Thread: DIY - LED Turn Signal Mirrors, Puddle Lights, and Pontiac Logo Projectors!

Just fixed a link. If anyone notices dead links or anything in here as they attempt or read through please shoot me a PM telling me so. I would like to keep this as up to date as possible. Thanks.

Just bought the Pontiac projectors and red led turn lights today. The turn lights are coming from the US, I could only find the projectors in China. Those will be almost the end of the month. I do have two questions.

1) How did you pick the spot on the ground to get the the placement of the projectors? Did the question make sense? What thought process did you go though? Like my first thought would be as far out on the door panel as it would fit, so when the door opened it would be out away from the car. Yours seem about 3/4 of the way out. Was there some interference reasons?

2) You put the puddle lamps on, would that much light cover up the projector image? Again, am I missing something here?

Thanks again for your write up.

Originally Posted by penright

Just bought the Pontiac projectors and red led turn lights today. The turn lights are coming from the US, I could only find the projectors in China. Those will be almost the end of the month. I do have two questions.

1) How did you pick the spot on the ground to get the the placement of the projectors? Did the question make sense? What thought process did you go though? Like my first thought would be as far out on the door panel as it would fit, so when the door opened it would be out away from the car. Yours seem about 3/4 of the way out. Was there some interference reasons?

2) You put the puddle lamps on, would that much light cover up the projector image? Again, am I missing something here?

Thanks again for your write up.

Very good questions. First of all I wanted to get the light somewhat centered in the door so it would light up where you would step out. I felt like that positioning I showed in the write up was the best spot for a sedan. I cant remember if on mine I wanted it in more and I couldn't or if that was on a Monte Carlo that I was going to add them to. To answer your second question, no not really. At first I was positive that I would run into issues with this. I had installed the Logo Projectors before I got around to doing the mirrors. I took an LED strip that I was going to use for the mirror puddle light and hooked it up to a battery to see how it would work. To my surprise the door blocked out the main beam of light from the puddle lights allowing the Logo Projector to still be seen very well. I debated running a relay to switch it from puddle light to projector when the door was opened but decided to not to. I may go that route in the future if I feel like it just for a little more "that's cool, how does that work?" experience. Hopefully this answers your questions and your welcome for the write up!

Some more questions ....
1) Do you have a picture of the underside of the finished product showing the puddle light installed? How did you finish it off?
2) What did you use for google to find it (puddle light led strips)?
3) The yellow blinker light, you tinted yours, I am not planning on repainting the mirrors. When you were grinding the slot, did the paint want to heat and burn? Do you think if you go slow and check the fit often, it will look ok? Since I am not painting black, I don't think I will tint it, do you think leaving it clear will look ok? I have not looked at any "how to" on tinting yet, can you do different colors?

I bet there will be others before this is over. :-)

Originally Posted by penright

Some more questions ....
1) Do you have a picture of the underside of the finished product showing the puddle light installed? How did you finish it off?
2) What did you use for google to find it (puddle light led strips)?
3) The yellow blinker light, you tinted yours, I am not planning on repainting the mirrors. When you were grinding the slot, did the paint want to heat and burn? Do you think if you go slow and check the fit often, it will look ok? Since I am not painting black, I don't think I will tint it, do you think leaving it clear will look ok? I have not looked at any "how to" on tinting yet, can you do different colors?

I bet there will be others before this is over. :-)

Is this the picture you are after?


Its just a peel and stick on LED. By this point in the project I just wanted it done. lol. There is probably a better way of doing it but this in my opinion gives out the most light. Make sure if you use a cut strip that you seal up the cut end with silicone.


The LED strips just came off of Ebay from a 15M roll of 600 cool white LEDs.


I didn't burn the paint to the best of my knowledge. I however forgot to put the guard onto the Dremel so I ended up grinding off some mirror. I think that you might be able to do it but itll be tricky and you will have to take your time. Clear might look okay. Would depend on the color of the car. Tinting with spray paint might work in different colors but Im not 100% on that.

Definently going to look into doing this project. I Like the sound of all 3 on my car.

So the side mirror definitely didn't just pop out. It actually broke when I was trying to get it out. Maybe I missed something but I need some help.

Sorry I didn't see your post until now. Do you have pics of what is broke? Like is it the glass itself?

Originally Posted by Zack

I was unable to find any red efx LEDs on eBay now, will other brands work as well? I'm looking for something that is barely noticeable when the signal lights aren't on

You talking for behind the mirror? Nothing will be visible until you signal.

Cipa #08800 is an alternative; I used them in my T-Bird years back.....



https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=Rg-2xt_HwDM

Originally Posted by Zack

Yes, behind the mirror, in the pictures in the opening posts you can't see the dots for the LEDs, that's what I'm looking for if possible

Yes, any LED will get you that look.

It takes a lot of light to shine through a mirror, thus why you can only see the LED's, not the rest of the light that the "Turn Signal Arrow" produces.

In the picture I posted above, I sandblasted the mirror to let more light through, thus brighter. I don't plan on doing it this time as my testing has shown me that the LED will be bright enough. Plus, it looks more discreet without the sand-blasting.

The LED's used do matter. Keep in mind LED"s have different brightness, intensity and viewing angle. I think the angle will be the biggest potential issue.

Without the led on


One angle


Another

I definitely want to do the puddle lights, lighting the stock door panel housings, and I'm thinking of doing the turn signal lights as well. Any opinions as to what looks best(single, double, or triple) arrows? I see two examples on this thread, and both are single. I was thinking of doing double, and wondering why anyone hasn't posted that so far.

Originally Posted by 02NavyBlue

Any opinions as to what looks best(single, double, or triple) arrows? I see two examples on this thread, and both are single. I was thinking of doing double, and wondering why anyone hasn't posted that so far.

I prefer the single. Double or triple is overkill and doesn't look good to me.

If you look up my post from years ago on it. You'll find I'm using GM Caddy turn signal pods and GM only went single. Plus.. on the Regal there's a heating element on the back of the mirror. Going through that too many times cuts more heating lines and doing it by hand..it's not the most ideal and precsion method. I think Burgandy used led's from another source.

Hmm. I'll probably just go single.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

If you look up my post from years ago on it. You'll find I'm using GM Caddy turn signal pods and GM only went single. Plus.. on the Regal there's a heating element on the back of the mirror. Going through that too many times cuts more heating lines and doing it by hand..it's not the most ideal and precsion method. I think Burgandy used led's from another source.

GM only went single? That's another thing I'd always be thinking about if I went with double. Luckily the GP's don't have heating elements so I wouldn't be disturbing anything. But it would be nice to have it in the first place lol. And yeah his LED's had a lense in front of it. I'm thinking that cut the light output by a little since the led's are further from the mirror.
These would literally be touching the mirror, so maybe that would be better for getting a little more light out. I'd test it first like you guys did to check things like that, and making sure the light doesn't spread behind the mirror.

Nice part is glass is easy to come by. JY's are full of it.,

In case I break it or something? I'd want to get the one that the OP has. "objects in mirror are losing"