I have seen this thread brought up before but have not found a solution for it, does anyone know a way to wire the turn signals on to our tail lights? Our regular turn signals are barely seen and would prefer to put those LED's to work.

I don't want to buy tail lights so am add on would be great!

I have a 2012 G37 Sedan

 

are you saying you want to turn the led ring into a turn signal?

it wouldnt be easy to make them work as both the turn signal and how they currently work... but if you really wanted you just need to take the tail light off and cut the break + wire going to the ring you want and cut the + wire going into the turn signal and connect it to the ring. I wouldnt suggest doing this though, it will void warrenty and possibly ruin your lights.

you could buy LED replacement bulbs, they sell them at a bunch of places online. i got some from diode dynamics and i love them, but i wouldnt really say they are much brighter than stock, they just look a lot better and cleaner.

 

Yeah make the rings into turn signals, I have been seeing Audi's having their turn signal and break lights work together and it looks way better and everyone would notice the lights. I was thinking of buying LED bulbs but still debating. I found a video on YouTube on a g35 where they did the integrated turn signals and it looks great but new tail lights were bought and I don't need new lights. We need someone to do this and do a DIY!!

 

ill be taking my tails off tomorrow. i will take a look at the connections going to the rings and see if it looks possible, but the real problem is that there is probably a module that controls the rings because they need to be bright when hitting break and they need to be lit up dimmer for when the lights are normally on (at night). i wont be actually modding my lights, but i will see what can be done.

 

Well maybe buying another module isn't a big deal for the outcome. Well the turn signal should be lighting up as if the breaks would be pressed. Hopefully there is a way cuz I know a lot of people would actually enjoy this mod

 

I’m forced to “break” in here, that is, unless you’re going for coffee, the device to stop a car is a brake.

 

yes i used the wrong break/brake... and so i took a look, and assuming a 12 sedan has same tail wiring as my 9 coupe, there are 2 + wires going into the rings, which are both controlled by a module that is housed in the tail light. most likely one controls the dim and one controls the bright. you could switch the functions of the brake/turn signals by cutting and switching the bright wire with the the turn signal wire. as for making it work both as a brake light and as turn signal its not easy, you would need to make a module to forget about the brake light signal when the turn signal is on... its possible, just a lot of work.

 

Damn seems like we get a step closer every time, I feel like taking my car to a wiring expert, I feel like it should be pretty easy but I know more wiring knowledge would solve this question

 

This can be done rather easily (relatively speaking).

First off, I must agree with Chekov above, it's BRAKE, not break. Reading threads with such blatant spelling errors is difficult. Since the mistake has been pointed out, it doesn't take much to hit the edit button and make appropriate corrections.

Ok, with that out of the way, a few basics;

1) The tail light (round ring) has 3 states, off, low (used as a marker light), and high (when brakes are applied)

2) Turn signal brightness (the amber/yellow light), is the same whenever the turn signal is active.

Before the days of BCM's, a simple tail light converter would do the trick. This is a type of electronic logic 'box'. It takes three inputs - marker, brake, and turn signals. Typically, these inputs are high anytime +12V is present. It then has two outputs - a low and a high. The low is connected to the marker lamp position while the high goes to the brake.

When each is used independently, the lights function as normal. Step on the brakes, the ring lights up bright. Have your headlights on, the ring lights up dim. Have a turn signal on and that side's ring flashes bright.

The module's logic comes into play when both the brakes and turn signal are on, which causes that side's ring bright state to flash on/of while the other side remains on bright.

The problem is this - which will require further research; Given that the bulbs run off the BCM, it is unclear what will happen when such a module is installed. The load of the module+LEDs may be excessive for the BCM to drive, or there may be some other unforeseen issue.

Edit: After some light googling, it appears that if this function of the BCM is programmable, no additional modules are needed. I would actually be interested in something like this as the turn signals are difficult to see flashing in bright sunlight.

Edit2: Assuming ^^^^ is not possible, another concern of using a tail light converter is the possibility of burning out the led's. You CANNOT directly drive led's with a +12V. There has to be some current limiting device present. If the tail/brake lights can be connected directly to a +12V source, the current limiting electronics is already present in the tail/brake light assembly itself.

 

So are we speaking about specially made kits are needed when it comes to this so-called mod? Would taking it to a wiring specialist make an advancement?

 

If anyone is interested in this modification, Diode Dynamics is offering a plug and play harness to do this very thing. I ordered some LED's from them and they sent me an email informing me of this. It was $40 for the pair, last time I checked. There's also a YouTube Video showing how it works.

 

I bought this last week. It should be delivered today (looked like a simple plug and play install). I try to get them in this afternoon and see how it looks!

 

We just added this video for the G37/Q60:


This product is also plug and play on the G35 Coupe

We will have a plug and play model available for the Sedan very soon! They use a different connector

Nick C.

 

Bought the Diode Dynamics kit, very easy install! Start to finish took less than ten minutes and looks fantastic. Another great product from them (already had cool white city, tag, and trunk light from them)

 

Less than 5 minutes for the coupe. Ordered it the same day they made it available to the public. Subtle but effective mod.