Ambient lighting

CallumHoward

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Hello all

I was wondering if someone can give me advice on ambient lighting in my PreFL that didn’t come with it from the factory, I would like to install it but is it possible to install it with full OEM stuff and change colour aswell as all I’ve found have 1 colour
 
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Hello all

I was wondering if someone can give me advice on ambient lighting in my PreFL that didn’t come with it from the factory, I would like to install it but is it possible to install it with full OEM stuff and change colour aswell as all I’ve found have 1 colour

I can most certainly help with an OEM set up - drop me a message (sales@rocketwires.co.uk) and I can go through what you can have fitted or as mentioned by the other members above visit www.rocketwires.co.uk
 
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Not OEM but for me it looks cool,easy install
 

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That looks similar to the LED lighting in the A5 (which I really liked).
One of the main things I like on mine :) I change from blue-red-purple every few weeks :p

img_5011-2-jpg.141916
 
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I picked this kit from AliExpres:

14 in 1 RGB LED Atmosphere Car Light Interior Decoration Fiber Strip Light By App Control Decorative Ambient Lamp Dashboard Lamp
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqEvvtH

I had some trouble making it work in the doors but after trying few different resistors combination I have managed to make it work.

I have only fitted it in doors yet but the kit has footwell lights and glowing optical fibre, similar to pics shown by Seba above. I will be fitting all soon.
Control light color using mobile app.
 

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I do like that. Where did you get it from and how is it wired in?

You can wire in using the cigarette lighter socket cables. That will be coding free approach but you will probably have to remove glovebox and under steering wheel panels to get to wires into dashboard from under the centre console.
Otherwise you can use cupholder light pin/ambient light pin from BCM, that will need some coding to activate if not done already and coding again if you want to control power to them through MMI menu. You will still need to remove panels as above I think to route the wire.
 
Work in progress... Doors done... next up dashboard trims and then centre console and maybe around front seat back covers
 

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I have retrofitted OEM cupholder lights, footwells (front & rear) puddle lights, door warning lights and door pocket lights. Makes a huge difference. Wiring was a combination of Rocketwires and making my own looms.
 

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I have lighting in my base 2015 US spec a3 and thought this would be plug and play. I have enabled all coding, but cannot get the lighting to be controlled through the mmi, and my rear doors (saloon) refuse to turn on too.

Is there another module that has to be changed other that the door modules? Can't imagine this is a SWOP issue. TIA.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
 
I have lighting in my base 2015 US spec a3 and thought this would be plug and play. I have enabled all coding, but cannot get the lighting to be controlled through the mmi, and my rear doors (saloon) refuse to turn on too.

Is there another module that has to be changed other that the door modules? Can't imagine this is a SWOP issue. TIA.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
Hi..
Maybe post in 8V VCDS Mods forum for help.
For doors, emergency/warning and puddle/entry light, there is specific pin on door module for each door. There is also pin for ambient and door handle light in door module. Each door module has to be coded. Then you need central control module coding that activates light with menu.
I have read of some A3 8V not having rear door modules and coding for them is slightly different to front.
See link below, it is in German so you will need to translate with Google. Look into A3 8V submenu, ambient lighting is listed there.
 
My progress is slow but that's how it is going. Not fully fitted yet, just testing for now. Next step is to prepare wire harness.
 
My progress is slow but that's how it is going. Not fully fitted yet, just testing for now. Next step is to prepare wire harness.
 

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I got the lighting kit from AliExpress, link below:
£8.89 20%OFF | 10 in 1 RGB LED Atmosphere Car Light Interior Decoration Fiber Strip Light By App Control Decorative Ambient Lamp Dashboard Lamp

I got 14 in 1 kit. I have done the doors already. The subcontrollers needed some resistors loading to the circuit in the doors, so did not work straight out of box. But only because power from door modules is restricted for ambient and door handle pin.

The kit comes with thin optic fibre and a skirt guide for the fibre. In door trims there is not enough space to put guide skirt so I used the optic fibre only, even that was hard to push into position but it looks good now.

In dashboard, as in photos above, I have used optic fibre only under the metal trims and used fibre with skirt Above the trims.

I am testing kit for dash board and central console yet, using ambient, cupholder and footwell pins from BCM. The default supply to those pins is very low so I changed the Load Type for those pins to General LED using vagcom. If Light function is set to Ambient 1 for ambient and cupholder pin and Footwell for footwell pin, then they can be powered On/Off from MMI after menu activation and they will turn on if Door open, or parking lights active and turn off when you Lock car.

I can explain further if you do get around fitting it and need any help.
 

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Managed to fit all lights today but need to clear the mess in the car. Check snaps.
 

