What would you pay for an LED taillight kit? [Archive] - Toyota MR2 Message Board

What would you pay for an LED taillight kit? [Archive] - Toyota MR2 Message Board Toyota MR2 Message Board > Toyota MR2 Generations > MK 1 MR2 - AW11 > MK1 Body Kits and Exterior Modifications > What would you pay for an LED taillight kit? PDA

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SilverFire01-25-2012, 02:45 AMI have a spare set of taillights, and want LEDs in the worst way. I have a number of ideas, and intend to build at least two different types of sets. Depending on how they go, I was thinking to put together a kit or two to sell. They will be pretty much plug and play, though they will likely require some cutting of the back side of the stock taillights for installation but I don't expect that to be any problem whatsoever for most people.

My biggest worry is cost. Depending on which style I go with, the price could be quite high due to the number of LEDs required. The least dense (dimmest and most boring - basically an LED panel version of what we have now) version will need 50-75 LEDs per side and minimal control circuitry and the most dense (brightest and my favourite - lights will 'move' when they first come on) will use something in the order of 120-150 LEDs per side, specialized circuit boards and a small, yet significant bit of circuitry. Then there are the ones in between.

Basically, I want to see what people would be willing to pay to see whether it's worth pursuing making them available. There are some things I would do if I were planning to mass-produce them down the road that I wouldn't bea ble to justify the costs on for a one-off. Oh yeah. The anticipated prices would range from somewhere in the order of $100-150/set for the most basic ones. The most complex ones might run $500+/set, but I don't really want to go that expensive. I will probably just play around with the design until I get it around $300-350/set. RePete01-25-2012, 02:54 AMI've noticed, and I think it's pretty obvious to most observers, that a majority of AW11 owners spend far less than their fellow SW20 members on things like this - on average.

Keeping that in mind, I'd keep the costs fairly low at somewhere in the middle of your stated price range - otherwise they just plain won't sell unless they're really exceptional eye candy.

I think the trick here is to make sure it matches the intensity & feel of the LED spoiler on the '89 wing w/o it looking like an add-on or afterthought. If you can do that, I think you'll have a winner on your hands. ebarcus01-25-2012, 03:03 AMyeah man sorry, I just got a huge china shipment from meritline.com literally has so many bulbs, need to go look back over it for mr2 mk1 bulbs, i just opened my dome light and know they sell those there for 5 bucks, plus I do led signs, there are some good tricks to getting it done easy with fewer bulbs :D PHOENIX01-25-2012, 05:01 AMClearcorners.com does this conversion for people and I do like the end result.....


http://www.clearcorners.com/products/toyota/w2/r_full1/led_park1.jpg


The problem is, is they want $2100 for a set. If you're going to do it, I recommend figuring out a price to do for people and then setup a "group buy interest" to see if people would be willing to pay the price that you have figured out. Kind of like you are doing with this thread, but with numbers figured out. Chances are, you're going to get some really low cost ranges picked in this thread. And just so you know, I have never seen a single set of those LED taillights above on any members car in the past 8 years that I have been a part of the MR2 community. I highly doubt they have sold a single set due to the price. 328FTW01-25-2012, 09:22 AMthey want $2100 for a set.

http://alltheragefaces.com/img/faces/large/cereal-guy-cereal-guy-spitting-l.png AURMEND01-25-2012, 09:43 AMhttp://alltheragefaces.com/img/faces/large/cereal-guy-cereal-guy-spitting-l.png

I agree with this guy RePete01-25-2012, 10:45 AMClearcorners.com does this conversion for people and I do like the end result.....Thing is though Dave, not many have seen this live - maybe no one 'cuz of that outrageous price (basically the price of an N/A). All we have are their snazzy, studio shot, Nikon lensed, PhotoShopped pics to drool over. So these are becoming more legend than fact.

