Big Willy! Puddle Lights
01-20-2010, 12:14 PM
#77
Blue LED orders: Will be shipping today.
Red/White orders: I received a tracking number for the lights and they're scheduled to arrive next week, Monday Jan 25th. As soon as I get the LED bulb package, I'll be shipping out your orders the same day. Sorry for any issues this delay may have caused.
Will
Red/White orders: I received a tracking number for the lights and they're scheduled to arrive next week, Monday Jan 25th. As soon as I get the LED bulb package, I'll be shipping out your orders the same day. Sorry for any issues this delay may have caused.
Will
01-23-2010, 06:08 PM
#78
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boo, just working on installing mine, Step 3 in the published instructions caused the two small ball sockets to break on the mirror backing. Only tried on my passenger side, I'd rather not break both sides...
01-26-2010, 12:05 AM
#81
RX8 & RX7 owner
BUMP FOR A GOOD SELLER! Heres PICS of my nephews 09' CWP.....They do fit 09s! Took SHAZBOT about an hour to install both sides. Defenitely worth the $. Im picking mine up at the next SAN BERNARDINO MEET... blue TY!
Sorry for the late pics Will, I couldn't locate thisthread
Sorry for the late pics Will, I couldn't locate thisthread
Last edited by ZumnRx8; 01-26-2010 at 12:30 AM.
01-26-2010, 10:11 AM
#83
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Puddle lights
The lights are awesome. They look really great on a BB at night. Accents my blue led interior lights really well. Shaz, you are my hero for hooking this up. You should think up some more JDM/Euro stuff to make for us poor saps here who don't get the cooler of the accessories that they do. I attached my latest pics for you guys to take in.
01-26-2010, 01:03 PM
#87
The lights are awesome. They look really great on a BB at night. Accents my blue led interior lights really well. Shaz, you are my hero for hooking this up. You should think up some more JDM/Euro stuff to make for us poor saps here who don't get the cooler of the accessories that they do. I attached my latest pics for you guys to take in.
Patience my friend... patience. There's a few items I have in the research/design stage and will be going to prototype development phase soon.
01-26-2010, 02:39 PM
#88
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FYI, I have the Derwankel version.. so keep this in mind with my follow statement..
For the people who broke the cups on the back of the mirrors.. if your mirrors are old or cold, this is bound to happen. I broke one side, the other side I used a hair dryer to warm up the glass before I removed it and it didn't brake... (no idea if that actually helped..) For any that are broken, just go to the dealer and order new mirror fronts.. be sure to know if you have heated mirrors or not.. When I replaced mine it was around $20 to replace the (heated) mirror.. so it was worth it to me to fix the one side I broke..
Someone else mentioned about using wire taps vs hard wiring. I'd recommend that anywhere there is a lot of humidity and/or temp changes (like Minnesota) you hardwire the lights. Simply take a knife.. split the insulation insert the new wire.. twist.. soldier... and wrap it with tape. This will provide a much longer life to the installation. (I'm more comfortable using wire taps inside the vehicle then in the doors.. previous cars I've owned the inside of the door could get wet which caused problems.)
Finally when I did mine, I did more then the instructions indicated.. I removed the wiring from the mirror and added the new puddle lamp wires into the harness and wrapped it with new tape.. this made the overall installation a lot cleaner behind the pillar. Something to consider if you have some extra time. (I think I took pictures of the process and posted them, but I havn't found them in the archives yet.)
For the people who broke the cups on the back of the mirrors.. if your mirrors are old or cold, this is bound to happen. I broke one side, the other side I used a hair dryer to warm up the glass before I removed it and it didn't brake... (no idea if that actually helped..) For any that are broken, just go to the dealer and order new mirror fronts.. be sure to know if you have heated mirrors or not.. When I replaced mine it was around $20 to replace the (heated) mirror.. so it was worth it to me to fix the one side I broke..
