Finally got around to installing an HID kit in the factory taillights. Because I wanted a plug-and-play solution (no glue or anything holding the bulbs in) I ended up ordering an extra pair of bulb holders which I then drilled out and glued the HID bulbs into. Worked like a charm, they just snapped right in and keep the rubber O-ring so nothing can get in the taillight.

Here you can see the old bulb holder with the 50 watt quartz bulbs I've been running for a while.

http://images39.fotki.com/v1294/photos/4/43063/3148071/P8180849-vi.jpg

Oh yeah, this is a "slim" 5000k bulb HID kit with 880-style bulbs which I got on ebay for $80 delivered. You don't actually need a slim kit, as there's plenty of room in the bumper, but I just like how small and light they are.

As you can see, the HID is about twice as bright as the 50 watt bulb on the right. A normal reverse lamp bulb is 26 watts. I also disconnected the rear fog lamps, which I previously had wired up to the reverse lamp circuit, as the HID's are bright enough by themselves.

http://images39.fotki.com/v1290/photos/4/43063/3148071/P8180851-vi.jpg

Finished install... yeah baby!

http://images39.fotki.com/v1291/photos/4/43063/3148071/P8180856-vi.jpg

Now I can update my list of firsts... :D

First Jeep SRT8 with bigger tires
First Jeep SRT8 with LED lights
First Jeep SRT8 with debadged Jeep emblems
First Jeep SRT8 with xenon headlights
First Jeep SRT8 with projector headlights
First Jeep SRT8 with bixenon headlights
First Jeep SRT8 with headlight covers (long before RonConcept)
First Jeep SRT8 with stereo amplifiers
First Jeep SRT8 with custom fiberglass subwoofer
First Jeep SRT8 with modified exhaust
First Jeep SRT8 with ESP disabled (before GSM)
First Jeep SRT8 with 2wd mod (before GSM)
First Jeep SRT8 with rear foglights connected
First Jeep SRT8 with carbon fiber engine covers
First Jeep SRT8 with 2-way radio installed
First Jeep SRT8 outside of the USA
First Jeep SRT8 with a voided warranty.

These are your brake lights? These are really bright for braking. They'd be mad cool for just reverse lights that'd be clutch as hell.

hey buddy not to burst your bubble or anything but i did that for a local jeep around here (not on the boards)

but you are the first one on here so congrats.

These are your brake lights? These are really bright for braking. They'd be mad cool for just reverse lights that'd be clutch as hell.

They are reverse lights lol, read the first thing he writes in BOLD "HID reverse lights"

...why!! lol

He's not the first. Someone else on this site had installed hid's in they're reverse bulbs months ago.. Fine work though.

That's quite a list of mods.

Got any rear cam pics?

So I'll keep it brief because as you can see, I really don't post too often.

Cool mod if you really like to do things to the enth degree. A bit too much for me and I usually do everything above and beyond. Seems like you like to be the first to do things so maybe that's why.

Also, is the "first SRT to have a voided warranty" a joke or did it really happen? I didn't see anything in your mod list that would void a warranty. Just wondering...

If you aint first, you're last...........



http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w199/ryantafelski/picard.jpg

Thats a cool mod i could always use some more reverse light

Cool mod- thats bright as hell!

Also, is the "first SRT to have a voided warranty" a joke or did it really happen? I didn't see anything in your mod list that would void a warranty. Just wondering...

Not to speak out of school, but when you purchase the Jeep in the US and export it yourself, you void the warranty. This includes Canada. I believe that is what he meant by that.

man....you must have to "back down" some pretty dark lanes.

If I didn't already have a huge list of wanted mods, I would want this too.

That is sweet. Hell, I might do it when I get HIDs for the front.

man....you must have to "back down" some pretty dark lanes.

I was thinkin' the same. Looks good, but seems to be excessively bright. I am happy with my led reverse lights.

hey buddy not to burst your bubble or anything but i did that for a local jeep around here (not on the boards)

but you are the first one on here so congrats.

Well why didn't you say ANHYTHING about it then? :rolleyes:

I NEED this mod!!!

It would be PERFECT for a$$holes riding your bumper at the stoplight!

Not to speak out of school, but when you purchase the Jeep in the US and export it yourself, you void the warranty. This includes Canada. I believe that is what he meant by that.

Makes sense. Just wondering. I remember back in the day that a few manufactures, at least GM (Buick) did their absolute best to void the warranty of any car they could prove was being raced. I was a bit shocked seeing a voided warranty in this day and age with only bolt on mods. Thanks for the insight!

Great retro fit job. Creative and all BUT WHY???? First off, does it not take some time for the HID's to go from warm up to completely bright when first turned on? I would have been out of reverse and into drive before the lamp even warmed up!!!!

Second, the constant on off as you go from park to drive must not be too good for the ballasts.

My opinion only

Great retro fit job. Creative and all BUT WHY???? First off, does it not take some time for the HID's to go from warm up to completely bright when first turned on? I would have been out of reverse and into drive before the lamp even warmed up!!!!

Second, the constant on off as you go from park to drive must not be too good for the ballasts.

My opinion only


Good point

Great retro fit job. Creative and all BUT WHY???? First off, does it not take some time for the HID's to go from warm up to completely bright when first turned on? I would have been out of reverse and into drive before the lamp even warmed up!!!!