I only know of one guy who actually bought this kit on OC, and he shipped off to Europe before he could take any regular pics himself. It's probably a nice setup for sure, but no one knows if it's worth even half of the $2,100. 85silverna01-25-2012, 11:01 AMI would aim for the 94+ type tails to really do your work on, people would be willing to spend the $$$ on their set. Likely $300 is the sweet spot for high end, $150 for the lower end. If you can make the same set up(or close to) you can probably sell some for the 90-93 tails as well, especially the lower range ones. te51levin01-25-2012, 12:32 PMI don't think there's a market for glamour parts on these cars. There's just no money in this community. I build really nice exhaust parts for the AW11 and sell them at reasonable prices. They still sell slowly.

I really want to play the Grumpy Old Man card and ask someone to explain the fascination with LED lighting, but this probably isn't the place. thurmonster01-26-2012, 12:07 AMI think I paid around 30.00 for mine last month that I found in the U Pull It RuggishBone01-26-2012, 01:20 AMled wastes less energy

check my car out
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/122211180754.jpg
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/121211143823.jpg empgen301-26-2012, 01:40 AMled brings a newer and freshness to the aw11 and sw20.. i just think that it makes no sense
that tail lights would cost as much as a gen 3 swap or close to it. RuggishBone01-26-2012, 02:17 AMimagine something like this ???????????????? ???? - YouTube AURMEND01-26-2012, 10:54 AMFor my car its gonna be white. And leds everywhere. Just like oteck lol. SilverFire01-27-2012, 12:10 AMI've noticed, and I think it's pretty obvious to most observers, that a majority of AW11 owners spend far less than their fellow SW20 members on things like this - on average.

Keeping that in mind, I'd keep the costs fairly low at somewhere in the middle of your stated price range - otherwise they just plain won't sell unless they're really exceptional eye candy.

I'm not too worried about sales. I'm not doing this to make money. I was just thinking that I'm doing the work anyway and if there were others interested, things would be cheaper if we get multiples built.


I think the trick here is to make sure it matches the intensity & feel of the LED spoiler on the '89 wing w/o it looking like an add-on or afterthought. If you can do that, I think you'll have a winner on your hands.

That's a great idea. I actually hadn't thought of that. I might have to do something about that... One of my ideas actually DOES kind of fit the feel, but I have a feeling the intensity will be more than a bit off. Shouldn't be too hard to fix.


yeah man sorry, I just got a huge china shipment from meritline.com literally has so many bulbs, need to go look back over it for mr2 mk1 bulbs, i just opened my dome light and know they sell those there for 5 bucks, plus I do led signs, there are some good tricks to getting it done easy with fewer bulbs :D

I'm not using so many LEDs because I actually need them to get the light. I'm using them so that the panel doesn't look empty. I'm actually thinking I might have to reduce the current to dim them a bit on the more populous one.


led brings a newer and freshness to the aw11 and sw20.. i just think that it makes no sense that tail lights would cost as much as a gen 3 swap or close to it.

ABSOLUTELY! The trick is to do it without losing the '80s look and feel. Not sure if I'm up to it, but I'm giving it a shot. Either way, nobody will hear anything else about it until I have one working and a plans for the other one.

Ruggish, I'm almost done with the chasing signal lights which might be a bit more in line with this bunch's budget at $50-$75 an end. The rears will be a whole lot of work though. Expect them in the spring. RuggishBone01-27-2012, 01:43 AMyou can use this site as a guide S13 LED Tail Light Conversion - Nissan 240SX Forums (http://www.240sxforums.com/forums/resource-center/119623-s13-led-tail-light-conversion.html) SilverFire01-27-2012, 01:43 PMThat's pretty much the plan for the cheapest one. Unfortunately, the construction of our taillights doesn't allow us to mount the LEDs the same way. We don't have the backing he used.

Because of the spacing of the lines on the lens, there's not enough room between LEDs to fit the ICs that will control the fancy one and make it look good or at least not funny. Hgaara01-28-2012, 03:36 AMI would pay about $200 max but they'd have to be worth while. RuggishBone01-28-2012, 04:35 AMyea same here something like in the video K0ukiM0n5teR01-28-2012, 05:40 AMMy tail lights have LED units in them, and my whole interior is nothing but leds.. RePete01-28-2012, 09:14 AM...I'm not too worried about sales. I'm not doing this to make money...I've seen the 'not too worried about sales' thing many time in 10 years on these boards, that almost always means the customer starts to worry & they get scared away. The fabricator pretty much stops things cold after producing one or two of his items as life gets in the way, motivation ebbs and priorities shift when a labor + cost analysis is realized despite recognition for a good design.

