M56 Interior & Exterior LED Lighting Overhaul

[SwissCheeseHead]

Debonair, can you explain how to gain access to the reverse light? I'm assuming you have to remove the trunk liner at the rear of the car and it's just a simple twist and pull?

[Debonair]

So I was bored with car and ordered some LEDs. My courtesy lights came today. WOW. what a difference. Thanks for the thread, can't wait until the others get here.

Did you do the glovebox? (is there even one in there? lol)

I just put in an order for interior, parking light, trunk light, rear plate lights, and reverse lights. Under $25! Hopefully, the lights are decent quality and last for a while.

Thanks for reminding me. I have my glove box bulb out which I believe it is a #74. I have been debating going with a 3-SMD bulb or installing a small panel. I will probably go with a panel with 3-5 SMD's. Back to eBay.

The only lights I did not initially trust were the 5-SMD 194's so I purchased a 20 pack of them so I could cover both cars and any failures. One of the SMD's on one of the License plate bulbs started blinking intermittently pretty quick after being installed. I actually noticed it in the reverse camera. Swapped it out and have no issue with it or any of the others since.

[SmoovC]

I looked at the glove box light briefly; it seemed to have the look of an LED, so I left it for now. I did have a similar experience as Debonair with the 194s; one was not making a good connection. Bending the leads away from the bulb housing and re-installing in the socket solved the issue.

[Debonair]

Debonair, can you explain how to gain access to the reverse light? I'm assuming you have to remove the trunk liner at the rear of the car and it's just a simple twist and pull?

Unfortunately it is a little more involved. You have to remove the tail light from the vehicle. There is a trim piece and two nuts. And at the outside there is the press-in fitting. Here are my instructions for getting it out:

Wash your hands with dawn dish soap, remove the trim panel and the two nuts, and then use your palms on the side of the lamp to pull it toward the rear of the vehicle. It will start coming out very little at a time. Eventually it will pop out. You might want to protect the bumper below it in case it gets away from you and swings down causing scratches. Mine did not get away from me when it popped out, I caught it, but It did surprise me and I can see it easily happening to someone.

It took me a bit to get the first one out. Once I knew what to expect and how much force to pull with the second was easier. There is no way to push it out from the inside. Also if you need to get them out again it is MUCH easier the second time.

[SwissCheeseHead]

Debonair, can you explain how to gain access to the reverse light? I'm assuming you have to remove the trunk liner at the rear of the car and it's just a simple twist and pull?

Unfortunately it is a little more involved. You have to remove the tail light from the vehicle. There is a trim piece and two nuts. And at the outside there is the press-in fitting. Here are my instructions for getting it out:

Wash your hands with dawn dish soap, remove the trim panel and the two nuts, and then use your palms on the side of the lamp to pull it toward the rear of the vehicle. It will start coming out very little at a time. Eventually it will pop out. You might want to protect the bumper below it in case it gets away from you and swings down causing scratches. Mine did not get away from me when it popped out, I caught it, but It did surprise me and I can see it easily happening to someone.

It took me a bit to get the first one out. Once I knew what to expect and how much force to pull with the second was easier. There is no way to push it out from the inside. Also if you need to get them out again it is MUCH easier the second time.

Thank you! This will help make the install that much easier. I've replaced taillights before (2009 Mitsubishi lancer) and it sounds very similar to that. At first I read "you have to remove the tail light" then I was like effffffff. lol But after reading your description and seeing the pic, I feel tons better about it.

[SwissCheeseHead]

So I was bored with car and ordered some LEDs. My courtesy lights came today. WOW. what a difference. Thanks for the thread, can't wait until the others get here.

Did you do the glovebox? (is there even one in there? lol)

I just put in an order for interior, parking light, trunk light, rear plate lights, and reverse lights. Under $25! Hopefully, the lights are decent quality and last for a while.

Thanks for reminding me. I have my glove box bulb out which I believe it is a #74. I have been debating going with a 3-SMD bulb or installing a small panel. I will probably go with a panel with 3-5 SMD's. Back to eBay.

The only lights I did not initially trust were the 5-SMD 194's so I purchased a 20 pack of them so I could cover both cars and any failures. One of the SMD's on one of the License plate bulbs started blinking intermittently pretty quick after being installed. I actually noticed it in the reverse camera. Swapped it out and have no issue with it or any of the others since.

Like SmoovC said, it's probably the connections. I ordered the same 20 pack you had linked, so hopefully I will not get too many DOA's.

[Debonair]

Like SmoovC said, it's probably the connections. I ordered the same 20 pack you had linked, so hopefully I will not get too many DOA's.

I definitely had to adjust the contact wires on some of them since they are pretty thin and move around easily. But the SMD failure I had was a single SMD, the top center one. It was blinking randomly while the other four SMD's around the sides remained on.

[SmoovC]

I'd say even with some failures out of the box, we are still money way ahead. Have you priced out other brands?! I think the links Debonair provided are the deals of a lifetime.

[SmoovC]

Like SmoovC said, it's probably the connections. I ordered the same 20 pack you had linked, so hopefully I will not get too many DOA's.

I definitely had to adjust the contact wires on some of them since they are pretty thin and move around easily. But the SMD failure I had was a single SMD, the top center one. It was blinking randomly while the other four SMD's around the sides remained on.

