It's very easy (like plug in a table lamp easy)...except the lens cutting part, I need to come up with a jig to make that happen in a quality-repeatable manner to make this re-producible with ease. If you want a kit that's plug and play, that can be done very easy, I could come up with a estimate later today if you want; or I may just sell the parts needed to make it work that aren't available for purchase on Amazon/elsewhere and just put up a affiliate links for you guys to use if you desire. I will also list the exact parts needed on my thread so it can be done on ones own time and budget as well; open-source for life.

 

It's very easy (like plug in a table lamp easy)...except the lens cutting part, I need to come up with a jig to make that happen in a quality-repeatable manner to make this a mass product. If you want a kit that's plug and play, that can be done very easy, I could come up with a estimate later today if you want; or I may just sell the parts needed to make it work that aren't available for purchase on Amazon/elsewhere and just put up a affiliate links for you guys to use if you desire. I will also list the exact parts needed on my thread so it can be done on ones own time and budget as well; open-source for life.

I have reflectors on order and can do that just fine, be happy to receive the rest!

 

I'd prefer plug and play.

Just let me know when!

 

Here is the wiring diagram I made to explain how to hook everything up:

Here is the list of parts I used to get it all together:

Part Name	SKU #	Vendor	Quantity
Reflector, RIGHT	CM5Z-13A565-D	Tasca	1​
Reflector, LEFT	CM5Z-13A565-C	Tasca	1​
DotStar Digital LED Strip - Black 144 LED/m - 0.5 Meter	2328​	AdaFruit	2​
4 channel optocoupler that can handle up to 20V in and sends 5V out		Amazon	1​
DC/DC buck converter that drops 14V input to 5V output and can handle 10 Amps		Amazon	1​
Arduino Nano		Amazon	1​
Arduino Nano Extension board with I/O screw terminals (plug Arduino into it for easy to use screw terminals for hooking up)		Amazon	1​
20 awg braided wire in several colors		Amazon	1​
16 awg stranded wire in assorted colors (for hooking up Converter and power to LED strips)		Amazon	1​
Wire connectors JST SM style (assorted kits available to make your own plugs between devices, optional)		Amazon	1​
Terminal crimping tool (for making connectors in line above)		Amazon	1​
Curt Focus Trailer wiring harness kit (for easy connecting to tail lights without splicing)	C56273	eTrailer	1​
TE Connectivity Deutsch ICT Connectors / DTM06-4S (for waterproof connection in bumper)	1734-1071-ND	DigiKey	2​
TE Connectivity Deutsch ICT Connectors / DTM04-4P (for waterproof connection in bumper)	1734-1081-ND	DigiKey	2​
TE Connectivity Deutsch ICT Connectors / WM-4P (for waterproof connection in bumper)	1734-1050-ND	DigiKey	2​
TE Connectivity Deutsch ICT Connectors (VA) / 1060-20-0222 (for waterproof connection in bumper)	1734-1147-1-ND	DigiKey	8​
TE Connectivity Deutsch ICT Connectors (VA) / 1062-20-0222 (for waterproof connection in bumper)	1734-1151-1-ND	DigiKey	8​
TE Connectivity Deutsch ICT Connectors / WM-4S (for waterproof connection in bumper)	1734-1051-ND	DigiKey	2​
Heat shrink tubing assortment		Amazon	1​
J-B Weld 50133 Plastic Bonder Structural Adhesive Syringe - Tan - 25 ml (for sealing and reinforcing wires in reflector)		Amazon	1​
470 Ohm resistors (for RC Filters)		Amazon	4​
330 Ohm resistors		Amazon	2​
47 uF Capacitorv(for RC Filters)		Amazon	4​
1000 uF Capacitor rated at 6.3V or higher		Amazon	4​
PCB breadboard (for soldering RC Filters to)		Amazon	1​
Project Box (to fit everything in)		Amazon	1​
Wire wrap roll (fabric to protect wires and get a clean look)		Amazon	1​

 

Here are some pictures of how I opened up the reflectors. Basically, there wasn't any easy way, so I used a soldering iron/plastic welder to make a groove and push aside some of the plastic (you'll want it to make re-sealing by re-melting it back together easier.) Then I used a Dremel with a thin plastic cutting wheel to carefully cut in the rest of the way. It's not easy or fast, so be very careful and take your time.

 

Take the LED strips out of their supplied silicone sheath and remove ALL the silicone sealant sealing the wires into the sheath. You need it free of silicone to allow the epoxy to bond and seal the wires later.
Trim each LED strip down to 57 LEDs to fit lengthwise in the reflector.
The LED strips are just about 2mm too wide for the reflector, so you'll need to trim about 1mm off each side of the strips. You will be cutting into the copper on each side, no way around it, but be careful, take your time and it will still work fine if done right.
I bonded the LED strip to the reflector backing using 3M VHB tape. Then set the LED/reflector back into the clear reflector and clamp together.
Then start plastic welding the lenses back together and make sure you don't leave any holes. This takes forever, is tedious, and the vapors are not good for you. So again, there isn't an easy/fast way I could think of to do this.
Epoxy the wire exits from the housing to seal and support the wires. Again, no holes for water to get in!

 

You'll have to drill a hole in each side of your bumper to pass the wires through and up to the tail light area. Here's a shot from behind the bumper showing the sweet waterproof connecters for that OEM look.

 

Here are a couple final images of the RC Filter I ended up needing to add (can read about why earlier in the thread) and overall system consisting of 3 main pieces and a good place found to place them inside a project box in the trunk foam insert.

 

Dude this is awesome! My friend just sent me this and I skimmed through it! Did you ever make a way to sell this set up?

 

Thanks! It's still all still going strong 5 yrs in. Still no plans to ever sell kits; there's not really any money in it TBH. Made the posts as a bit of a "how-to" in the event others wanted to give it a shot. As far as I know it's still an exclusive club of one.