A simple solution: work out a cost & 'time to build' on your prototype, then make damn sure it's profitable. :D Nine-Breaker02-08-2012, 10:06 AMStill doing these? Id be interested if you got a pic. :) RuggishBone02-08-2012, 11:06 AMim going to try to make mine with these as my stationary brake light
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/New-White-2x-80mm-BMW-Angel-Eyes-24-SMD-LED-Ring-Car-Light-/00/s/NDc5WDY0MA==/$(KGrHqJ,!lgE5uhBZRtpBOw1n6YOI!~~60_3.JPG
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices (http://www.ebay.com/itm/260895634554?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2654wt_783)

and these inside the the 80mm as the brake light
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/New-White-2x-60mm-BMW-Angel-Eyes-15-SMD-LED-Ring-Car-Light-/00/s/NDc5WDY0MA==/$(KGrHqV,!iUE6OoI5SNRBOw1g1OBfg~~60_3.JPG
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices (http://www.ebay.com/itm/260895629926?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2635wt_783) SilverFire02-09-2012, 11:27 AMStill doing these? Id be interested if you got a pic. :)

Yup. Circuit is done. Breadboard prototype is built and working. Working on pattern layouts and circuit board now, but that's the expensive part and will be a while. Don't expect much (if any) progress before spring. 328FTW02-09-2012, 11:31 AMim going to try to make mine with these as my stationary brake light
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/New-White-2x-80mm-BMW-Angel-Eyes-24-SMD-LED-Ring-Car-Light-/00/s/NDc5WDY0MA==/$(KGrHqJ,!lgE5uhBZRtpBOw1n6YOI!~~60_3.JPG
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices (http://www.ebay.com/itm/260895634554?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2654wt_783)

and these inside the the 80mm as the brake light
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/New-White-2x-60mm-BMW-Angel-Eyes-15-SMD-LED-Ring-Car-Light-/00/s/NDc5WDY0MA==/$(KGrHqV,!iUE6OoI5SNRBOw1g1OBfg~~60_3.JPG
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices (http://www.ebay.com/itm/260895629926?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2635wt_783)




I like this idea.

DO ET SilverFire02-09-2012, 12:08 PMI like this idea.

DO ET

It would work well on the mk1a taillights, but not so much on the mk1b. I was tossing around the idea of tracking down a mk1a so I could measure up the lenses and do a layout for them, but that's after I get them working for my car. RuggishBone02-28-2012, 10:01 PMBIG GIANT TEASE!!!!

guess what came in today!
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/022812182406.jpg

this is the way im going to install them

http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/022812182537.jpg
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/022812184048.jpg

with the big ring as the stationary brake light and the center ring as the Active brake light.
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/ledbreak.jpg

here is a seak peak
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/022812192923.jpg
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/022812192916.jpg RuggishBone02-28-2012, 11:00 PMHERES A VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NJ4_oDJCqg]Mr2 mk1 led taillight testing - YouTube[/ame]
sorry for the deep breathing it was hella cold out SilverFire02-28-2012, 11:14 PMCan't tell from the video. Have you got a mk1a or mk1b?

I totally forgot about sending you the schematic. You still want it? RuggishBone02-28-2012, 11:30 PMCan't tell from the video. Have you got a mk1a or mk1b?

