DIY part # for ABL (Pictures of Installation included!!!)

[Toasty]

Originally Posted by Sapper12b

Any update on this ?

Originally Posted by jlrtexas

yeah like to know bout that light pipe.

Vendor SJMautoprod has new light pipes that work well. They also do not require positioning the strip on the tube.

[TAG UR IT]

I'd like to see those...see what they look like and how they compare to the original designs.

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

The new pipes are do out about now i will try to see if there out from the manufacturer, as soon as i know i will let you know.

[jlrtexas]

Thanks ofer.

[Tyler360]

ok, looking through this thread for the info that i need is giving me a head ache so im just going to try asking instead lol. I started this mod last spring. I went with the sanding method and sanded the little angled part along the top side of the dash trim. when i reinstalled everything and turned the lights on but no light shined through. i took the trim off again and noticed the angled part rests against the dash, which means i have to sand lower. any suggestions as far as the measurement in how much farther down i should sand? i havent worked on it since last spring cus i kinda got really busy and never got around to it. thanks!

[chozn4service]

I did the upper edge and was OK. Some have said they used a rag with some thinnner to remove the paint. I suggest you use some painters tape and line the edge and go over what your already did first. Also a big thing is ensuring you light source is at the correct angle. If not exactly right it won't show through. I'm assuming you're using the tube as I did. I you don't have just right the light is sent else where and not toward the cleared section you've created. I had to play with a few times to get it right and once I had it I left it alone...

[Tyler360]

Originally Posted by chozn4service

I did the upper edge and was OK. Some have said they used a rag with some thinnner to remove the paint. I suggest you use some painters tape and line the edge and go over what your already did first. Also a big thing is ensuring you light source is at the correct angle. If not exactly right it won't show through. I'm assuming you're using the tube as I did. I you don't have just right the light is sent else where and not toward the cleared section you've created. I had to play with a few times to get it right and once I had it I left it alone...

Im kinda thinking that the 2010 panels might be different from the 2011s. on my panels there is a bevel kind of thing running along the top edge on the back of the panel. i sanded down the bevel(i didn't even need painters tape because of the bevel) and it turns out the bevel goes right against the dash. anyway, i went out and removed one of the trim pieces. and accidentally broke one of the clips so heres a pic of what i sanded:

[chozn4service]

Can't help on the clip but the bevel is the same as mine. Once I removed the paint and all I had to play with the adjust until I had the desired light shining through.

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by chozn4service

I did the upper edge and was OK. Some have said they used a rag with some thinnner to remove the paint. I suggest you use some painters tape and line the edge and go over what your already did first. Also a big thing is ensuring you light source is at the correct angle. If not exactly right it won't show through. I'm assuming you're using the tube as I did. I you don't have just right the light is sent else where and not toward the cleared section you've created. I had to play with a few times to get it right and once I had it I left it alone...

this.

I'd recommend just using weather stripping. It'll push the part out 2mm and will give you just enough room for the light to shine through. But make sure the light is angled right. If not, no light will come through.

If you really want to sand it, go for it. You'll need to sand about 2 to 3mm down the back side. Be VERY careful not to accidentally sand too far here or there. Tape it off REALLY well. If not, you'll end up buying a brand new piece.

[Tyler360]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

this.

I'd recommend just using weather stripping. It'll push the part out 2mm and will give you just enough room for the light to shine through. But make sure the light is angled right. If not, no light will come through.

If you really want to sand it, go for it. You'll need to sand about 2 to 3mm down the back side. Be VERY careful not to accidentally sand too far here or there. Tape it off REALLY well. If not, you'll end up buying a brand new piece.

Thank you! Thats what I was looking for! I remembered seeing something about how much further you had to sand a long time ago but I couldn't find it! As far as sanding I might try taping the part I want the paint removed, cover the back with a little silicone sealant, peal the tape off and let the sealant cure which should leave a perfect line. Then take some brake cleaner on a cloth to remove the paint. The silicone should keep the brake cleaner off the paint I don't want removed. Then when I am finished either peal the silicone off or just leave it on. Also which wire do I need to tap? The one I tapped the last time I attempted this caused my passenger side window to stop working until I removed the tap. Also I tried it your way except the lights shined way brighter than the door panels.

[LS3 SS]

I did this mod last week, very easy if you take your time, and definitely worth it when you're driving around at night!

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by Tyler360

Thank you! Thats what I was looking for! I remembered seeing something about how much further you had to sand a long time ago but I couldn't find it! As far as sanding I might try taping the part I want the paint removed, cover the back with a little silicone sealant, peal the tape off and let the sealant cure which should leave a perfect line. Then take some brake cleaner on a cloth to remove the paint. The silicone should keep the brake cleaner off the paint I don't want removed. Then when I am finished either peal the silicone off or just leave it on. Also which wire do I need to tap? The one I tapped the last time I attempted this caused my passenger side window to stop working until I removed the tap. Also I tried it your way except the lights shined way brighter than the door panels.

I think it was the purple wire you need to tap. But, I don't remember where. Problem is....I have the stock wire hook ups since my vin is below 50k on the 2010 model. So, I never needed to look for other wires to tap. But again, I think it's the purple wire under the center console. Maybe it was behind the cluster? Shoot...ask Ofer. He can tell you for sure.

Brake cleaner would probably work. Just again, I can't stress enough....if you jack up the paint below that line, it's gonna run you $70 for a new insert. And waiting a week for it to come in sucks!!!

I've gone through three of them!

[Tyler360]

Well, 4 cut fingers and a ripped nail later(damned dash clips ) I am almost finished. I got impatient and ended up going with the sanding route instead of using brake cleaner. I taped it off nice and sanded another 2 mm below the bevel. The line turned out great!! I placed the inserts back in and after a little adjustment I finally got light shining through(I hooked the LED wires to a battery). They are the same size as the doors as far as I can tell in the daylight. I'll give an update on what they look like tonight. The only issue is that I need to polish out more of the scratches from the sand paper as they stick out really bad. They aren't that big but the plastic kinda has a magnifying affect on them. Also does anyone know the part number to the metal clips that attach the inserts to the dash? I broke 2 of them which isn't too big of a deal but I'd like to get them replaced if its possible. So besides that, all thats left for me to do is find which wire I need to tap so the lights come on with the doors and tap it.

[TAG UR IT]

I'm pretty sure it's the purple wire you are going to need to tap into. Triple check with Ofer....2SS/RS. I think it's either under the center console or behind the gauges. Either one should work. T Tap into that and you should be good to go.

Also, get some good polish like Meguires Scratch X and put it on a buffing pad....hit the back of the insert pretty good. That should clean up the scratches. Dash clips....no idea. But I think they are standard all throughout the car...same type.