Jump to content
LegacyGT.com

My Interior Illumination mod - Lighted Cup Holders


Recommended Posts

I've looked at the Subaru factory option for the Interior Illumination kit that sells for $175. I don't care for the price nor the blue lights above the feet area. I do like the blue cup holder lights and the front cubbie hole are in front of the shifter.

 

So instead of buying the factory kit, I did my own and put it in the same spots that the factory designed in the cup holder lights.

 

At the bottom of this thread there is a full set of diagrams that shows how to remove the center arm rest/console box.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/need-help-removing-center-console-armrest-155444.html

 

The first this you need to do is pull the center section of the console by removing the rubber mat in the forward cubbie hole in front of the shifter.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/5446057993_74a0c6ba69_b.jpg

 

Then pull the shifter.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5446658876_d94a770d93_b.jpg

 

Pull up the center section of the console and disconnect the wires. There are three plugs that need to be released to pull the whole section out and fully release it from the console base.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5446059229_5a01295865_b.jpg

 

There's all sorts of room under this part for a bunch of stuff. There is also power here too from the 12V power supply in the console box.

 

The cup holder sepperates from the main section by pulling the 4 screws that hold it in place. There is a rubber edge liner that runs around the top of this cup holder.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5446051133_b31ce6c6a6_b.jpg

 

Peel back one of the edges that covers the factory light mounting area and this is where I inserted my LEDs that I got from the local auto parts store. They sell them in packs of 3 for doing just this sort of thing.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5015/5446051689_10b70ff849_b.jpg

 

The lights I bought fit perfectly into the factory spot with only a small amount of modification needed to make them fit. Once the cup holder is screwed back in place, these lights won't move. They weren't moving before I screwed the cup hold down either. A nice snug fit.

 

I ran the wires to the back of the cup holder and taped the wires down so they wouldn't come loose or get snagged, then screwed the cup holder back to the main section.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/5446052123_a3ed0be0ab_b.jpg

 

With the wires held toward the back, they are right above the power supply. I simply pulled the plug, inserted the wires into the plug ends (red to the hot center pin of the outlet and black to the outer ground ring and fit the plug back onto the power outlet. The wires were very secure and solidly mounted. I also left the wires fairly long so as to give myself room to manipulate the console cover.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5446654044_f52b0d4f8d_b.jpg

Edited by ChasWG
Content and spelling
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 232
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

So when it's all reassembled it looks like this:

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5446654566_b29eff8eb1_b.jpg

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5446053707_68f8367ee4_b.jpg

 

These shots were taken durning the day time and I still think they were pretty bright. This was a very easy mod to do. I still want to do the light for the forward cubbie hole, but I'm not sure how to get there yet. But I'll figure that out too!

 

A special THANKS goes out to LegacyGT.com member fezzik for the info on how to access this area.

 

EDIT: I added a small wiring harness that taps power from the heated seat illumination wires. And now the lights come on with the rest of the interior lights.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5451829121_6b76d16e70_b.jpg

Edited by ChasWG
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's one more shot. Sorry for the blur, this was a very long, hand held exposure, 0.8 seconds @ f2.8 and ISO 1000. I think that's pretty good shot for almost one whole second of an open shutter. ;)

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/5446339729_48c81d7a97_b.jpg

 

Thanks!

 

Oh, BTW, this whole thing cost me about and hour and a half and $5.99 for the LEDs from the local auto store.

Edited by ChasWG
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went with red LEDs for the cup holder area and under the dash. I haven't installed the cup holder LEDs yet, but under the dash I simply used red LED marker lights.

 

Red light doesn't affect your night vision.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great write up! I also thought about the blue lights since they match the blue led mood lighting from the map light area.

 

Wasn't thinking about red but that would also go with the heated seat controls. Todd, please hurry up and post picts. Sway me!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used the blue lights for two reasons. 1) Yes the down light that came with the car is blue to start with. So I wanted to match that and that's what the factory kit is as well. 2) I had Red down lights in my former A6 and wanted to do something different from that car. Yes the red is cool too and it doen't effect your night vision, but I think that the output of these lights is so small and none of them are directed at your eyes squarely, so your night vision should remain the same.

 

And blue is Techie Cool! ;)

 

Also, I dug into the blue down light installed in the dome light area and removed the factory Neutral Density filter that sits right in front of the Blue LED. The light now actually lets you see things in that area. Before it was just a dim, faint blue glow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Based on the pics, it looks like you removed the clear plastic halo ring that distributes the light around the outside edge of the cup holder rim. Assuming this isn't just an optical illusion, were you forced to remove the ring to make the auto store LEDs fit or did you simply remove it because you prefer the look?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I didn't remove anything. I wish there was a clear ring in that channel that runs around the cup holders. That is probably part of the factory light kit. It would help diffuse the light and help spread it around more evenly.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread actually inspired me to do this tonight, I ran to autozone and bought an $8 LED kit. The clear plastic ring is not part of the factory light kit because I have it. Very easy install, Thanks ChasWS for idea.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread actually inspired me to do this tonight, I ran to autozone and bought an $8 LED kit. The clear plastic ring is not part of the factory light kit because I have it. Very easy install, Thanks ChasWS for idea.

So your cupholder already has the clear plastic ring?

2011 Volvo S60T6 & 2013 Volvo XC60T6 Polestar

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks like it was deleted in the 2011's.

 

Probably has a separate part number...

[URL="http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/proper-flip-key-interesti-159894.html"]Flip Key Development Thread[/URL] "Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped." - E. Hubbard
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The clear plastic ring does not come on 2011's. I had it on my 2010, but when I got my new 2011 it wasn't in there. I am planning to use the clear plastic stick that comes with window shades, that is used for adjustment. It is plexiglass clear stick and it could be warmed up little bit to make sure it fits in there.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The clear plastic ring does not come on 2011's. I had it on my 2010, but when I got my new 2011 it wasn't in there. I am planning to use the clear plastic stick that comes with window shades, that is used for adjustment. It is plexiglass clear stick and it could be warmed up little bit to make sure it fits in there.

I would think that stick would be too thick?

2011 Volvo S60T6 & 2013 Volvo XC60T6 Polestar

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So your cupholder already has the clear plastic ring?

 

 

Yeah, my cupholder already had it. The ring reduces the brightness a lot but distrubutes the light around the cuphold and little better than the picture posted before.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw another how to like this on the outback forum. I need to find me some prewired LEDs. Got the ring in my 2010.

 

Without the ring it looks like it could get dirty in there. Did you just cut and twist the wire on to the existing wire...and cover it with duct tape?! FYI, duct tape is EXTREMELY flammable when the adhesive dries. If you want to do it right, get some inline splicers or at least use electrical tape.

Edited by Nacron
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think he just taped the wires down so they wouldn't flop around.
[URL="http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/proper-flip-key-interesti-159894.html"]Flip Key Development Thread[/URL] "Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped." - E. Hubbard
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use