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I am all done with light projects on my car. I added puddle/entry and warning lights to doors. Picked cheap kit from AliExpress, then changed entry light bulbs to 12SMD 3030 led.
I added extra led lights to boot.
Car interior I have done a massive ambient light project with kits from AliExpress. They are controlled through MMi under door, front and footwell controls, and wired into door ambient pins in the door, footwell, ambient and cupholder pins in the dash, cupHolder, armrest, vents and footwell. Light color change through mobile App. Ambient light turn on when I press unlock button on key remote before I open the door, some I have set to stay on all the time, some turn on in the night when button switches lights come On and Ambient footwell are on ignition. I have set their behaviour by adapting Light Channel function for each of the supply pins.
Check snaps.
 

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Anyone with better understanding of the light channels? I have managed to adapt light channels that link to ambient, Footwell and cupHolder pins and managed to change their behaviour.

Anyway my query is regarding free light channels. I checked through BCM and light channels through vagcom. I have pin 34, 35, 36, 37 and 61 in T73c that are free. The pins have functions as Ambient 1/2/3/4 etc but no load type. I tried to power up the pins, and I did manage to do that but somehow I would end up with light fault on DIS and i noticed the button/switch lights on doors don't turn on. Everything else would work fine. I tried with every free pin but it caused same fault/issue and changing channel function on those pins would not make any difference. So i realized that I cannot use these spare channels for now but interesting that powering any of those pins disrupts the door switches lights.
Has anyone had any luck with these free light channels?
 
Anyone with better understanding of the light channels? I have managed to adapt light channels that link to ambient, Footwell and cupHolder pins and managed to change their behaviour.

Anyway my query is regarding free light channels. I checked through BCM and light channels through vagcom. I have pin 34, 35, 36, 37 and 61 in T73c that are free. The pins have functions as Ambient 1/2/3/4 etc but no load type. I tried to power up the pins, and I did manage to do that but somehow I would end up with light fault on DIS and i noticed the button/switch lights on doors don't turn on. Everything else would work fine. I tried with every free pin but it caused same fault/issue and changing channel function on those pins would not make any difference. So i realized that I cannot use these spare channels for now but interesting that powering any of those pins disrupts the door switches lights.
Has anyone had any luck with these free light channels?
Dude sorry to jump in here on your post but you seem to but first one i seen in regards to ambient lighting
And install ive found a full Ambient light kit but its lhd is there anyway to make it work for rhd cars and would it be a plug in and play or would it require long coding
Seller is very vague and speaks broken english and they like £400 so dont wanna end up with paper weights
Any help would be greatly appreciated
 

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Hi
I used a very cheap kit and diy skills to make mine as it is. Mine was far from plug and play, it is a standard kit that can be adapted for any car

This kit from what I can see in photos should be ok for both rhd and lhd but certainly not plug and play. Main issue would be the front dashboard lights, as the trims shapes will cause you problem in fitting them to opposite sides.
BCM sites on front left of the car for all models, both rhd and lhd.
Yes there will be coding involved for sure. For dashboard, footwell and cupholder you need activation of pins from BCM. There are 3 separate pins for each from BCM and they can be further adapted through light channel settings.
My car has door module in every door. I know that not all cars have door modules in the rear doors. That's something to find out. I think if from factory your car has child safety locks in the rear then you should have door modules in the rear.
DOor modules have pin for door handle light and ambient light. I have only used ambient light pin for my doors. The door handle pin seems to be on very low power and was not suitable for my kit.
Kit you are looking at might be designed for cars that have door modules in all doors.
i think you will be surely dealing with stripping some wires, opening up door connectors, activating the right pins. You will have to drill hole for door handle light/wire for that kit. You might have to adapt load type for light channels that supply dashboard lights as it has 3 trim pieces and 4 vents so certainly will need more power than cupholder light.
if you are a diy guy and want to try with my kit then I can give you detailed info. It is maximum £120/130 for the kit, including all crimp terminals, extra wires, resistors, capacitors and very involved. Plus you need vagcom activation. You can message me on insta about that, insta ID: zabs.snaps
YOu will be able to wire this kit direct from lets say cigarette socket wires for the cupboard, dashboard and footwell but will still need a lot of work.
Your best chance at plug and play kit will be this Kit for RHD plus coding possibly including adaptations of light channels.
 
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AliExpress has few different sellers. I found this kit. You should message all sellers and ask if they do the kit for RHD.
 

