Comprehensive LED Upgrade Guide with Photos

[reigndeerz]

Just completed LED upgrades across all the lights on my S Trim and confirmed that it all functions without error codes and hyperflash.

tl;dr
- Front lights changed includes 1) Headlamps, 2) Turn Signal, 3) Side Marker
- Rear lights changed includes: 4) License Plate, 5) Back Up / Reverse, 6) Tail, 7) Brakes, 8) Side Marker, 9) Rear Turn Signal
- Total cost was just over $200, and about 2 to 2.5 hours of work (excluding failure to find the right bulbs)
- On hindsight, I would have not done the side markers (little visual difference) and the rear turn signal (really difficult to install)

Thought I'd document my entire journey here to make it easy for others who might want to embark on a similar journey. Each section includes:
a) LED Bulb Purchased + Cost
b) Ease of Installation
c) Installation Guide
d) My Personal Take
e) Before / After Image

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1. Headlamps
a) LED Used: 9005 LASFIT headlights from Amazon ($54.99)
b) Ease of Installation: 5-10 mins
c) Installation Guide: LASFIT YouTube
d) Hot Take: No issue with hyperflash or error codes, would def start with this install as it gives the greatest bang for your buck (visually and ease of installation)
e) Left - Original Halogen, Right - LED



2. Front Turn Signal
a) LED Used: 1157-A Everbright from Amazon ($16.99); H/T: Cacalon on this forum
b) Ease of Installation: 10-15 mins
c) Installation Guide: LASFIT YouTube
d) Hot Take: Use an adjustable wrench to get leverage to twist out the housing
e) Left - Original Halogen, Right - LED



3. Front Side Marker
a) LED Used: 194 LASFIT from Amazon ($10.94)
b) Ease of Installation: 10-15 mins
c) Installation Guide: H/T Jazzyone
d) Hot Take: Lowest bang for the buck with very limited visual difference (hence the lack of photos)

4. License Plate
a) LED Used: 194 LASFIT from Amazon ($8.89)
b) Ease of Installation: 5 mins
c) Installation Guide: LASFIT YouTube
d) Hot Take: Easiest installation
e) Left - LED, Right - Original Halogen



5. Backup / Reverse
a) LED Used: 912 Auxito from Amazon ($13.99)
b) Ease of Installation: 20-25 mins
c) Installation Guide: LASFIT YouTube
d) Hot Take: It looks more intimidating than it actually is. The visual difference does justify the work required, imo
e) Left - LED, Right - Original Halogen



6. Tail
a) LED Used: 1157-R 2 sets of Oxilam on Amazon ($16.99 per set)
b) Ease of Installation: 10-15 mins
c) Installation Guide: H/T itsal
d) Hot Take: Tail lights were easy to change out as part of the "Tail Lamp Assembly" that includes the next 2 lights (Brake and Rear Marker).
e) Left - LED, Right - Original Halogen



7. Brake
a) LED Used: 1157-R LASFIT on Amazon ($45.95); Tried ~10 different bulbs on Amazon in the <$20 price range and every single one of them triggered an error code. LEDs tested and failed includes: Oxilam (linked above), 1797, Vehicode, Alla, Phinlion, Auxlight, Auxito, iBrightstar, Luyed, Katur)
b) Ease of Installation: (included in Tail lamp install); Caveat that finding a bulb that worked without triggering error codes was the single most difficult part of replacing this light and took me a full month of back and forth.
c) Installation Guide: H/T itsal
d) Hot Take: Invest in a CANBUS / Error Free bulb as this was the most problematic bulb by far. Luckily this was by far the easiest bulb to swap in and out to test!
e) Left - LED, Right - Original Halogen



8. Rear Marker
a) LED Used: 194 LASFIT on Amazon ($10.94)
b) Ease of Installation: (included in Tail lamp install)
c) Installation Guide: H/T itsal
d) Hot Take: Similar to Front Marker, the visual difference is minimal and you'd be swapping out for completeness sake, not for any actual benefits.

9. Rear Turn Signal
a) LED Used: 1157-R Oxilam on Amazon ($16.99)
b) Ease of Installation: 45-60 mins. By far the most difficult to switch out.
c) Installation Guide: H/T firedawg
d) Hot Take: This was REALLY difficult to install and had to be done almost entirely by touch and feel. The screws you have to remove to access the driver side lights are really difficult to remove. I personally would not have done it if not for the time I had already invested and my OCD to complete the project. Use a adjustable wrench to get some leverage to turn the housing, and leave this for last to get familiar with how to install 1157 bulbs by practicing on the other bulbs. I'd also consider installing each bulb in a separate session to avoid driving yourself crazy!
e) Left - LED, Right - Original Halogen

 

[Fewturetellyowner]

Great write up, thanks for investing the time and effort to see what works. Looks great! On the headlights, does it require low and hi beams?

 

[Fewturetellyowner]

Also, on the reverse lights, when I click the link, it tells me they don’t fit. Am I looking at the wrong item?

 

[reigndeerz]

Great write up, thanks for investing the time and effort to see what works. Looks great! On the headlights, does it require low and hi beams?

