Edited and added links and photobucket pictures and links (only taken with iphone I'm afraid so white levels may not be perfect).
Well I've finally finished installing my Tunerdomes LED kit (http://www.tunerdomes.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=346) to replace the boring interior lighting and what a difference. The car looks as it should have done from the factory. Ordered from Tunerdomes after reading various Audi fourms on the different companies that offer upgraded lighting and found them always held in a positive light. Had to email them to place the order and pay via paypal with the bulbs arriving about 10 days later.
A trim tool made the whole process much easier and also prevented any risk of scratching the interior.
I bought this set off ebay - http://www.ebay.co.u...=item5ae39fe516
Front Map x 2 & Dome Lights x 2
Biggest area of improvement casts a wide area of white light which looks quite impressive when first opening the car.
Installation was easy - some websites suggest popping over the dome covers but didnt want to risk scratching the covers so I adopted the approach of removing the torx screw in the sunglasses holder allowing me to remove the whole grey surround and replace the dome and two map lights.
Screw location - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5038.jpg
Removal of the grey surround using trim tool
Dome and Map housing exposed with dome LED's in place - note location of clips for removal of trim
http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5041.jpg
Map lights pull out but require a bit of force and I used the trim tool to lever them out. Push the LEDs in to replace.
Dome lights are festoon type and are held in with pincers and just prize out. Just pop the LEDs in to replace without pushing too hard so they just pop in the clips either side.
** Careful here - other forum members have used screwdrivers to pop the bulb out, a few have reported touching the metal connectors and blowing the fuse. The fuse in question also has the power steering and AC on it so you have been warned! **
Once I was ready to replace the bulbs I locked the car and turned off the interior scan to switch the bulbs off so they could cool down to make it easier to remove them.
LED's Installed
Dome LED's v MAP OEM
Visor Lights x 2
Theres an etched opening at one side of the fascia that you just need to poke the tool into and twist to pop the housing out. Bulb just pulls out and you replace with the LEDs.
These are the only ones I'm not too sure of and may change back to standard as the LED light isnt as natural light if you want to look at yourself in the mirror (I'm not that bothered but the Mrs is complaining haha!)
Removal of visor lights - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5028.jpg
Rear Dome Lights x 2
As mine doesnt have the pan roof I have two dome lights in the rear. Again some people remove the light covers only but there is a risk of scratching the covers as the space is quite tight. Just popping the grey surround off with the trim tool makes it really easy to access the bulbs and replace them. Again big improvement casting a much broader beam of light and more welcoming than standard.
Removal of rear dome light housing - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5034.jpg
OEM v LED - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5035.jpg
LEDs - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5036.jpg
LEDs - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5037.jpg
Puddle (Door) Lights x 4
Again look for the etched side of the fascia and push your tool in and twist to release. Bit of patience here as mine were quite bedded in. Theres a black housing over the bulb that you just unclip with the two prongs. Now the bulb is on here as the door is open. I used the flat end of the trim tool to push the bulb out from the back and replaced it with the LED, replaced the housing and clipped the housing back.
You may have to lie on the ground under the door to get the leverage to get these ones out.
This upgrade again looks so much better than the standard bulb and is much more powerful than the standard bulb casting a really cool broad white beam of light below the door.
Stock - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5031.jpg
LED - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5033.jpg
Glove Box x 1
This is probably the hardest with respect to effort as the wiring loom is really short and doesnt allow you much room to manover in the glove box. Pop the housing out with the same method as the puddle lights, then remove the plastic backing on the bulb housing. You then need to get your fingers in to pull the bulb out (careful as the bulb is hot) - takes a bit of force but doable with patience.
Looks nice but I guess it depends how long you spend in your glove box!
No pics as yet for this one will take one soon.
Rear Hatch x 3
These are the same as the puddle lights two either side of the boot and on on the back of the boot lid, pop the trim removal tool in twist and the housing pops out. Pop off the casing by pulling up on the two black prongs. You can either access the bulbs by having the rear seats down and work on the lights as they are off but make sure you have the bulb the right way round (the LED's are polarised) before replacing the housing in its slot. Or I followed the same method as the puddle lights and used the plastic trim tool to remove the bulb by sliding it out. This way you can also be sure you have the bulb the right way round without opening and closing the boots and without having to lie flat out in the car with the back seats down.
Again this is a very worthwhile upgrade as the whole boot space as well as looking alot better asthetically it is also better illuminated than with the standard bulbs.
Removal of housing - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5014.jpg
Comparison of LED v OEM - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5030.jpg
Summary
I bought these plus the licence plates bulbs which cost £120 all together and shipping from the states which is well worth the money in my opinion. Tight of Audi not to have them in the first place! I'd definately invest in a set of the trim removal tools to avoid scratching the interior or shorting any fuses. Be patient and take your time all the trim is well built and wont break if you are careful. I'd allow yourself two hours to complete the whole process.
Most importantly of all there are no OBC codes thrown on the dash from the upgrade.
Finished result viewed from the boot
Appologies for some of the pictures but its quite hard to take a picture while carrying out some of the tasks!
Hope everyone finds this useful and feel free to pm me with any questions.