I totally forgot about sending you the schematic. You still want it?

its a mk1a.

its fine im a pro with electrical :D RuggishBone02-28-2012, 11:37 PMmade my own "Wright up" thread

http://mr2.zhutiblog.com/com/forums/mk1-body-kits-exterior-modifications/Toyota-MR2-76735-mr2-mk1-aw11-led-taillights.html AURMEND02-29-2012, 12:00 AMyo what do you think 40mm and 60mm angel eye for the running lights. and 80 and 100mm for the brake lights. or make them all turn on but how to make them brighter RuggishBone02-29-2012, 12:10 AMwell idk for SW20'S but its all personal preference

i used this photo to help me out with the sizes
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/Etc/halosize.jpg AURMEND02-29-2012, 12:13 AMYea. I need oteck to find out how to go to semi bright to full brightness RuggishBone02-29-2012, 12:44 AMYea. I need oteck to find out how to go to semi bright to full brightness

yea oteck is a mad scientist when it comes to car electrical. :devil: AURMEND02-29-2012, 12:50 AMHmm has oteck even thought of using angel eyes? I calculated if I used 4 rings per light (I have 4 lights so 16 total rings. 40,60,80,100mm) to be $60 or less.

The easy way for lighting. 40,60mm as rear lights. 80,100mm for brake lights.

The possibly hard way. Make all of them half bright and when you press the brake its full brightness.

The oteck way? They are halfway bright and as you press the brake pedal harder it gets brighter from the center outward depending on the braking force. Oteck02-29-2012, 02:36 AMstick to using brick shaped leds lol leave the circular shapes to the mk2s ;P

I don't lke halo's in anything, rather have even distribution of light rather than have a huge gaping dark areas

When i get around to it i'll be using these suckers on my 94 tails
http://d2.freep.cn/180_3tb_1005101503171f58198818.jpg AURMEND03-01-2012, 01:39 PMWhere did you get those oteck? And how they gonna work with the brake light? SilverFire03-01-2012, 05:16 PMYea. I need oteck to find out how to go to semi bright to full brightness

It's actually quite easy. You just need a transistor and a few resistors. Put an ammeter on the lights as they are, post how much current they draw and I'll give you the values. I'm thinking two bias resistors, a 2N2222 transistor and another resistor in parallel with the transistor for the dimness. If you haven't installed them, it might be easier to just put a pot in parallel with the transistor to figure out what value to use there since LEDs have a non-linear brightness curve to them. (In other words, if you reduce the current by half, you reduce the brightness by more than that. Often by a lot.) Hgaara03-01-2012, 05:25 PMRugg, check your PM! AURMEND03-01-2012, 06:43 PMDo you mind making a wiring diagram? For us to see?

I understand them more than people saying how to wire it up. Iroke03-01-2012, 07:11 PMAll you.need to do is run grounds togeather and positives are easy big ring to your running light wore and the the small ring + to the break wire

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk AURMEND03-01-2012, 08:27 PMLol I know that. Just thinking about all dim then press brake and they all bright RuggishBone03-01-2012, 09:37 PMAll you.need to do is run grounds togeather and positives are easy big ring to your running light wore and the the small ring + to the break wire

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

lol i did exactly that Oteck03-03-2012, 09:58 PMWhere did you get those oteck? And how they gonna work with the brake light?

secret, i make it a point to no longer reveal my evil workings. I'll print out my own board with a jumper ability to do a 91 pattern dim/bright or the 2 ring light setup AURMEND03-03-2012, 10:07 PMOk atleast tell me the price per each led. So I can be uninterested. Oteck03-03-2012, 10:09 PM100 piranha leds just for the brakes dunno about the signal lights but could be an LED board or 8x 3watt hi power leds AURMEND03-03-2012, 10:26 PMAww thought they were pre-made well I ain't gonna do that then.

Btw how do you remove the grey plastic?
Off the lights? 4Gionz03-07-2012, 07:26 PMWhat would you use to make the lights brighter the harder you push the brakes SilverFire03-07-2012, 10:47 PMWhat would you use to make the lights brighter the harder you push the brakes

That would be really complicated. I suppose you could tap into the hydraulic line with a pressure transducer and use that to feed a circuit that controls the bias to a transistor or transistors that vary the current to the LED array.

Not worth it IMHO. 328FTW03-18-2012, 05:50 AMWhat would you use to make the lights brighter the harder you push the brakes

Logarithmic/linear potentiometer on a gear attached to the brake pedal or tapped into the pivot point turning it, arm that is spring loaded and turns it as the brake pedal moves it through it's arc. I've rigged up something similar for another project, getting the values right is a pain in the ass and will take some trial and error cause LEDs are a bitch that way.