Nah, just it's just a single 9005 bulb.

Amazon pretty much says nothing fits the Telluride, so I just end up ignoring it. You just have to find the right bulb size and you'll be fine.

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[Kwim]

@reigndeerz ,

have you tried Osram lad? Is there a bug on the brake lights?

Are the turn signals working normally or has the blinking frequency changed?

 

[reigndeerz]

@reigndeerz ,

have you tried Osram lad? Is there a bug on the brake lights?

Are the turn signals working normally or has the blinking frequency changed?

Have not tried Osram, sorry.

Turn signals are perfectly in sync as originals. I always change one side first to verify that it works just like to original halogens.

 

[reigndeerz]

9. Rear Turn Signal
a) LED Used: 1157-R Oxilam on Amazon ($16.99)
b) Ease of Installation: 45-60 mins. By far the most difficult to switch out.
c) Installation Guide: H/T firedawg
d) Hot Take: This was REALLY difficult to install and had to be done almost entirely by touch and feel. The screws you have to remove to access the driver side lights are really difficult to remove. I personally would not have done it if not for the time I had already invested and my OCD to complete the project. Use a adjustable wrench to get some leverage to turn the housing, and leave this for last to get familiar with how to install 1157 bulbs by practicing on the other bulbs. I'd also consider installing each bulb in a separate session to avoid driving yourself crazy!
e) Left - LED, Right - Original Halogen

Alas, I tested the rear turn signal using the hazard light button and it did not hyperflash / error message, but it hyperflashed and showed an error message when using the actual turn signals on my first drive.

I'll be spending another 45 mins or so replacing it with the LASFIT bulbs used for my brake lights, if not with the Everbright bulbs used for my front turn signal. Keeping my fingers crossed as did is by far the worst bulb to be replacing!

 

[TellyJerz]

Thanks for taking the time to post and explain the process. I was hesitant at first but I think I’m gonna give it a shot. Keep us posted of any other issues!

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[reigndeerz]

Alas, I tested the rear turn signal using the hazard light button and it did not hyperflash / error message, but it hyperflashed and showed an error message when using the actual turn signals on my first drive.

I'll be spending another 45 mins or so replacing it with the LASFIT bulbs used for my brake lights, if not with the Everbright bulbs used for my front turn signal. Keeping my fingers crossed as did is by far the worst bulb to be replacing!

Happy to report back that the LASFIT bulbs used for my brake lights worked perfectly for the rear turn signals! No errors and no hyperflash!

Here are some additional tips for those attempting the rear turn signal upgrade:
- Get a 9/16 hex screw driver to open the driver side casing. Makes life MUCH easier.
- Also pull down on the cover when unscrewing or it may not quite unscrew.
- Notice the base position of the halogen bulb as you unscrew it and hold your new LED bulb the exact same way when screwing it back. (the 1157 base has 2 pins that are offset at different heights)
- Notice the orientation of the power cables at the connector before twisting. It'll help with your orientation when trying to twist it back in after swapping out the bulb.

 

[qwikhit]

This is the exact info I needed. Looking to upgrade my headlight on my 21 S model. How is the “down the road” enhancement over the original halogens? Also are the 9005’s the 6000k variety? Thanks in advance

 

[szillaxl]

now if we could only get both sections to light up when the brakes are actuated. Like the stock LED assemblies

 

[reigndeerz]

This is the exact info I needed. Looking to upgrade my headlight on my 21 S model. How is the “down the road” enhancement over the original halogens? Also are the 9005’s the 6000k variety? Thanks in advance

Have been running with the upgraded headlights for 2 months right now.
Very satisfied so far and no issues whatsoever.

yes, confirming that the 9005s are 6000k.

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[qwikhit]

Have been running with the upgraded headlights for 2 months right now.
Very satisfied so far and no issues whatsoever.

yes, confirming that the 9005s are 6000k.

Looking at the Lasfit website and they list different wattages. Which wattage did you chose?

 

[reigndeerz]

Looking at the Lasfit website and they list different wattages. Which wattage did you chose?

60W. I linked to the exact item I purchased in my original post. Get it from Amazon as it's cheaper than the LASFIT site.

 

[qwikhit]

Thanks; appreciate all your help

 

[TellyJerz]

Only thing I’m worried about is by removing the desiccant it’ll build it moisture. Not sure where you live but I’m in NJ so idk if it’ll be a issue.

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[soNburst]

Do you need a tool to remove the back cover to get to the backup/reverse lights?

 

[ElCangriz]

Only thing I’m worried about is by removing the desiccant it’ll build it moisture. Not sure where you live but I’m in NJ so idk if it’ll be a issue.

What do you mean?

 

[qwikhit]

Purchased the Lasfit headlights based off of reindeerz recommendations from Amazon (they were definitely cheaper ). Delivery set for tomorrow

 

[reigndeerz]

Do you need a tool to remove the back cover to get to the backup/reverse lights?

A plastic pry tool would make it easier to remove the back panelling, but you could almost definitely do it without.