[Docron]

For those who know me from Fiattech.com and my Abarth modding, I am infamous in finding some interesting bulb replacements for our cars, both incandesent and LEDs. This thread will be just that.

Our 4Cs already have a lot of LED already so there won't be as extensive as those in the Fiat. Lol.

Let's start basic....trunk bulb. W5W bulb. Insert a flat edge into the visible slot and gently push down to disengage housing clip. Disconnect the wire harness as the bulb get spretty hot pretty quick.

Fold down plastic opaque shroud down to gain access to bulb. Pull with gloved hand to avoid oils on bulb and replace with whatever bulb you want. Because this is not a running light, it does not have to be CANBUs error free.

i had a spare W5W 5SMD LED from my G35 days in my stash so I plugged it in. If it does't light up, try to reverse the bulb and that should work. Now, the trunk is much brighter when opened.



Before:


After:

 

[Docron]

BTW, I purchase many of my bulbs at ijdmtoy.com as they have many CANBUS Error Free bulbs. i also purchase bulbs from superbrightleds.com. Ocassionally, I find some great deals on Amazon..some of the cheap Halogens from China on Amazon are actually pretty good.

 

[Docron]

Number 2
Dome light
This is a 43mm GE DE7576 (C10W)

I ordered a couple sets from ijdmtoy.com for this one. i like the hyperwhites especially because they are functionaland out cabins are pretty dark with all the CF. But, I do like Blue as well so I ordered a set of these as well. i should've ordered a set of reds to see how that would look like but I didn't

Ultimately, I am running the blue LED as it creates a Black Light effect. . Not necessarily functional but very cool. (Gives me an idea for the engine bay.)



White:




Blue:

 

[Docron]

Nighttime pics of cabin with blue LED dome light

 

[phaphaphooey]

I'd kiss you if I could. These incandescents on the car are bothering me to no end. Please help me eradicate them all oh great Docron.

 

[kmarei]

now get to work on the license plate bulbs!

 

[Docron]

Per kmarei's request...looked at the license plate bulbs today. Easey peasey....sort of.

Bulbs are standard 194/T10. Searched around my bulbs and found some 194s. One old set of PIAA hyperwhite incandescents (which i think were bad) and one set of 5SMD LED from v-leds.com. The set of LEDs are *NOT* CANBUS error free and why that is important will be discussed later.



So, there are two housings in the upper ledge above the license plate. Take a plastic pry tool and wedge housings out being careful not to let pry tool OR housing scratch the paint. Pry on the passenger side on each housing as that is the side the retaining clip is located.





Turn bulb socket quarter turn and remove housing. Remove bulb and replace.





Since my PIAAs didn't work, I installed the LEDs. They look awesome. BUT...error message. Need "error free" bulbs.

 

[Docron]

But, you could use the non-error free bulbs but you would get that message on start up.





But, I did order a few more sets of error free 194 LEDs from ijdmtoy.com both in hyperwhite and also in blue this evening....will post pics once I try them out but that should eliminate the TFT display error message. 5SMD LEDs should be perfect brightness.

http://store.ijdmtoy.com/Mercedes-Error-Free-W5W-LED-Parking-Light-Bulbs-p/10-036.htm
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/2825-W5W-Error-Free-LED-Bulbs-Parking-Lights-p/10-049.htm

 

[Docron]

Looks pretty good eh?

 

[Docron]

Next will be the front and rear side markers and the side blinkers....

 

[Edp5]

Number 2
Dome light
This is a 43mm GE DE7576 (C10W)

I ordered a couple sets from ijdmtoy.com for this one. i like the hyperwhites especially because they are functionaland out cabins are pretty dark with all the CF. But, I do like Blue as well so I ordered a set of these as well. i should've ordered a set of reds to see how that would look like but I didn't

Ultimately, I am running the blue LED as it creates a Black Light effect. . Not necessarily functional but very cool. (Gives me an idea for the engine bay.)



White:




Blue:

Fantastic posts thank you! Could you explain how to change the done bulb like you did for the boot please?

Thanks a lot

 

[kmarei]

I tried canbus error free led bulbs for the license plate bulbs
Still got the error

 

[Docron]

I tried canbus error free led bulbs for the license plate bulbs
Still got the error

Hmmmmm....its probsbly because of voltage irregularity.....let me try these "European" resistor bulbs.



