Hey all! I turned 16 last week and I just bought my first car, a 2015 AWD 2.0T Cadillac ATS. It's the standard trim level, with a few added options like sunroof, Cadillac Cue w/ rear view cam, etc. It's a beautiful car and I just love it, there's only one thing that I think could be improved. I know that the Premium trim levels on this vehicle have strip daytime running lights that look absolutely beautiful. I don't know that much about DIY and automotive repair and changes, but I did find these two strip lights online. http://www.carid.com/oracle-lighting/oracle-lighting-led-accent-drl-75090418.html and http://www.carid.com/oracle-lighting/oracle-lighting-concept-led-strip-75090257.html . Could either of these be used to add the strip daytime running light effect that is present in the Premium ATS? I really love the look and would love to have it in my ATS. Which would work better? Or is it just impossible? Thanks.
PS: I also attached a few photos of my car that I took yesterday when it was delivered. It was raining, but whatever, I'll add them here anyway for anyone who's interested.
Please don't order this led strips. Those are meant for the ricer wanna be. Not sure if anyone has added the oem led's to a 2015, but there is a thread on the 2013-2014 in here. You are better off reading that.
Please don't order this led strips. Those are meant for the ricer wanna be. Not sure if anyone has added the oem led's to a 2015, but there is a thread on the 2013-2014 in here. You are better off reading that.
Hey thanks man! Why is it that those LEDs are not suitable? I saw the other posts but none of them are regarding the strip LEDs that the Premium has. They are about DLRs, but not the strip ones from what I've read. I may be mistaken. Thanks!
Just 16 and you bought a 2015 ATS, that's great. When I was 16; along time ago, I was making $1 an hour. Of course gas was only $0.25 a gallon. You might want to correct your profile because it says you are 21. Also it says you have a 2013 Escalade.
It's not letting me change the birthdate haha, I tried to change it. Yeah actually my dad got it for me but I had to pay the down payment and the insurance and the gas. The 2013 Escalade ESV Plat. Is one of my dads cars, I didn't know if I should put it. You think I should get rid of it? Thanks.
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Hey, I just saw that the Escalade is actually in the photo behind my car!
seems like a well mannered guy. u cant get those LED strips without heavy electrical modification. i think a few of us, myself including have done that so far. not easy to explain but u definitely need some electrical wiring knowledge. it involves relays, lots of wire splitting, rewiring so that ur current headlight harness can work with the premium headlights, and of course buying the actual premium headlights. if you wanna go the cheaper route with the LED strips, thats totally up to ur design. u wont get the same effect as the prem headlights. maybe if u crack them open and snake them in somehow. aside from that ive seen someone put the strips in the gap between the headlights and he hood (towards the inside of the light as opposed to outside).
seems like a well mannered guy. u cant get those LED strips without heavy electrical modification. i think a few of us, myself including have done that so far. not easy to explain but u definitely need some electrical wiring knowledge. it involves relays, lots of wire splitting, rewiring so that ur current headlight harness can work with the premium headlights, and of course buying the actual premium headlights. if you wanna go the cheaper route with the LED strips, thats totally up to ur design. u wont get the same effect as the prem headlights. maybe if u crack them open and snake them in somehow. aside from that ive seen someone put the strips in the gap between the headlights and he hood (towards the inside of the light as opposed to outside).
Thanks for the kind words! Do you have any links to what the person who put the lights on the inside did and what it ended up looking like? I was thinking I'd buy the strips and take them to a mechanic and have him fit them inside the headlights, do you have any idea how much the actual premium headlights cost? If they're not too expensive I'll probably buy them and have a mechanic install them. Thanks!
those lights brand new are about a grand each. used are cheaper but no less than 500. the mechanic will have to have some serious electrical expereince and understanding or else ur lights will break real quick. the way ur lights work now is the same headlights that is ur low beam turns on at a lower power to act as a DRL. if he rewires them incorrectly, which he most likely will, then ur HIDs will try to turn on at low power mode to act as the new DRL instead of the actual LEDs. i had some electrician attempt mine and he was smart and figured out part of it and used relays and rewired it all after i gave him a diagram of the differences between the standard headlight and the prem one (cant find this diagram anymore). he still messed it up and i had to do some rewiring to fix it. the end result is definitely awesome.
Leave it the way it is. The car looks better without the newer LED strips. Well, that's just my opinion, I think the 13/14 headlights look a lot better!
Leave it the way it is. The car looks better without the newer LED strips. Well, that's just my opinion, I think the 13/14 headlights look a lot better!
Back up lamps, license plate lights, door lights, under dash lights, over head map lights, glove box lights, trunk light all can be changed. Any stock yellowish incandescent color bulb to a bright white led (or any other color) This is one of the simplest projects you can tackle for your new car and will make a visible change. Start off with the easy stuff, build your skill set and the confidence to tackle the bigger jobs. Rome wasn't built in a day nor was your ATS.
C T Ess is dead on. Change all the inside lights to LED's and forget the outside. Maybe HIDS but that's it. You can't even see those LED lights on the headlights unless you're standing it front admiring it. On the other hand, when you change the interior lights to LED's, there's nothing like unlocking the vehicle and watching those gorgeous LED's light up the whole inside and some of the outside, or when you're in the car and switch them all on. It's like Clark Griswold plugging in his Xmas lights.
Thanks for all of the advice guys!! I'll likely be adding the interior lights and just adding fog lights outside and maybe changing the yellow headlamp out for an HID. Thanks again, it's really appreciated. I'll keep you guys updated with whatever I do.
Man my first car at 17 was a Ford EXP if you know what that is? A cheap version of a Mustang but 2 seats. I paid $900 for that puppy and thought it was bad ass. Then the motor went 4 weeks later. Had that rebuilt for more than what I paid for it. The good thing was it was rebuilt by a good engine builder friend of Dads and some nice internals and pistons in it. But a Caddy at 16? bless man. You have a newer car than I have now.:want:
Hey guys! I added some LED lighting to my car. I replaced the bulb in the parking lights with an LED and added some strips. It looks very factory. I will soon add the LED DRLs and Fog lights as well.
All that matters is that you like them, its your car so do what you want...If you like the led strips then enjoy. Others like a more factory style look so go with what makes you happy. I spent some time yesterday doing some wiring trying to go factory with the DRLs and added LED turn signals. Will post later for you to see, it may give you more ideas of what you might want to do.
I did the same exact thing 2 years ago in the same spot because that was the only place you could hide the wires. At first it was ok then I didn't like it. Pics here somewhere of it. But if they can be put in the factory position inside the light housing then I would do that. But I still can't bring my self to breaking open the housing.
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