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Old 01-20-2002, 02:44 PM   #1
BrysImpreza
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Default Has anyone integrated lights into their rear bumper?

Since the Impreza back-up lights are crap, I wanted to integrate some driving lights into the rear bumper (Like the Pontiac Grand Am) so I can see when I'm backing up, especially since I live in an area without streetlights.
The problems I forsee are the bumper beam being in the way and the fact it's made of thin ABS plastic.
I found some small, round lights that would drop into the holes with a lip big enough to put some small screws in so I can take them back out to change bulbs if need be.

Anyone have any suggestions for me or have done this?

Thanx!
Bry.
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Old 01-20-2002, 05:03 PM   #2
Geek Guy
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Default

PM TaiChih - he has done this - mounted them to his tow-bar, I believe...
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Old 01-20-2002, 05:15 PM   #3
4wheelmotion
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rally blue/ '96 jetta vr6

Default why not brighter back-up bulbs??

dont they have brighter reverse bulbs to help see. i could not picture reverse lights on the bumper. why dont you try mercury's mod with the lights under the motorized license plate. just my 2 cents.
thanks, robbie
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Old 01-20-2002, 10:03 PM   #4
BrysImpreza
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I've got super brights in there now, but I've got my tails tinted, they are the "evil JDMs" Black and Red.
I just need something super bright for when I'm "rallying" aka waiting til it gets dark to hit utility trails.
I've never seen MERCURY's or TaiChi's taillight mod, but thanx for the suggestion, I'll have to look
THANX!
Bry.
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Old 01-21-2002, 10:48 AM   #5
touch
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i'll be making this mod soon. i can't see a damn thing backing up because of my tints, and brighter reverse bulbs won't do a thing, (except potentially melt my housings). so, i'll most likely end up with some lights hanging upside down next to the license plate. the other option is under the rear bumper...(just looked at the back of my wagon again, and that would be too ugly. they're going next to the plate).
another consideration is whether or not they should be wired to the reverse lights. i'm thinking that i don't want to ALWAYS have them come on when i'm backing up. sometimes you don't need them, and sometimes you have a cop sitting there and don't want to draw attention. so i think i'll have a separate switch i can use to flick them on when ever i want. i don't think this will be an inconvenience at all, it makes sense for me.
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Old 01-21-2002, 02:47 PM   #6
luxcar101
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I would pick the lights behind the motorized license plate!

It's an easy mod to do:

Get an antenna motor from a junk yard and that is what will bring the plate back down (and let it go up slowly as you will have the hinge on the top be a spring hinge) and have it tapped to a switch on the underdash. I think it's a tight little mod that could also work as your "I just whipped your sorry Celica GT-S A$$!!! HAHAHAHA", or somehting like that.

One point of caution though, many Honda's do this mod and I would hate to see WRX's put in the same catagory as a dreaded civic, [shivers down spine]

$.02
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Old 01-21-2002, 06:40 PM   #7
BrysImpreza
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Sweet, I'm going to do that as soon as possible, sounds pretty slick to me, one more switch in my car to make it look cooler

Bry.
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Old 02-22-2002, 03:28 PM   #8
luxcar101
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hey quick question...

What mod did you end up doing?
How did it turn out?
Have any pics to show just yet?
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Old 02-23-2002, 12:30 AM   #9
BrysImpreza
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I actually found some SUPER TINY 12V projector beams I'm thinking about putting into the top corners of the space above my plate.
Another option I've been playing with are those small, super bright HID / Lazer lookin lights that people have in keychains and stuff, they're 12V, small enough to fit in a screw hole and not that expensive.
So needless to say I haven't decided yet.

Bry.
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Old 02-23-2002, 07:16 AM   #10
^jynx^
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here is what i did for my backup lighting problem. and yes i know one is higher then the other and they are not pointed strait back. i mounted them that way so they would hit al larger area. they are each 55watt aux backup lights bought at autozone for 20 bucks. comes with all moutning hardware, and wires.

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Old 02-23-2002, 01:00 PM   #11
minix42@
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I don't think I'd like having something like that sticking down below my bumper though... I've been looking at the 19.99 Wall Mart projector fog/driving lights to stick further behind the bumper so they're not visable. I kinda like that idea about putting them in that recess above the licence plate though. I'm gonna have to check to see where there's room.
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Old 02-24-2002, 08:13 PM   #12
TeamSUBARU
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Quote:
...but I've got my tails tinted...
The fix seams fairly simple to me.

Another example of over compensating one extreme to the next.

Yes, I am being overly sarcastic. Why would you tint out your backups then complain that you can't see anything and then want to mount a goofy looking light to the back to over compensate for it? I guess I just don't unerstand your logic.
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Old 02-24-2002, 08:46 PM   #13
SubEd
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Quote:
Originally posted by ^jynx^
Hmm, that looks like a Vermont plate to me. Were you up here before CT?

Ed
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Old 02-24-2002, 09:03 PM   #14
^jynx^
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yupped lived in burlington for 2 years. worked at the magic hat brewery the entire time. i lived at the bottom of church street right next to the public parking lot
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Old 02-24-2002, 09:43 PM   #15
BrysImpreza
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Quote:
Another example of over compensating one extreme to the next.
Even without them tinted they are useless when you live out in the middle of nowhere, I want something that I can use to see when backing up on roads with no street lights, under thick tree canopies where not even moonlight comes in. At my girlfriends parents house it's so dark I cannot even see my car when I walk outside, let alone whats behind me. On one side of the thin enough for one car to drive down road is a thicket of trees on the other is a near vertical slope (one I've almost backed over)

The back-up lights are crap on the Impreza and that is why I'm going to the extreme on this one.

there have been at least 2 or 3 times where I have been backing up and not noticed the road abruptly ended in a ditch and almost went into it, so I think you may understand my logic if you've ever gotten lost in the middle of nowhere at night.
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