Dark / insufficient frunk light - is there a solution?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 106
Likes: 100
Dark / insufficient frunk light - is there a solution?
Can't imagine I'm the only one who thinks the frunk light is completely insufficient. I can't see anything, as the light dispersed only sideways but not downwards.
Has anybody come up with a mod to improve the light situation in the frunk?
Has anybody come up with a mod to improve the light situation in the frunk?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 106
Likes: 100
Ok, here's an update: I removed the light unit and opened it. It contains a single SMD. I installed half of a reflector I removed from a keychain light into the light unit in order to throw more light downwards. However this resulted in a very focused light and less distribution on the lens. It somehow worked and somehow didn't. I seemed to have more light thrown downwards but less light dispersed in the general direction.
So I removed the reflector and added some aluminium tape as reflector inside the black plastic box the SMD sits in to throw more light out. Again this somehow worked but there just seems to be just not enough light energy to begin with. Also I noticed the plastic trim the light is installed in is pointing slightly upwards which does not help spreading light into the frunk and even blinds in complete darkness. Really low effort solution by Porsche.
I figured out that this light unit is a standard VAG part used as interior light, glove box and trunk light in VWs, Audis etc.
LED 4E0 947 415, example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153738666...YAAOSwlTld3DwA
Now I found these and might give them a try:
https://xenons4u.co.uk/4b0947415a-le...ght-units.html
18 SMDs instead of 1 probably should do the job.
Why am I so obsessed with that little light you might ask? Well, the way the lights are arranged in our garage leaves the front end of my car in darkness. I use the frunk a lot for all kind of stuff, so I need to see what's where.
So I removed the reflector and added some aluminium tape as reflector inside the black plastic box the SMD sits in to throw more light out. Again this somehow worked but there just seems to be just not enough light energy to begin with. Also I noticed the plastic trim the light is installed in is pointing slightly upwards which does not help spreading light into the frunk and even blinds in complete darkness. Really low effort solution by Porsche.
I figured out that this light unit is a standard VAG part used as interior light, glove box and trunk light in VWs, Audis etc.
LED 4E0 947 415, example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153738666...YAAOSwlTld3DwA
Now I found these and might give them a try:
https://xenons4u.co.uk/4b0947415a-le...ght-units.html
18 SMDs instead of 1 probably should do the job.
Why am I so obsessed with that little light you might ask? Well, the way the lights are arranged in our garage leaves the front end of my car in darkness. I use the frunk a lot for all kind of stuff, so I need to see what's where.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 1,520
Likes: 987
Have you considered adding inexpensive light fixtures to your garage and replacing the ones you have with higher output units? I added a hanging shop light to light a dim area and powered it from one of the existing light fixtures via an adaptor so that it would turn on/off with the light switch. The shop light has LED tubes which draw very little current and aren't sensitive to cold like florescent tubes are.
And then I replaced the existing light bulbs in the two old style fixtures with these marvelous adjustable super bright LED products from Costco.
Continuing my obsession, I replaced all the incandescent bulbs in the garage door opener housings with 100W equivalent 5000K "daylight" LED bulbs that draw only 13W each and run super cool. I turn those on when I need even more light to work by.
The total cost of these lighting improvements was under $100.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 106
Likes: 100
Thank you for your informative post. If it was my garage I'd have all the light in the world there and much more (quick jacks, or even a lift) but it's not, it's shared with the other inhabitants. Also the problem persists when parked elsewhere, etc.
The ordered 18 SMD light works great after some minor adjustments to fit it properly. Looks OEM and is as bright as you'd expect it to be. Tried to take a picture but iPhone 14 has major image post processing and I couldn't take a picture in time that looks the way it looks IRL.
The ordered 18 SMD light works great after some minor adjustments to fit it properly. Looks OEM and is as bright as you'd expect it to be. Tried to take a picture but iPhone 14 has major image post processing and I couldn't take a picture in time that looks the way it looks IRL.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 100
Likes: 15
@Woofman lol, no, the OP's problem is that frunk light is really bad. I have the same problem. Mounting better lighting in every garage during my trips is not a good solution, especially as I would then need to mount a lot of lighting in airbnb-rented garages 
@InfiniteSmiles I'd be very interested in knowing what you ended up with! Keep us posted.
@InfiniteSmiles I'd be very interested in knowing what you ended up with! Keep us posted.
