Lights under door handles?

[Mikemc]

Any body done this mod?

I'm intrested in doing it since I had a BMW with then on and thought it was a good idea and looked cool.

Would it be a case of drill a hole under each handle silicone an led in and wire it up to the interior bulbs so when you open car they come on?

 

[plymouthaudi]

Nice idea would be interested if anyone has done this too?

 

[A3Kent]

Not sure, but I noticed quite a while ago someone selling the complete door handle which already had the light fitted so maybe it's better/easier to buy new handles (although probably more expensive)

 

[chris.vincent3]

Could you not just buy the sticky led strips, cut them down to size and possibly thread the wire through the door handle instead of drilling holes?

 

[Mikemc]

But where would you thread the wire if you haven't drilled a hole for it to go through?

 

[chris.vincent3]

I'm sure the door handles arnt an air tight unit, there must be a big enough gap where the handle is held on the surround that oes through into the door to operate the mechanism in the door.

 

[Mikemc]

Ill have a look tonight when I get back from work, what's it like threading a wire through the door into the footwell area?

 

[Ash187]

you wouldnt need to take it to the footwell... wire it into the puddle lights under the door

 

[Mikemc]

I've thought about that but thought they only come on when the door is opened?

 

[Ash187]

hmmm you may be right there... well what about the ambient lights on the inside door handle? they light up when the car lights come on! thats where i have tapped on my illuminated Bose grills and they work perfectly

 

[Mikemc]

Sounds good, I take it I just take a wire off for live and earth and tap onto those?

 

[Mikemc]

hmmm you may be right there... well what about the ambient lights on the inside door handle? they light up when the car lights come on! thats where i have tapped on my illuminated Bose grills and they work perfectly

Just checked and my inside door handles don't light up in the car when I press the unlock button

 

[Ash187]

ahhh yes I also have retrofitted the auto lights to mine so I get the coming home lights which lights up everything when I unlock the car or get out of the car, you would ideally want coming home to make sure that the light comes on when the car is unlocked
​

 

[Mikemc]

What's the estimate price on that mod?

 

[Ash187]

The full auto lights install is around £500, but you can do the coming home/leaving home hack so that the lights come on when you unlock the car... Only thing is that they will come on in the daytime too as there isn't a light sensor fitted to tell it when it's dark

 

[mjr901]

The full auto lights install is around £500, but you can do the coming home/leaving home hack so that the lights come on when you unlock the car... Only thing is that they will come on in the daytime too as there isn't a light sensor fitted to tell it when it's dark

Sorry to sneak in here, Can this hack be achieved with the with lets say my 2012 S3 8P3 yet? I heard it wasnt do-able because of this that and the other after about 09 plate?

 

[a6_chris]

I have the Coming/Leaving home mod done on my 09 plate without a problem.

As Ash says, they do come on during the day due to the lack of a light sensor.

 

[JS3]

Just had the full LED interior light install by jb00 on here (JMB Retrofits). Good kits, looks good and a great install. The lights under the handles are on when the side lights are on, and the footwell lights can be programmed to be adjusted brightness from 0% (off) to 100% fully on whilst the side lights are on. The lights under the handles arent as bright as what I thought they would be but it finishes off the interior light mod nicely. It needs a new handle. This was installed on a 2010 S3.

 

[Ash187]

Sorry to sneak in here, Can this hack be achieved with the with lets say my 2012 S3 8P3 yet? I heard it wasnt do-able because of this that and the other after about 09 plate?

Not yet found a solution for the coming home hack on the newer cars, the auto lights install is the only way for the moment

Just had the full LED interior light install by jb00 on here (JMB Retrofits). Good kits, looks good and a great install. The lights under the handles are on when the side lights are on, and the footwell lights can be programmed to be adjusted brightness from 0% (off) to 100% fully on whilst the side lights are on. The lights under the handles arent as bright as what I thought they would be but it finishes off the interior light mod nicely. It needs a new handle. This was installed on a 2010 S3.

the light under the door handle that the op wants is for the outer (exterior) door handle. Not the interior one that comes with the lighting pack
though the interior ones do look sweet

 

[mjr901]

Not yet found a solution for the coming home hack on the newer cars, the auto lights install is the only way for the moment

Ah, Balls.

 

[JS3]

Ah ok....my bad!

 

[elrao]

Any more info on the full auto lights retrofit? So used to having it on all my other cars!

 

[WALTO TDI]

What's the hack and where can I get it?

cheers

 

[s3facelift09]

Does anyone have a part number for the inside OEM led door handles??

 

[TDI140]

Wiring would have to be done to the home coming lights through door card and into the dash sounds like a long hard time consuming mod but would love to see someone carry it out with instructions

 

[Mikemc]

I might have to give it a bash, anybody recommend me some LEDs to sit under the handle?