Edp5...will post some pics tomorrow for dome light. I have most of those pics but there is one that I need to snap first.

 

[kmarei]

Hmmmmm....its probsbly because of voltage irregularity.....let me try these "European" resistor bulbs.



Edp5...will post some pics tomorrow for dome light. I have most of those pics but there is one that I need to snap first.

These are the ones I tried
I wanted the bulbs where the LEDs are on one side only
Since the housing is not reflective
So the only light you see is the one on the side facing down

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-T10-...-Light-Bulb-/311227505147?hash=item48769ad9fb

 

[Docron]

Dome light DIY (as requested)

Take small flathead screwdriver and slip in between outer plastic trim piece and inner plastic trim piece at any corner. You don't remove the entire housing. Carefully pry the inner plastic trim out and it should pop out pretty easily.



Disconnect wire harness with simple push tab to disengage retaining clip.


Turn light housing over and using same flathead screwdriver, lift metal gate and it swivels open. Using a gloved hand (to avoid skin oil on the bulb), grab bulb between your thumb and index finger and push one edge of the bulb downward to disengage it out of the connectors.



Replace with replacement bulb and reverse disassembly process.

 

[Docron]

Reverse bulbs DIY.

It's interesting that we have LED in the tail lights and 3rd brake light but not the reverse bulbs. Oh well.

Stock bulb is W16W which is a pretty common reverse bulb. I found some really nice ones from ijdmtoy.com that were CANBUS Error Free that are 500 lumens which is pretty bright. i had them installed in my Abarth so I removed them today from my Abarth to install them into the 4C. It turned out fantastic IMO.

http://store.ijdmtoy.com/25W-CREE-High-Power-921-912-Reverse-LED-bulbs-p/10-319.htm



To get at reverse lights, go from under the rear diffuser on either side of the rear skid plate. There is no housing backing for the reverse bulbs so all you have to do is reach under, feel for the bulb plug harness and turn it clockwise to disengage seal and carefully remove bulb straight out.



I would then recommend to disengage the bulb plug from the wires harness by lifting retaining clip as this will make it easier to carefully remove stock bulb and reinsert bulb replacement. Then you can reclip the bulb plug harness back into the wire harness side and the reinsert bulb back into housing carefully straight in and remember the plug orientation to spin and lock it back into the housing.

 

[Docron]

Reverse bulb result....

Daytime shot



Nighttime shot



Light intensity and warmth is now very similar and balanced now in comparison with the tail light LEDs...the way it should be.





And because these LED reverse bulbs are Error Free, *NO* error message!

 

[Barth Vader]

Number 2
Dome light
This is a 43mm GE DE7576 (C10W)

I ordered a couple sets from ijdmtoy.com for this one.

I love the look of the blue interior, but I am having no luck finding the bulb. Granted, I don't know squat about LED's so I could be looking for the wrong thing. Any chance I could get you to post a link? Thanks!

 

[Docron]

I love the look of the blue interior, but I am having no luck finding the bulb. Granted, I don't know squat about LED's so I could be looking for the wrong thing. Any chance I could get you to post a link? Thanks!

Hyperwhite, cool blue or red (9SMD)
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/9-SMD-42mm-LED-bulbs-578-560-211-2-p/10-005.htm


Hyperwhite (33SMD).... These are super bright
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/3014-SMD-Type-211-2-578-LED-Interior-Light-Bulbs-p/10-232.htm

 

[Docron]

Just a quick update for the new LED bulbs....as I was reversing out of the garage this morning, I did get the "Check number light" message for the license plate bulbs but I also got the "Check reverse light" message for the supposed Error Free LEDs Reverse bulbs I installed last evening.


But also realize this does not cause any harm or decrease in any performance and the "check" messages are only at startup. It does leave an static non-flashing light bulb icon on your display (as seen in the attached picture). Just an FYI about the "error" messages and if you're okay with that, just to be aware.





I may have found a solution for the Error Free issue without having to wire resistors but it may be more of a hassle that to just be ok with the lightbulb display icon and initial "check" messaging.


Will keep those following updated. Regardless of finding a solution or not, I personally will continue to run these LED bulbs.