Got Bored (LED BMW spark plug cover)

[nyle]

sweet job. this reminds me. I've been wanting to set up super bright white LEDs around my engine bay in case my car ever breaks down at night. It's the pits not being able to see what you're trying to fix.

[xxxJohnBoyxxx]

Originally Posted by Marv17

wouldnt it melt the LEDs right there?

I don't think so since the cover there mounted in is plastic too.

[xxxJohnBoyxxx]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

ok, but what's it wired to? and how are the wires routed? if you could take a pic of the back of the cover it would be much appreciated

Wired to 12 volts with on/off switch. The back side is ugle but here are the pictures. All leds are part of a 4 set daisy chain to reduce the 12 volts to 3 volts for each lead. Everything is sealed in epoxy. GReen Black wires lead to 12 volt switch mounted in engine bay

[xxxJohnBoyxxx]

Well sorry to say but over half the LED's have burned out from stray voltage leaking from the spark plug wires. Looked real cool at night with the engine running but didn't last more then 2-3 days before LED's started burning out...bummer

[cooljess76]

I don't see any resistors? That may be your problem, but yeah the LEDs are burnt out and will need to be replaced. Personally, I didn't really like the mod, it just looked like a bunch of lights and you could only tell that it read BMW because the letters were painted silver. It would look much better if you VERY CAREFULLY and precisely cut out the BMW logo, then attach a piece of translucent plastic underneath from the inside of the spark plug cover. It will evenly diffuse the light from the LEDs and the BMW logo will be clearly illuminated. Just my .02, I've done a lot of cool mods with LEDs.

[cooljess76]

Check out my thread:
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20076

[b.u.ti-ful]

Wow Jess, I just read the blue led thread - you is one crazy mutha!

Looks good.

[zoner]

Originally Posted by 96cali

I admire your intolerance for boredom.

+1

[b.u.ti-ful]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

VERY CAREFULLY and precisely cut out the BMW logo, then attach a piece of translucent plastic underneath from the inside of the spark plug cover. It will evenly diffuse the light from the LEDs and the BMW logo will be clearly illuminated.

This would be really cool.

Plus, most of the work can be done on the kitchen table.

You can even buy blue plastic and use white leds.

[b.u.ti-ful]

Could these 12v leds be used instead of resistors?

EBAY Item number: 350116229396

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by b.u.ti-ful

Wow Jess, I just read the blue led thread - you is one crazy mutha!

Looks good.

Lol, thanks it was a lot of work. It's for sale now too

Originally Posted by b.u.ti-ful

This would be really cool.
Plus, most of the work can be done on the kitchen table.You can even buy blue plastic and use white leds.

I forgot to add, that a dremel tool would be perfect for this job. Use a cutoff wheel to roughly cut out the bulk of the letters, working just inside of the logo. Once the letters are hollowed out, use a very fine dremel bit or a jewelers file to clean up the edges and corners. Perhaps some really stiff medium grit(400) sandpaper. Should come out nice and clean.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by b.u.ti-ful

Could these 12v leds be used instead of resistors?

EBAY Item number: 350116229396

Yeah those will work, they're just regular LEDs with the resistors pre-soldered onto them. You could get more for less if you solder your own resistors onto the LED's, that's what I did.

[b.u.ti-ful]

Oh yeah - I can see them through the shrink wrap.

Nice timesaver.

[xxxJohnBoyxxx]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

I don't see any resistors? That may be your problem, but yeah the LEDs are burnt out and will need to be replaced. Personally, I didn't really like the mod, it just looked like a bunch of lights and you could only tell that it read BMW because the letters were painted silver. It would look much better if you VERY CAREFULLY and precisely cut out the BMW logo, then attach a piece of translucent plastic underneath from the inside of the spark plug cover. It will evenly diffuse the light from the LEDs and the BMW logo will be clearly illuminated. Just my .02, I've done a lot of cool mods with LEDs.

All LED's are working again but don't know why or what happened. You don't need resistors when you run them in a daisy chain. I do like you idea better and I'm going to cut out the BMW and fill with a clear plastic with the LED's behind it. I already did the complete interior with blue LED's too about 2 years ago.

[b.u.ti-ful]

Can't wait to see the re-do.

I like to use an x-acto knife to carve stuff like that.