dErZ Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 (edited) As I was bored I thought id have a go and making my own clear led bumper reflectors and for the princely sum of just over £20 im well chuffed. This guide will not teach you about Ohms law or LEDS but will give you enough info to be able to complete the task. Please read all the steps first before commencing the work. It would also be adviseable to create a mock circuit minus the reflector so that you can hone your soldering and cabling skills. Just use a 9v battery to test. I take no responsibility if you hurt yourself or others doing this mod. Partake at your own risk. Parts required Clear reflectors see ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120993803105?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 I have a preface lift 350z so I ordered the relevant reflector. £17.48 5mm Leds and 560 ohm resistors See ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110950186700?var=410137153670&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 £2.45 Automotive electrical cables see ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150916400060?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 £3.95 Soldering iron and solder Cable stripper Drill and drill bits 2.5/5mm Clear sealant Superglue 9v battery Step 1 Mark rear of reflectors with the spacing you want for your LEDS. Step 2 Drill pilot holes with 2.5mm drill bit BE CAREFUL not to go through the outer part of the reflector. Step 3 Enlarge pilot holes to 5mm BE CAREFUL not to go through the outer part of the reflector. Step 4 Test fit LEDS. Step 5 LEDs have 2 legs a long one and a short one (Anode and Cathode) the longer one is the positive side and the shorter is the negative. (You will also notice that inside the LED the negative side has a larger piece of metal than the positive) So now you have to bend the positive and negative legs outwards (see picture to understand how I did it) Step 6 The resistors need to be snipped to fit inside the reflector. You need 1 resistor for each LED. Solder the resistor to the positive leg of the LED. Step 7 Do the above 5 times for each reflector. Step 8 You now need to wire up the LEDs and resistors to a positive and negative cables. (you can strip the cable so that all you can see the core of it, this would be much easier to solder to than the way I did it!!) I used lengths of cable just longer than the reflector as I didn’t know how long it needed to be to splice into the car. You can always extend the cable later on. Step 9 Test with a 9v battery Step 10 Create a small recess for the 12v cable to sit in, I just used the solder iron to create a semicircular indentation where the cables exited the reflector. Step 11 If any of the bulbs are loose put a tiny drop of superglue on them, this isn’t really necessary as the sealant should hold them in place Step 12 Fill the recess with sealant making sure that all components are covered. Let it cure to the manufactors specifications. Step 13 Follow Jeps tut on how to remove the bumper and install the LED reflectors(http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/62778-led-front-reflectorsidelight-installation/) I spliced my positive and negative connections to the green/white and black cables that power the side lights. I also, while the bumper was off fitted some LED side lights. Step 14 Enjoy how awesome it looks! Edited October 22, 2012 by dErZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 wow! great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Resistors aren't directional, they are just a resistance. Did this before the same way, looks good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narcotix Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 That looks really good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dErZ Posted October 22, 2012 Author Share Posted October 22, 2012 Thanks Husky I have edited the post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1942 Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 What will the MOT guy say about this? I need to order two new side reflectors and thinking of doing this.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 What will the MOT guy say about this? I need to order two new side reflectors and thinking of doing this.. Its a fail as they're not forward facing, but just unhook them before the test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke0549 Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Is it possible to wire these up as indicators instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Good Job Is it possible to wire these up as indicators instead? You you can just wire them to the front side indicators Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgedon Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Awesome job and a great write up! Might have a bash at knocking up some for indicators Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Thanks mate! I NEED to do this now its way cheaper than buying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theres always been Ethel Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 hey DErZ, would you care to do mine for a fee ? I am so lazy, and so busy. I would of course come to you, (hoping your not too far away) from Kent. what do you say Sir ? PM me if you are able to help. Don. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dErZ Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 Don, If you just want to buy some already done check here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-2004-2005-NISSAN-350Z-WHITE-LED-REFLECTOR-SMOKE-/281081355094?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4171c11b56 or http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-2004-2005-NISSAN-350Z-AMBER-LED-REFLECTOR-SMOKE-/281038335495?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item416f30ae07 the above links are for Z between 2003 and 2005 if you have a newer Z you need different reflectors as the bumpers are different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theres always been Ethel Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 yes mate mine is a 2006 (06) facelift model, are they available for this model mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theres always been Ethel Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 if you look on my gallery theres a pic of my car, (cant seem to post one on the thread yet). don. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dErZ Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 Don, check out corseautosports on eBay they sell what you are after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theres always been Ethel Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 nice one, thank you will do. Don. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dErZ Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JDM-2006-2008-NISSAN-350Z-WHITE-LED-BUMPER-REFLECTOR-/281081911272?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4171c997e8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodaka Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Cheers for this great guide! It took a while as I couldn't get the bumper off (frozen bolts), but I finally got my reflectors installed today. The only difference is that I put Fly Eye over my reflectors to make them darker. Also helps hide 2 cracks that run along the reflectors. Quite subtle during the day: These were taken at about 8-8:30 tonight I think, so it was darker. The camera brightened the picture up, so it kinda just looks like an overcast day. Oh, and these pictures are just with sidelights on (headlight off). Just not entirely sure about the legality of them as they're side facing? Is it something police would stop you for? I've been trying to read through the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, but to be honest it's just making my head spin! Used bullet connectors though, so easy enough to disconnect if I have issues. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs2000 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) Just not entirely sure about the legality of them as they're side facing? Is it something police would stop you for? I've been trying to read through the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, but to be honest it's just making my head spin! Technically, yes they could. 1. The lights aren't forward facing, they show to the side. YOu can only show orange to the side. 2. They don't dim when the headlights are turned on. Practically, they don't. I used to make and sell a few variations of these lights. I too still run another model which I never ended up selling which has indicators built into it aswell. Car has been driven about 20,000 miles and passed 3 MOT's with the LED's on so I wouldn't worry Edited September 14, 2015 by cs2000 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodaka Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Just not entirely sure about the legality of them as they're side facing? Is it something police would stop you for? I've been trying to read through the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, but to be honest it's just making my head spin! Technically, yes they could. 1. The lights aren't forward facing, they show to the side. YOu can only show orange to the side. 2. They don't dim when the headlights are turned on. Practically, they don't. I used to make and sell a few variations of these lights. I too still run another model which I never ended up selling which has indicators built into it aswell. Car has been driven about 20,000 miles and passed 3 MOT's with the LED's on so I wouldn't worry Thanks a lot for your input! Definitely good to hear another member's experience with something similar. Helps put my mind at ease 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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