Courtesy/Interior Light Upgrade - A Brighter LED - guide

[glimp]

The illumination of the IQ interior is inferior 🙂

Thanks to information provided by @Dutchrav I've installed a brighter LED in the existing ceiling dome light. Although it's not massively brighter, it does the job, which is more than you can say for the stock bulb. It's an improvement.

Here's how I did it (at your own risk, if you copy me)...

 

1. Bought the part from AliExpress (£3.45) Link -

2. Unclipped the dome light. It's easy. A slot headed screwdriver in the RH side and out it pops. Then disconnected the unit from its wiring.

3. Dismantled every part of the light unit, bit by bit. Several plastic clips had to be levered off, none of which broke. I used a small electrical screwdriver to separate some clips.

In this photo I've already screwed in the new black-rimmed LED, with its wiring and white control box...

4. Two spots of superglue on the tips of the sprung metal clip of the new light, just to keep it in place (I think Dutchrav used hot glue)...

 

5. I cut the red & white wires on the original LED and soldered them to the new wires, so I could use the original connector. Stupidly I forgot the shrink wrap, so I've bodged it afterwards to make it waterproof. The Live & Neutral wires were clearly marked on the white control box. This photo shows how I did it badly (soldering's okay, but I forgot the shrink wrap)...

6. Then I just reassembled all the bits of plastic, reconnected it in the car, shoved it into the ceiling  - and it works! And the black metal rim is nicer too.

 

If you're a novice, like me, take photos as you go along, so you can see how things fit back together again.

 

 

 

 

[Gomoca]

55 minutes ago, glimp said:

The illumination of the IQ interior is inferior 🙂

Thanks to information provided by @Dutchrav I've installed a brighter LED in the existing ceiling dome light. Although it's not massively brighter, it does the job, which is more than you can say for the stock bulb. It's an improvement.

Here's how I did it (at your own risk, if you copy me)...

 

1. Bought the part from AliExpress (£3.45) Link -

2. Unclipped the dome light. It's easy. A slot headed screwdriver in the RH side and out it pops. Then disconnected the unit from its wiring.

3. Dismantled every part of the light unit, bit by bit. Several plastic clips had to be levered off, none of which broke. I used a small electrical screwdriver to separate some clips.

In this photo I've already screwed in the new black-rimmed LED, with its wiring and white control box...

4. Two spots of superglue on the tips of the sprung metal clip of the new light, just to keep it in place (I think Dutchrav used hot glue)...

 

5. I cut the red & white wires on the original LED and soldered them to the new wires, so I could use the original connector. Stupidly I forgot the shrink wrap, so I've bodged it afterwards to make it waterproof. The Live & Neutral wires were clearly marked on the white control box. This photo shows how I did it badly (soldering's okay, but I forgot the shrink wrap)...

6. Then I just reassembled all the bits of plastic, reconnected it in the car, shoved it into the ceiling  - and it works! And the black metal rim is nicer too.

 

If you're a novice, like me, take photos as you go along, so you can see how things fit back together again.

 

 

 

 

What can I say: Obrigado!
It looks easy enough... I don't have a soldering iron, but I was thinking of using electrician's tape...!

[glimp]

De nada!

Yes, it was easy - and very straightforward too. I'm sure you can connect the wires in whatever way is good for you.

[Derek.w]

36 minutes ago, Gomoca said:

What can I say: Obrigado!
It looks easy enough... I don't have a soldering iron, but I was thinking of using electrician's tape...!

Then use a choclate block connector or lucas spade connectors  just to name two if you want to waterproof it then self amalgimating tape or just silicone sealant will do.

[Falomain]

23 hours ago, Gomoca said:

What can I say: Obrigado!
It looks easy enough... I don't have a soldering iron, but I was thinking of using electrician's tape...!

These ones work fine... very convenient and you can neatly undo the connection. You'll find it in brico stores or Aliexpress, in small size that will surely fit inside the lamp's receptacle.

[Gomoca]

13 hours ago, Falomain said:

These ones work fine... very convenient and you can neatly undo the connection. You'll find it in brico stores or Aliexpress, in small size that will surely fit inside the lamp's receptacle.

I'm certainly familiar with these connections. Thanks for the suggestion