[juve021]

reference:
http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=133370

Well, the journey is coming to an end as the LED tails are done (for now) and 90% installed (just have to run alittle wiring and install load resistors or figure out shunts to cancel bulb out warning messages).

Pics and vids:

http://tinypic.com/r/1zmcdmu/5
http://tinypic.com/r/2mnrvxz/5

And yes I know one rev. bulb is out! Also don't mind the flickering, its the PWM effect that the camera pics up (they really don't flicker). Actually, these pics/vids really don't do the LEDs justice, you have to see them in person as they look really good IMO!

All in all, I'm happy. Some points/advice/things I've learned along the way:
1) taking apart the tails isn't that difficult just time consuming and you must go slow or you will crack the lenses
2) cutting the plastic does make a mess (I used a combo of dremel with cutting wheel, razor blade and hacksaw blade (just the blade in the palm of your hand). I made slits all around the back of the tails with the dremel and then used the hacksaw blade to actually cut out the back from the lense. The razor blade comes in handy on the bottom of the tail where you slowly and lights just pry apart the lense from the plastic weld.
3) might have done the LED patterns differently but I'm all about unique and I think they def represent that
4) sniffing soldering fumes is not good

Anyway, if anyone is wanting to do this and needs some help/questions answered, let me know. I also have like 35 leds left over if anyone wants to purchase them

 

[VolvoDude4Life]

Better than I could ever do... congrats on the custom lights!

JR

 

[BlazinBob]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (juve021)

Certainly unique! I think it looks good. Informative post for those interested in doing this.

 

[stealthS60AWD]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (juve021)

I'm still on the fence on the looks of the LED patterns....other than that you sure did an amazing job on a nice custom mod not really seen on these cars http://********************/smile/emthup.gif http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

Plus you made them well so they don't give any warnings or anyhing, not some half-assed LED retro...nother http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

 

[Spizzy]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (stealthS60AWD)

Quote, originally posted by stealthS60AWD »

I'm still on the fence on the looks of the LED patterns....other than that you sure did an amazing job on a nice custom mod not really seen on these cars http://********************/smile/emthup.gif http://********************/smile/emthup.gif Plus you made them well so they don't give any warnings or anyhing, not some half-assed LED retro...nother http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

I like it. I'd love it if the inside bank of LED's continued the outline shape of the outer instead of being a solid block.

I might try this depending on how much time I have between when I finish working and when I move...

 

[Skot53]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (juve021)

Looks great! Let me know when these are for sale! http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

 

[Jexx]

I noticed in your signature you have blue LED lighting in your car as well? Pics?

They look great. It must have taken a ton of time to solder in all those LEDs. Have any raw pics of the boards themselves? Would be interesting to see.

 

[juve021]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (Spizzy)

Spizzy, if you give it a go, please post your progress on the forums.

Skot, thanks, yeah not so much for sale. The only POSSIBLE thing I could sell are the boards but I don't think I even want to do that!

Jexx, check the link to the other post referenced above for a pic of the boards. Yeah, it took awhile to solder them, actually more time to drill the stupid holes...~70 leds per side = 140 total x 4 holes per led = 560 holes! For the blue led downlight, check out athruc's posts about it. Its simply a blue led in the overhead console that shines on the spaceball shifter, sorry I don't have pics.

 

[flybynight]

Cool and artistic. Nicely done. Doing anything to the front as well?

 

[AthruC]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (juve021)

Awesome job Tony, looks a LOT better than I thought it would now that I see it on both sides

Downlight:

Not worth the trouble for me to put together as a 'group buy' anymore, as the product evolved and the interest didn't (especially if I were to charge what it's worth for me to make it all happen right now

). I do them as 'favor' projects now, mostly for barter.

 

[Short Circuit]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (juve021)

Tony - truly unique MOD. I like it a lot. TREMENDOUS effort to make it look great.

Next mod: Puddle lights under car (in between drivers side front and rear doors as well as passenger side front & rear doors) ONLY when you unlock the doors (and is timed to stay on for 30 seconds then turn off).

 

[BlazinBob]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (Short Circuit)

Quote, originally posted by Short Circuit »

Next mod: Puddle lights under car (in between drivers side front and rear doors as well as passenger side front & rear doors) ONLY when you unlock the doors (and is timed to stay on for 30 seconds then turn off).

Yeah, the puddle lights are missing on my '05....

 

[juve021]

Thanks guys I appreciate the comments. Like I said above, they really look GREAT in person. I'm going to try to get some night pics too as I drove the R tonight and noticed that they really POP at night.

 

[BEJinFbk]

Re: (juve021)

Man, that looks like a LOT of work to get them so nicely aligned !
Kudos on the results, but more importantly, the Patience...
Excellent Look! http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

 

[juve021]

Thanks again all.

I think I found some suitable load resistors to act as if the bulbs were included in the circuit and eliminate the bulb out messages. From my research I've found: marker bulbs are r5w type, 12v 5w, 28.8 ohms @ ~.417 amps and stop bulbs are p21w type, 12v 21w, 6.86 ohm @ ~1.75 amps.

Thing I find most annoying right now is that even if you clear the initial marker bulb out warning text message in the DIM, it returns when you press the brake with "check stop light" and then "bulb out" blah blah so you have to clear it again

Again just annoying for the meantime.

 

[lowenhart]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (juve021)

Awesome,

I love it!

Henry

 

[juve021]

Re: S60R true LED tail retro - the journey ends (juve021)

Update:

Installed 6.8 ohm 25w load resistors to take care of the "check stop lamp" message that would pop up every time I hit the brakes.... SUCCESS! Work great...they do heat up but I just mounted them directly onto the speaker shelf.
The FINAL piece to this project is installing the tail/marker light resistors to get rid of the "bulb out" message. I believe 4 27ohm 5w resistors will take care of this!

 

[evilspoons]

Just remember to check if your tails are still working every now and then! Custom work means possible loose connections; now that you've installed those resistors the LEDs could probably be totally disconnected and it would still be perfectly happy.

That being said I think this is pretty awesome. I wanted to do something like this with my old 740 but I never got around to it.

Oh yeah and the PWM flickering thing... if you can set your shutter speed manually on your camera while it's in video mode (a lot can't if they're also still cameras) try to set it as long as possible, it should smooth out the flickering/flashing.

 

[juve021]

Ah yeah, sux that the actual nice thing about the bulb message is that it makes you check and replace the burnt out bulb won't function.

Awesome about the camera setting, I didn't even realize you could do that...I'll have to check my camera to see if it its possible.

 

[juve021]

UPDATE:

Here's a night shot: