R36 LED Wing Mirror Puddle Lights Install with Pics

[snerlo]

Well,
As promised, my next instalment in the LED upgrading of our R36 is upon us. This time around it is LED puddle lights. I purchased these from the following website ( 2X Error Free LED Side Mirror Puddle Light VW Golf 5 MK5 MKV Passat B6 Jetta EOS | eBay ). Now I was a little dubious in spending that sort of money but it actually was cheap compared to some ebay store prices. Now the install was pretty easy really. All you do is gently push the mirror forward towards the front of the car. It will let go and you will see the end of the puddle light along with a little torx screw. All you do is unscrew it and get a small flat head screw driver and pry open the light using the vertical edge closest to the front of the car. Be gentle and the light will pop out. The original light is a T10 bulb pushed into the housing. Simply pull the rubber stopper away from the light housing and you will see the T10 bulb sitting there in its housing. Simply remove bulb and push the end of the new LED assembly into the socket. Then push the wires into the mirror housing and push the LED assembly back into the mirror and replace the torx screw. Very easy mod. Probably took 3 minutes per side. The results are very impressive. I would say that the light output is about three times brighter than the standard yellow bulb and it is very white. If you wish not to install the LED's you could simply buy blue T10 bulbs and you would get a whiter light than standard but you won't get the light output. Anyhow, some pictures are attached and they really don't do it justice. Any questions, please ask.
Ps. Ignore the dirty car. Haven't had a chance to clean!

[NickZ]

Thanks for the detailed instructions and the links - I just picked up an r36 recently and this is a great help as I undergo a similar exercise on my car

[snerlo]

No problems. Next installment will be rear number plate LED's. Will be interesting for that one

[cru22z]

No problems. Next installment will be rear number plate LED's. Will be interesting for that one

got any pics on how to do it? like where you push the mirror and where the screws are to be removed from?

[snerlo]

got any pics on how to do it? like where you push the mirror and where the screws are to be removed from?

Have you looked at my article. I think it is pretty detailed and there are pics!!

[Ironman]

Hey snerlo let me know when you do the tail lights. I need to do mine as well. We can do them together. 2 heads are better than one. Just ask all our Tasmanian Brethren.

[snerlo]

Check out my new thread mate

[Netrover]

Thanks for the guide Snerlo. Makes it a lot easier.

Puddle lights arrived today and were easy to install. Only problem was one of the wires had come loose so just re-soldered it.

Looks great.

[passat123]

Don't know if anyone has tried yet.... Just wondering if this was to be done on a B7 Passat, would the whole mirror need to be removed? I've had a look at mine, looks like surgery!

[2VWs]

Don't know if anyone has tried yet.... Just wondering if this was to be done on a B7 Passat, would the whole mirror need to be removed? I've had a look at mine, looks like surgery!

I have the same question. Also, is there a complication as the car has the lane assist option? Thanks for the good description above but our B7 looks different.

[snerlo]

Sorry guys, I can't comment on the B7's as I haven't looked at one before. I'm sure someone has done it somewhere in the world

[2VWs]

Thanks, Snerlo. The US B7 has puddle lights from the doors. My guess is it is where Aust has the reflector insert in the door. The reflector part also curves below as well as on the inner face of the door. It would take a lot of effort to get these up and running. So it will be the mirror doors if I can discover how to do them.

[brimway]

Thanks, Snerlo. The US B7 has puddle lights from the doors. My guess is it is where Aust has the reflector insert in the door. The reflector part also curves below as well as on the inner face of the door. It would take a lot of effort to get these up and running. So it will be the mirror doors if I can discover how to do them.

Bold-Sport.com :: Door Warning Lights Housing

[snerlo]

I got ya now. Sorry to say, but that is totally useless if you ask me because you would walk into the puddle to open the door rather than trying to avoid it in the first place which is what the puddle lights are for. Obviously once you open the door and the light shines down, then you can see where you are standing but that all just seems a little bizarre to me!! Weird!

[CaseySP]

I got ya now. Sorry to say, but that is totally useless if you ask me because you would walk into the puddle to open the door rather than trying to avoid it in the first place which is what the puddle lights are for. Obviously once you open the door and the light shines down, then you can see where you are standing but that all just seems a little bizarre to me!! Weird!

Those aren't puddle lights - they are just what they are called - door warning lights. Presumably to make it obvious to passing cars, bikes or pedestrians that the door is open. My old Mazda 626 Coupe in 1985 had them

The B7 puddle lights are in the mirror - but located in the outboard "hinged" part and seemingly more integrated then the B6. They also look to be a different size/shape too.