As a side note: I actually had to remove the same SMD on the ones that went in my girlfriend's license plate lights, as they would not clear the housing. I simply took a flush cutter to them, and they popped right off.

[SwissCheeseHead]

I'd say even with some failures out of the box, we are still money way ahead. Have you priced out other brands?! I think the links Debonair provided are the deals of a lifetime.

For sure, I priced out the same kit at Diode Dynamics and it came out to be 2x more. Granted there will be people that say you get what you pay for...that's why until I've used them I cannot be sure of their quality. But I'm taking your word for it.

[Darthswan]

So i did the interior and trunk. HUGE difference. Being bored gets me in trouble.

[coolchuck]

Alright just ordered lights using the links provided. Is there any LED alternative for the foglight?

[SmoovC]

I have looked at VLEDS.com for those coolchuck. They do have H8 replacements, but I haven't pulled the trigger, yet.

[coolchuck]

Thanks for the link. Just checked them out. Nice but a little pricey for now.

[SmoovC]

Yeah, they are proud of them for sure! I found a set on Amazon that looked promising; I may order them for another automotive project that requires 9007 bulbs. They state they have a 5 year warranty, and I know I can return them if they do not perform as promised.

[SwissCheeseHead]

Check out diodedynamics.com I've bought there from a few times and they have great products and customer service. They also have H8 LED replacements, event though they say that it's more for cosmetics than functionality. They recommend HID for functionality.

[Debonair]

I have been disappointed with the color output of the HID bulbs I installed in my fogs. Not Amber enough. So I too was looking at LED options. It seems like most of the high output models have a large heat sink on their end. I am not sure how this will fit with the wiper fluid resivour being so close to fog light on the passenger side of the car. It's been a while since I was in there but I remember them being pretty close together. I need to get back in there and take a rough measurement of the available space. The driver side is wide open.

[SmoovC]

I am not really a fan of installing HIDs in housings not designed for them, so I have been looking at other options as well. Currently, I have PIAA Plasma Ion H8s in my fogs, which are a great bulb, but if I am looking at using LEDs in the front turn signals, I do not want three different color bulbs on the front of the car. My existing park light and turn signal bulbs are Nokya hyper yellows, and match the PIAAs.

[SwissCheeseHead]

Just a note, I bought 31mm fuse style leds for the vanity lights but they were too big. I had to squeeze in the end caps with a pliers to make them fit. I may just order 29mm (I think they're the smallest size) leds for them

[Debonair]

Just a note, I bought 31mm fuse style leds for the vanity lights but they were too big. I had to squeeze in the end caps with a pliers to make them fit. I may just order 29mm (I think they're the smallest size) leds for them

Yeah I got the 29mm and they went in perfectly. How many SMD's did you get and how is the output at night?

I might take mine apart and make some custom ones rather then order new ones. More for the fun factor then the cost since they are pretty cheap.

[SwissCheeseHead]

I got 3 smd led and they are pretty bright. If i reorder to get the smaller 29mm, I might go with 2 smd if they make them. Otherwise, if you like it a little brighter, 3 is good imo.

[DoN_BLaZe34]

Were the 9 panel leds used in the doors the same panels you used for the footwells?

Also I assume you use the 9 led panels in the doors instead of the 12 due to the size?

[Debonair]

Were the 9 panel leds used in the doors the same panels you used for the footwells?

Also I assume you use the 9 led panels in the doors instead of the 12 due to the size?

The footwells have the 5-SMD 194 bulbs, one per side, with no covers on.

A member of another board used the 9-SMD boards so I copied him. They fit perfectly.

[SwissCheeseHead]

Just did the interior and the trunk. I used the 5 smd for all the lights except the front dome. That I used the 12 smd. Also left the cover off the footwell lights. It looks awesome.

[Ilya]

Thanks for your thread, OP. Added this to the FAQ.

[Debonair]

Thanks for your thread, OP. Added this to the FAQ.

Awesome! Glad to contribute.

[coolchuck]

Just got mine today. I changed out all the doors so far. MAN what a difference. Cant wait to do the rest.

[Ilya]

I took all of mine from my M35 and put them in the M56 before I traded the other car in. The only bulbs I need are the front and rear dome lights...doors, trunk, license plate, front running lights have all been swapped. Definitely makes the car nice.

I am in LOVE with my new M56 btw.

[Debonair]

Just got mine today. I changed out all the doors so far. MAN what a difference. Cant wait to do the rest.

Its amazing how some simple LED lights change the way the car looks and feels. The yellowish glow of the OE bulbs made me feel like I was in a low cost hotel room. The crisp white light from the LED's feel modern and luxurious.

I took all of mine from my M35 and put them in the M56 before I traded the other car in. The only bulbs I need are the front and rear dome lights...doors, trunk, license plate, front running lights have all been swapped. Definitely makes the car nice.

I am in LOVE with my new M56 btw.

Simple and smart way to save yourself some money and time on LED bulbs. Same thing I did with the HID kit I was using for fog lights in my previous car. Swapped in the OE bulbs before selling it. I only needed bulbs to install it on the M56.

[Ilya]

Yeah I went to Walmart and bought a bunch of crap bulbs for $30, put them in the M35 and took the LED ones out. Unfortunately, the dome ones in the M35 are different so I couldn't reuse those. No matter, it's only like $40 I have to spend as opposed to $140 lol.