Interior lighting.

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:40 pm

This is the first stage of upgrading my interior lights in the S2. Stages will include;

1/ Front and rear footwell lights, (done)
2/ Ambient comfort roof lights, (done)
3/ Boot light, (done)
4/ Interior door pull illumination, (done)
5/ Glovebox handle illumination, (done)
6/ Drivers parcel shelf illumination, (done)
7/ Rear ashtray illumination, (done)
8/ Door marker lights,
9/ Puddle lights.
10/ Ignition barrel illumination, (done)
11/ Front grab handle lights (done)

[EDIT] Will now include run-throughs on replacing soldered in bulbs in the difflock switch, heated seat switches, headlamp level switch, electric window switch, ATD and mirror switch.

1/ Headlamp level switch (done)
2/ Electric window switch (done)
3/ Electric mirror switch (done)
4/ ATD (done)
5/ Difflock switch
6/ Heated seat switches

As a side note, if you'd like to completely change the colour of the standard interior lighting of the switches, instruments and gauges, see this thread >>>> HERE

After sitting in a B7 RS4 recently and having noticed it's footwell lights, I thought I'd get my butt into gear and do it.

I wanted them to come on and go off with both the central locking and opening/closing the doors. Wasn't bothered about being able to manually switch them on/off.

I linked into the rear interior light mainly because of not wanting to tempt fate in taking down the front interior light and sunroof rotary control panel. I've seen SO many of those broken over the years. Best leave as is.
The interior light at the rear easily clips down, just push it towards the drivers side and pull the passenger side down at the same time and out it comes.

I needed to determine which live I needed, that being the switched live from the central locking and the door switches and not the permanent live that is there for switching the light on at all times. Didn't have my multimeter at hand, so just used a spare LED I had. Opening and closing the door allowed me to find the two wires I needed.
Those being the black/green and the black.
Wire used was standard speaker wire.

The opening for the rear interior light is close to the rear trim, four screws removed from said trim and pulled down off it's press stud fixings and it drops away.
Wire routed from the light opening behind the rear of the headlining to the passenger side, tucked in behind the rooflining trim and off towards to the front of the car. Once at the A pillar, the wiring is passed through the headlining trim to the felt inner door seal and behind this all the way down the A pillar and by the side of the dash. Then it's passed through into the space above the trim behind the glovebox.
I chose to use the passenger side for both runs of wire because on the drivers side A pillar I have wiring coming up for the auto dim rear view mirror and also wiring for the microphone for the bluetooth handsfree integrated into the Becker headunit.

Both lights aren't Audi (shock horror) they are footwell lights from an MGF of all things. I was going to order Audi version from the A6 or A8, but a chance quick search of EBAY for "footwell lights" brought these up. Bid, got them for 99p, but was ripped on the postage of £5. Anyway, they came in the trims used in the MGF, (REALLY crappy plastic I might add) but the lights themselves are neat little units.
I used the trims they came with to mark out the hole in the trim where I wanted the lights.
Now for something unexpected, the tray under the parcel shelf alreay had a hole in it, "exactly" the right size Shocked

, just next to the little removeable hatch my model has to gain access to an airbag connector.
So only needed to cut a hole in the trim panel behind the glovebox.

I'll let the pictures explain the rest. Will try and nab a couple later when it's dark.

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:53 pm

Neat!

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:35 pm

was i right with the anode & cathode bit? Head not with it today....

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:41 pm

Yes matey. But it didn't matter in the end, bulb terminals could be wired either way, if you catch me.

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:48 pm

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:50 pm

Ahhh at last the money shots Smile

looks great.

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:50 pm

Nice! Liking that a lot Cool

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:01 pm

Looks neat Jase - illuminates a few specks of muck on the drivers-side carpet mat though... Rolling Eyes

Hoover tomorrow? Wink

Alan

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:05 pm

Maybe, if it ever stops raining/hailing/sleeting/snowing Laughing

Cheers chaps.

Jase..
Wink

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:06 pm

Oh, shame I couldn't get the passenger side one under a bit further, just impossible due to no space.

Ah well, I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Jase..
Wink

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:45 pm

looks really well done,good work Wink

Site Moderator Joined: Jan 31, 2003 Posts: 9144

should have gone for the red tint to match the rest Very Happy

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:29 pm

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:49 pm

Is that a blue neon i see inside your gearnob ?? Twisted Evil

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:54 pm

Most certainly isn't Twisted Evil

, just a reflection off something else. The shift pattern is a brushed alu look.
The gearknob itself is from a B5 S6.
Saves my NLA original from wear and tear.

If I was going to have an illuminated shift pattern, it'd be red, not blue Laughing

Jase..

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:22 am

Go on Jas .... your amongst friends.... admit it.... it's a blue neon Laughing

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:24 am

Afraid not. Why not be the first to have a go Razz

Jase..

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:38 am

You really have tooooo much time on yer hands bro Very Happy

When can you do mine though Razz

Told you they would notice the neon in the gear knob Laughing

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:08 am

ha ha ha ha... Paul LIVES Very Happy

thought someone had removed instructions in your head on how to use the net Very Happy

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:46 am

Still love that Giraffe Laughing

cracks me up every time Very Happy

Nice work Jas Very Happy

ALways think footwell lights look classy Cool

Wonder how easy it is to fit a more gradual fade to the interior lights tho?

Paul

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:43 pm

I might have fitted some for ya, until you told the world of my blue neon fetish Twisted Evil

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:25 am

Andy......been living as a recluse in a remote part of Africa Embarassed

Reality really says that I should buy a TV or keep me pecker in my pants as that 4th child pushed the "spare" time to the max !! Rolling Eyes

Back now though Wink

Jas......sorry bro the secret is out about the neon.
Only joking as I want you to watch that fleebay auction for my leg heaters / lights Wink

Paul.

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:26 am

Ebay auction watched, bid on and won. You owe me £7 Wink

Jase..

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:35 am

No problem Bro.......thanks.
A job for one weekend soon I think.

Paul Wink

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:41 am

just had a thought on this, and one for future reference.....

will the lights fitted into the boot (upper shelf) on the series 3 / 4 80/ 90 not the same sort of size...?

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:56 am

They are, but the reason I used those others was that they came with a nice little protective box that clips into the trim, then the light clips into it. Thus protecting whatevers behind it, in my case LOTS of nice combustible fluffy sound deadening stuff. The interiors light from the boot of 80/90/coupe etc etc don't have that box. Nothing to stop you making something, but I wanted mine nice and neat.

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:26 am

fairy snuff Wink

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:07 pm

Another strange fetish ?? Laughing

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:22 pm

forget the tron suit jas he will be in a fairy one soon Laughing

the aoc magic fairy... Laughing

everything he touches turns to gold.

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:00 pm

Nice job there Jase Smile

Having them myself, I know why you wanted them. they are sooooo Cool