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Hi
I used a very cheap kit and diy skills to make mine as it is. Mine was far from plug and play, it is a standard kit that can be adapted for any car

This kit from what I can see in photos should be ok for both rhd and lhd but certainly not plug and play. Main issue would be the front dashboard lights, as the trims shapes will cause you problem in fitting them to opposite sides.
BCM sites on front left of the car for all models, both rhd and lhd.
Yes there will be coding involved for sure. For dashboard, footwell and cupholder you need activation of pins from BCM. There are 3 separate pins for each from BCM and they can be further adapted through light channel settings.
My car has door module in every door. I know that not all cars have door modules in the rear doors. That's something to find out. I think if from factory your car has child safety locks in the rear then you should have door modules in the rear.
DOor modules have pin for door handle light and ambient light. I have only used ambient light pin for my doors. The door handle pin seems to be on very low power and was not suitable for my kit.
Kit you are looking at might be designed for cars that have door modules in all doors.
i think you will be surely dealing with stripping some wires, opening up door connectors, activating the right pins. You will have to drill hole for door handle light/wire for that kit. You might have to adapt load type for light channels that supply dashboard lights as it has 3 trim pieces and 4 vents so certainly will need more power than cupholder light.
if you are a diy guy and want to try with my kit then I can give you detailed info. It is maximum £120/130 for the kit, including all crimp terminals, extra wires, resistors, capacitors and very involved. Plus you need vagcom activation. You can message me on insta about that, insta ID: zabs.snaps
YOu will be able to wire this kit direct from lets say cigarette socket wires for the cupboard, dashboard and footwell but will still need a lot of work.
Your best chance at plug and play kit will be this Kit for RHD plus coding possibly including adaptations of light channels.
Thankyou for your detailed input
Really appreciate it i will most certainly drop you message via insta
They do not do rhd for the kits but i have seen rhd led trims available separately so i was just going to remove the led on the lhd
And move to the rhd trims ‍casing ♂️
As seems to be the only viable option for this particular kit everyting else seems factory fit and utilised the existing ambient locations and similar to oem fitment
I do how ever like the finished results you have managed to achieve
Fantastic job my friend and with basic knowledge too top marks i say
 
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Hi
I used a very cheap kit and diy skills to make mine as it is. Mine was far from plug and play, it is a standard kit that can be adapted for any car

This kit from what I can see in photos should be ok for both rhd and lhd but certainly not plug and play. Main issue would be the front dashboard lights, as the trims shapes will cause you problem in fitting them to opposite sides.
BCM sites on front left of the car for all models, both rhd and lhd.
Yes there will be coding involved for sure. For dashboard, footwell and cupholder you need activation of pins from BCM. There are 3 separate pins for each from BCM and they can be further adapted through light channel settings.
My car has door module in every door. I know that not all cars have door modules in the rear doors. That's something to find out. I think if from factory your car has child safety locks in the rear then you should have door modules in the rear.
DOor modules have pin for door handle light and ambient light. I have only used ambient light pin for my doors. The door handle pin seems to be on very low power and was not suitable for my kit.
Kit you are looking at might be designed for cars that have door modules in all doors.
i think you will be surely dealing with stripping some wires, opening up door connectors, activating the right pins. You will have to drill hole for door handle light/wire for that kit. You might have to adapt load type for light channels that supply dashboard lights as it has 3 trim pieces and 4 vents so certainly will need more power than cupholder light.
if you are a diy guy and want to try with my kit then I can give you detailed info. It is maximum £120/130 for the kit, including all crimp terminals, extra wires, resistors, capacitors and very involved. Plus you need vagcom activation. You can message me on insta about that, insta ID: zabs.snaps
YOu will be able to wire this kit direct from lets say cigarette socket wires for the cupboard, dashboard and footwell but will still need a lot of work.
Your best chance at plug and play kit will be this Kit for RHD plus coding possibly including adaptations of light channels.
Cant seem yo find your insta
Could you pm me ch3ck5 thatd be great
 
I have sent you message on insta.
So you mentioned of replacing trim parts with ones from rhd ones.. That will work but what you don't want is different power consumptions between different kits so if its same seller then it will be easy for you. I would say keep looking and even message few on AliBaba. I think China is RHD so there will be sellers for RHD.

I have MMI menu active for doors, footwell and Front, front covers ambient trims, vents and cupholder. It's like a dimmer control for oem parts but I can use it to fully power up or down as dimming on my kit is through app. I have seen kits on AliExpress that you can activate MMI menu for color choice as well!!
 
hello dear forum friends! i'm new and i'm french so my english is very approximate. i read your chat and bought the aliexpress light kit too. I would like to know if someone from the forum already bought it and if it managed to install without a hitch thanks a lot my friends
 

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hello dear forum friends! i'm new and i'm french so my english is very approximate. i read your chat and bought the aliexpress light kit too. I would like to know if someone from the forum already bought it and if it managed to install without a hitch thanks a lot my friends
Does this kit come with main controller box?
You will need to make cutouts for door handle and door pocket lights.
 
I picked this kit from AliExpres:

14 in 1 RGB LED Atmosphere Car Light Interior Decoration Fiber Strip Light By App Control Decorative Ambient Lamp Dashboard Lamp
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqEvvtH

I had some trouble making it work in the doors but after trying few different resistors combination I have managed to make it work.

I have only fitted it in doors yet but the kit has footwell lights and glowing optical fibre, similar to pics shown by Seba above. I will be fitting all soon.
Control light color using mobile app.
Hi sir, can you give me your instagram if you can? I really need to ask you a question about air vents lighting.
Thanks!