Cheers,
Chop
Well I've finally finished installing my Tunerdomes LED kit (http://www.tunerdomes.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=346) to replace the boring interior lighting and what a difference. The car looks as it should have done from the factory. Ordered from Tunerdomes after reading various Audi fourms on the different companies that offer upgraded lighting and found them always held in a positive light. Had to email them to place the order and pay via paypal with the bulbs arriving about 10 days later.
A trim tool made the whole process much easier and also prevented any risk of scratching the interior.
I bought this set off ebay - http://www.ebay.co.u...=item5ae39fe516
Front Map x 2 & Dome Lights x 2
Biggest area of improvement casts a wide area of white light which looks quite impressive when first opening the car.
Installation was easy - some websites suggest popping over the dome covers but didnt want to risk scratching the covers so I adopted the approach of removing the torx screw in the sunglasses holder allowing me to remove the whole grey surround and replace the dome and two map lights.
Screw location - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5038.jpg
Removal of the grey surround using trim tool
Dome and Map housing exposed with dome LED's in place - note location of clips for removal of trim
http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5041.jpg
Map lights pull out but require a bit of force and I used the trim tool to lever them out. Push the LEDs in to replace.
Dome lights are festoon type and are held in with pincers and just prize out. Just pop the LEDs in to replace without pushing too hard so they just pop in the clips either side.
** Careful here - other forum members have used screwdrivers to pop the bulb out, a few have reported touching the metal connectors and blowing the fuse. The fuse in question also has the power steering and AC on it so you have been warned! **
Once I was ready to replace the bulbs I locked the car and turned off the interior scan to switch the bulbs off so they could cool down to make it easier to remove them.
LED's Installed
Dome LED's v MAP OEM
Visor Lights x 2
Theres an etched opening at one side of the fascia that you just need to poke the tool into and twist to pop the housing out. Bulb just pulls out and you replace with the LEDs.
These are the only ones I'm not too sure of and may change back to standard as the LED light isnt as natural light if you want to look at yourself in the mirror (I'm not that bothered but the Mrs is complaining haha!)
Removal of visor lights - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5028.jpg
Rear Dome Lights x 2
As mine doesnt have the pan roof I have two dome lights in the rear. Again some people remove the light covers only but there is a risk of scratching the covers as the space is quite tight. Just popping the grey surround off with the trim tool makes it really easy to access the bulbs and replace them. Again big improvement casting a much broader beam of light and more welcoming than standard.
Removal of rear dome light housing - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5034.jpg
OEM v LED - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5035.jpg
LEDs - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5036.jpg
LEDs - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5037.jpg
Puddle (Door) Lights x 4
Again look for the etched side of the fascia and push your tool in and twist to release. Bit of patience here as mine were quite bedded in. Theres a black housing over the bulb that you just unclip with the two prongs. Now the bulb is on here as the door is open. I used the flat end of the trim tool to push the bulb out from the back and replaced it with the LED, replaced the housing and clipped the housing back.
You may have to lie on the ground under the door to get the leverage to get these ones out.
This upgrade again looks so much better than the standard bulb and is much more powerful than the standard bulb casting a really cool broad white beam of light below the door.
Stock - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5031.jpg
LED - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5033.jpg
Glove Box x 1
This is probably the hardest with respect to effort as the wiring loom is really short and doesnt allow you much room to manover in the glove box. Pop the housing out with the same method as the puddle lights, then remove the plastic backing on the bulb housing. You then need to get your fingers in to pull the bulb out (careful as the bulb is hot) - takes a bit of force but doable with patience.
Looks nice but I guess it depends how long you spend in your glove box!
No pics as yet for this one will take one soon.
Rear Hatch x 3
These are the same as the puddle lights two either side of the boot and on on the back of the boot lid, pop the trim removal tool in twist and the housing pops out. Pop off the casing by pulling up on the two black prongs. You can either access the bulbs by having the rear seats down and work on the lights as they are off but make sure you have the bulb the right way round (the LED's are polarised) before replacing the housing in its slot. Or I followed the same method as the puddle lights and used the plastic trim tool to remove the bulb by sliding it out. This way you can also be sure you have the bulb the right way round without opening and closing the boots and without having to lie flat out in the car with the back seats down.
Again this is a very worthwhile upgrade as the whole boot space as well as looking alot better asthetically it is also better illuminated than with the standard bulbs.
Removal of housing - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5014.jpg
Comparison of LED v OEM - http://i1080.photobu...man80/Q5030.jpg
Summary
I bought these plus the licence plates bulbs which cost £120 all together and shipping from the states which is well worth the money in my opinion. Tight of Audi not to have them in the first place! I'd definately invest in a set of the trim removal tools to avoid scratching the interior or shorting any fuses. Be patient and take your time all the trim is well built and wont break if you are careful. I'd allow yourself two hours to complete the whole process.
Most importantly of all there are no OBC codes thrown on the dash from the upgrade.
Finished result viewed from the boot
Appologies for some of the pictures but its quite hard to take a picture while carrying out some of the tasks!
Hope everyone finds this useful and feel free to pm me with any questions.
Cheers,
Chop