Someone else mentioned about using wire taps vs hard wiring. I'd recommend that anywhere there is a lot of humidity and/or temp changes (like Minnesota) you hardwire the lights. Simply take a knife.. split the insulation insert the new wire.. twist.. soldier... and wrap it with tape. This will provide a much longer life to the installation. (I'm more comfortable using wire taps inside the vehicle then in the doors.. previous cars I've owned the inside of the door could get wet which caused problems.)
Finally when I did mine, I did more then the instructions indicated.. I removed the wiring from the mirror and added the new puddle lamp wires into the harness and wrapped it with new tape.. this made the overall installation a lot cleaner behind the pillar. Something to consider if you have some extra time. (I think I took pictures of the process and posted them, but I havn't found them in the archives yet.)
01-27-2010, 01:09 PM
#90
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For the people who broke the cups on the back of the mirrors.. if your mirrors are old or cold, this is bound to happen. I broke one side, the other side I used a hair dryer to warm up the glass before I removed it and it didn't brake... (no idea if that actually helped..) For any that are broken, just go to the dealer and order new mirror fronts.. be sure to know if you have heated mirrors or not.. When I replaced mine it was around $20 to replace the (heated) mirror.. so it was worth it to me to fix the one side I broke..
01-28-2010, 01:08 PM
#94
Bmak, if you can wait a bit, I'll be going to the junk yards for some rx8 parts that I can do prototype testing on. I'll definitely pick up a heated mirror for ya. I don't expect it to be expensive at all. Was thinking of going this Sunday so I'll keep you posted.
01-29-2010, 11:48 PM
#97
Got my package yesterday and installed the lights today.
I had an easy job since I already had the wiring in both of the doors, so didn't have to take off my door panels. That's because I had the derwankel puddle light on the driver's side but not on the passenger side except for the wiring... long story.
Things went relatively easy. These lights are very similar to derwankel's (they have to be since Will uses his instructions even). The rubber bulb sockets are not compatible though, so I had to cut off the old ones and solder the new sockets to the wires. After that, everything went fine.
What I noticed is this: the derwankel lights somehow seem to be more precise. The actual light housing is more "pro-looking" from derwankel, and fits like a glove. Will's lights needed a little persuasion, especially as far as the weatherstripping foam goes. I had to adjust that so that it does not get pushed aside and that was a bit awkward. Also, the included screws were too thick, I had to find better ones.
On the plus side, these lights are brighter than the derwankel lamps. I compared them using the LEDs from this new set, and the "Big *****" set is definitely brighter, maybe because the inside is reflective which the derwankel lamp was not. So all in all, I'm happy.
I had an easy job since I already had the wiring in both of the doors, so didn't have to take off my door panels. That's because I had the derwankel puddle light on the driver's side but not on the passenger side except for the wiring... long story.
Things went relatively easy. These lights are very similar to derwankel's (they have to be since Will uses his instructions even). The rubber bulb sockets are not compatible though, so I had to cut off the old ones and solder the new sockets to the wires. After that, everything went fine.
What I noticed is this: the derwankel lights somehow seem to be more precise. The actual light housing is more "pro-looking" from derwankel, and fits like a glove. Will's lights needed a little persuasion, especially as far as the weatherstripping foam goes. I had to adjust that so that it does not get pushed aside and that was a bit awkward. Also, the included screws were too thick, I had to find better ones.
On the plus side, these lights are brighter than the derwankel lamps. I compared them using the LEDs from this new set, and the "Big *****" set is definitely brighter, maybe because the inside is reflective which the derwankel lamp was not. So all in all, I'm happy.
01-30-2010, 12:42 AM
#98
Yeah at the time I made them both by hand hence if you compare both sides, they are unique.. not completely a reflection of one another. It started off as a fun project turned into demand heh.
My next few projects for the RX-8 will be plotted on the computers so the specs are more professional looking. Well, they'll be external items so they have to look professional.
My next few projects for the RX-8 will be plotted on the computers so the specs are more professional looking. Well, they'll be external items so they have to look professional.
01-30-2010, 12:50 AM
#99
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