Second, the constant on off as you go from park to drive must not be too good for the ballasts.

My opinion only


Ding! Forgot about that one......thanks for reminding us! HAHA!! :D

Silver, it's true they reach full brightness after a couple seconds, but even before that point they are still much brighter than regular bulbs. And in the WK if you go from park to drive the reverse lights don't turn on, they only come on when you're in reverse for at least a full second. (Actually that's one of my biggest gripes about this car, how long it takes for reverse to engage, but that's another story.)

Really the main reason I installed these is because some of my friends live in houses that have long dark driveways and it's especially difficult to reverse out of them really late at night after a party when there's still other cars blocking the places you normally use to make a 3 point turn. Trust me, you want all the light you can get.

What makes it worse is my insanely bright LED dome lights which wipe out your night vision when you get in the car, let alone the xenon headlights. Then trying to see over the heads of 3 drunk girls sitting in the back seat, through 20% tint... I think you get the picture.

And I don't have the rearview camera... it wasn't an option when I ordered it in 2005. :(

Where did u get the bulb holders from?

I got the bulb holders from one of those websites that has an online OEM parts lookup, they were something like $5 each. Sorry I don't remember which. Anyway you have to click through the categories like "body, exterior, lamps" etc.

Actually you don't have to buy an extra set of the holders. I was just experimenting and I wanted to make sure it would work as nobody has done anything like this before.

Silver, it's true they reach full brightness after a couple seconds, but even before that point they are still much brighter than regular bulbs. And in the WK if you go from park to drive the reverse lights don't turn on, they only come on when you're in reverse for at least a full second. (Actually that's one of my biggest gripes about this car, how long it takes for reverse to engage, but that's another story.)

Really the main reason I installed these is because some of my friends live in houses that have long dark driveways and it's especially difficult to reverse out of them really late at night after a party when there's still other cars blocking the places you normally use to make a 3 point turn. Trust me, you want all the light you can get.

What makes it worse is my insanely bright LED dome lights which wipe out your night vision when you get in the car, let alone the xenon headlights. Then trying to see over the heads of 3 drunk girls sitting in the back seat, through 20% tint... I think you get the picture.

And I don't have the rearview camera... it wasn't an option when I ordered it in 2005. :(

Cool either way, you did your research and did a fine job on the install. I was not trying to steal your thunder, only asking a few questions.

I too have insanely bright interior LED's that I got from Marcel (Total Lighting Solutions) but have since changed out all of Marcel's product from those of V-leds. The reason for my change out is that all of Marcel's interior LEDs started to crap out on me. One at a time!! They just started to burn hot, then get brittle and fall apart in my hands. I had asked Marcel to send me some replacement and he did BUT, I as more and more of them started to fail, I decided to change them out.

These new ones I got are much better. They are now not only whiter in light BUT are also better built IMHO. So far, the bulbs are working fine.

I never asked Marcel for my money back. I felt that I chalked this 'loss' up as experience on my part and know better for the future.

Bravo sir!!! That is a super sweet mod.

Cool either way, you did your research and did a fine job on the install. I was not trying to steal your thunder, only asking a few questions.

I too have insanely bright interior LED's that I got from Marcel (Total Lighting Solutions) but have since changed out all of Marcel's product from those of V-leds. The reason for my change out is that all of Marcel's interior LEDs started to crap out on me. One at a time!! They just started to burn hot, then get brittle and fall apart in my hands. I had asked Marcel to send me some replacement and he did BUT, I as more and more of them started to fail, I decided to change them out.

These new ones I got are much better. They are now not only whiter in light BUT are also better built IMHO. So far, the bulbs are working fine.

I never asked Marcel for my money back. I felt that I chalked this 'loss' up as experience on my part and know better for the future.

Can you hook me up with some led info via PM? :D

Can you hook me up with some led info via PM? :D

PM sent...

Points for originality, that looks pretty sweet! I also need more reverse light, with 15% tint, backing up at night can be risky. I think I will be going the LED route if I can get them bright enough.

I Got Led Reverse Now And Not So Bright But I Have A Extra Set Of 8000k 9005 Hid Kit I Was Going To Sell But Now I Think I Got Reverse Hids Going In

I want this mod!!! Between tinted tails and limo tint I cant see at all when I back up at night. Plz PM me some specifics on this so I can get it done. THX!!

John, if you print out the first page or two of this thread and bring it to a car stereo or performance shop they should be able to do it for you fairly easily. Should only be around an hour or two of labor and the cost of the HID system.

Funny story, I was getting a new inspection sticker on Friday and at the end the guy said "your headlights are too bright, your taillights are too bright, and your exhaust is too loud" then he made me pop the hood, he looked around the engine compartment, nodded his head, and then signed the form and gave me the sticker anyway. :D

I wanna do this too this is cool

Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but Hallstar had this mod done on his Jeep over 18 months ago.

Check post #23. I e-mailed him back in the beginning of 2007 and he sent me all of the details regarding this mod. His dual layer limo tint is identical to mine.....which is why I was considering it.:)

http://www.cherokeesrt8.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1739&highlight=hallstar&page=3

gee thanks for bursting my bubble. I guess I'm going to have to resign myself to having the first "hot swappable plug and play" HID reverse lights. humph.

now just don't tell me someone else already has bixenon projectors!