id like to see better pics on the car when youre done. I actually like the look of the stock angel eyes. Great job though!
    You comment made me do this just to see how it would turn out.
    (Its more solid and amber then how it looks)



    LED Amber bulbs, i was using these for my turn signals (same bulb design).
    Heres a pic for people that is thinking of going LED for their turn signal, all i can say is. BRIGHT!




    Sorry for all the crappy webcam pics and the ghetto objects used to prop the lights. =]

    The most fun you can have with your clothes on.

  5. #5
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    there is nothing ghetto about napkins.

  6. #6
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    +1

    Napkins are classy.


    Did you ever get a bulb warning for the LED turns?
    got any more (better ) pics?
    Congrats on the ingenuity..
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  7. #7
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    Interesting...

    I wonder how the lumen output is compared to the "competitors?"

    If you really think about it you can get a VERY powerful LED for not much and can rig something up just like this. With the others you get a nicer packaged product and their R&D but the basic premise is the same: a bright LED replacement for AE bulbs.

    Also if I'm not mistaken the 3156 might be a better choice as it is single filament vs the 3157's dual filament. No big difference but it is probably why there are multiple positive and negative posts.

    Good job I will probably be trying this out soon...
    Last edited by PutterMcGavin; 10-13-2008 at 09:16 AM.
    Current Bimmer: '89 E30 DD, '89 E30 Project
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  8. #8
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    Actually I sourced some really bright leds and some really cool HID bulb sizes. I actually have an HID bulb that fits in the angel eye socket. We tried it out and its EXTREMELY bright. Give the celis AE's a CCFL look. Stil testing and need to find a way to hold the bulb in place.

    XCEL is on the right track. He is just limited to the LEDS he can find locally and online. The "boxed bulb products" are nothing special. For starters, the VERY popular ones can have their bulbs sourced right out of the radio shack catalog. Happy hunting.

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  9. #9
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    I love people like him. Willing to sacrifice his own car, so that we may benefit.

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  10. #10
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    Great job.

  11. #11
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    Good job. DIY options such as this can only help the e39 community.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by FP5241 View Post
    +1

    Napkins are classy.


    Did you ever get a bulb warning for the LED turns?
    got any more (better ) pics?
    Congrats on the ingenuity..
    Bulb warning is unknown right now. These lights are not hooked up to the car atm, waiting on my bumpers to get painted. But maintenance is first on the list and i need tune up soon. So that will have to wait.

    Im pretty sure theres TONS of LEDs out there that are brighter, would be even cool if someone used a color morphing LED unit and be able to change colors by a turn of a knob. I just did this way because its the simplest way possible, since everything is already set up for a 12v power source.


    I have to say, i feel kinda bad for doing this DIY, when rumor is EuroDyne will be releasing their LED AE bulbs soon, and it will be harsh on their buisness if everyone starts doing this. Sorry ED for being cheap! haha

    The most fun you can have with your clothes on.

  13. #13
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    I just bought an AE LED kit from eBay for $50, lets see how it turns out.
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  14. #14
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    I think in acouple of months, going that route is smarter, since i have been noticing alot of E39 parts on ebay are dropping more then 20% in price.

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  15. #15
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    Wonderful DIY!!! Ingenuity at it's best!!!!

  16. #16
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    Nice!!
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  17. #17
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    The white LEDs came in!





    The most fun you can have with your clothes on.

  18. #18
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    WOW! ^^^^^
    Awesome!

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  19. #19
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    Wink

    better pics please...
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  20. #20
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    Yes proper pics in all lighting conditions please..

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  21. #21
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    where can you pick a pair of LED's up like that?

  22. #22
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    EBAY, got them for 7bucks. Or any local ricer shop.

    I will try to get better pics soon.

    The most fun you can have with your clothes on.

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by XCELMotorsports View Post
    EBAY, got them for 7bucks. Or any local ricer shop.

    I will try to get better pics soon.
    UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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  24. #24
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    looks great .. i need to follow what you did .. btw, you can do parking light delete .. hella has a wiring kit for the AE rings that allows the AE rings to come on with the parking lots but the parking lights stays off .. lik this below picture of yours .. it only turns on when you turn on the blinkers ..



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  25. #25
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    Yeah, i figured out the wireing to make my fogs and AE stay on, and the blinker only when your turning.

    The most fun you can have with your clothes on.

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