How it would work is you would keep the stop switch in place to close the circuit, press the pedal and it opens but the potentiometer is limiting the LED draw resulting in them being dim, if you get your values right then as you press harder the pot reduces to zero resistance (I suggest around 1/4 of what it takes to lock a wheel, there are tards that totally rely on seeing your brake lights in order to avoid a crash into you). The lights are then full brightness allowed when unrestricted. This completely depends on the draw of your lights as to what variable resistor used and is just one of many ways.



Completely not worth the effort though, it sounds simple but it would probably be a huge pain in the ass. vetokg204-20-2012, 11:44 PMhey man i been thinking in putting some LEDS in my ride i want to start with the whole cluster how can i do that ????? where can i get those LED'S?? and how do i order them ???? if you could hit me up thanks man nice set up i love it !


led wastes less energy

check my car out
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/122211180754.jpg
http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/121211143823.jpg RuggishBone04-21-2012, 12:10 AMall the info you need is here http://mr2.zhutiblog.com/com/forums/mk1-body-kits-exterior-modifications/Toyota-MR2-76735-mr2-mk1-aw11-led-taillights.html

and here is a photo of my tailights i forgot to post

http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/RuggishB0n3/6955049939_9fc1f60b7f_o.jpg yoshimitsuspeed09-13-2012, 11:38 PMMine cost about $80 and took about an hour to install. :D

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/267371_2335304104774_6356995_n.jpg RuggishBone09-14-2012, 01:37 AMDose that thing have a flux capacitor? Lets see some night shots yoshimitsuspeed09-18-2012, 07:20 PMDose that thing have a flux capacitor? Lets see some night shots

I'll have to get some at some point. I thought I had a vid of the tail lights and turn signals but can't find it. Iroke09-20-2012, 08:26 PMMine cost about $80 and took about an hour to install. :D

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/267371_2335304104774_6356995_n.jpg

wtf is in that car? edmcguirk11-15-2013, 05:17 PMThat would be really complicated. I suppose you could tap into the hydraulic line with a pressure transducer and use that to feed a circuit that controls the bias to a transistor or transistors that vary the current to the LED array.

Not worth it IMHO.
Shouldn't bee too complicated. There are accelerometer chips that put out a duty cycle based on acceleration. Zero acceleration is 50% and 1G deceleration would probably be about 70 to 80% duty cycle. It's probably adjustable if you tilt the chip in relation to gravity.

The frequency would be too high to see as a flicker it would just get brighter the harder you decelerate. filonin_208-23-2014, 12:48 AMOdd. This is listed as a newly updated thread on the new posts page, but the last post was in 2013 :p. BTW, your pics of your predator look-a-like car isn't there anymore yoshi. RuggishBone08-25-2014, 09:17 PMit updates every time someone chooses an option on the Poll. corolla_alan01-04-2015, 02:35 AMLook into LMC Truck's 1967-72 Chevy C10 led conversion kits. If you bake the lens apart or mill a slot in the back you can install the basic kit or the 3 pulse then solid kit bolth simple and inexpensive and nearly the same inside dimensions as the Mk1 brake lenses. That's my plan for the future of my taillights, that and front led turn signals in the rear turn lenses.

Yes I'm aware this is a dead thread :s mr2tim04-02-2016, 01:13 PMI'm w Oteck and wanted BRIGHT rear lights so that the old fogeys could see the car in the daylight here in South Florida (RetireVille) >>(plus I never am concerned with peer reviewers at all.)

I filled up the entire red plastic area, am able to return to OEM when needed and did each side for about $15 in parts.
Here: http://mr2.zhutiblog.com/com/forums/threads/106112-LED-TAILIGHT-BULB-SWAP

And to answer te51- I wanted to high lite my car's engine originally at cruise-in's and car show's at night, then I noticed how the LED's drew folks to the car and went from there.

You have a reality check in Florida since only white and amber can show in the front and only red in the rear WHEN DRIVING. So you have 1 look for show and one look for go.
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