[Blasirl]

Overview:
This is an extremely easy, satisfying, inexpensive modification. I ordered my Diode Dynamics 921 LED bulbs in the XP50 flavor. They are rated at 410 lumens which is significantly brighter than stock. (Anyone know the stock lumens?)

I asked Nick a few questions and then placed my order. I happened to order on Black Friday and received a healthy 20% off. If you don’t want to wait for BF this year, he does offer free shipping to US Cruzetalk members. I received them within a short time, so quick in fact I did not have time to install them right away.

If there are any questions, please ask, I’ll answer as best as I can and if needed I will modify the tutorial. So let’s take a look at my K-town Cruzer…

Tools Required:
- cross tip screw driver
- small flat tip screw driver (tweaker)
- a piece of small gage wire
- micro fiber cloth

Parts Required:

- replacement bulbs

Procedure:
It happened to be warm right after Thanksgiving, so I made time to install them. It was a breeze to do so.



1. Order and receive the DD XP50's.

2. This is a side by side comparison

3. This is the tools I used EDIT: I found a thin towel works even better than the wire.

4. Pop open the screw caps

5. This is a close up of the caps and its clip

6. Remove the screws

7. Gently ease the wire behind the tip of the tail light housing. I would use a plastic pry bar if you have a hard time starting the wire. I made the mistake of using the small screwdriver to pry and ended up scratching my paint – even though I knew I wouldn’t.

8. When you get about this far, gently tug on the wire and with the other hand, near the screws you removed, pull at the same time. You are popping two pins out of their rubber socket.

9. This is what the removed lamp looks like. I also twisted out the reverse light.

10. Now is a good time to wipe out the accumulated crud to help with rust prevention

11. Now install the XP50’s. You may have to try a few times so test that the lamps light before you put everything back. If they do not light, try rotating them 180 degrees. If they still do not light, you may have to move the bent wire either to the left or the right and try again.

12. This is a shot from the side after the install

13. This is a shot from the back - they look like headlamps. The two orange balls at the top are actually street lamps.

Don’t they look just fantastic! If you have tinted windows this will make it easier to see for sure.

Another mod well done! ccasion14:

 

[ChevyGuy]

I use the "arm" method of removing the lights. Using the side of my arm against the side of the light housing. I use the arm to hit & drag. It may take a few tries, but it works for me. The idea is to "pull" the housing straight back. There are guide pins that prevent it from moving any other direction. What you have to do is break the seal of these guide pins so it will start to slide. That's the idea behind the "hit" - to provide a shock to the seal and and provide a push/pull to move the housing backwards.

 

[Blasirl]

I use the "arm" method of removing the lights. Using the side of my arm against the side of the light housing. I use the arm to hit & drag. It may take a few tries, but it works for me. The idea is to "pull" the housing straight back. There are guide pins that prevent it from moving any other direction. What you have to do is break the seal of these guide pins so it will start to slide. That's the idea behind the "hit" - to provide a shock to the seal and and provide a push/pull to move the housing backwards.

My luck and I would crack the housing.

 

[ChevyGuy]

My luck and I would crack the housing.

You're not supposed to hit it that hard. Besides, unless you have arms of steel, you're not going to hit all that hard with the side of your forearm anyway.

 

[Blasirl]

You're not supposed to hit it that hard. Besides, unless you have arms of steel, you're not going to hit all that hard with the side of your forearm anyway.

You missed the "My luck" part:banghead:

 

[MB2014LT2]

$90 for reverse light is crazy money.....I would sooner buy an led light bar and mount on my rear bumper for that kind of money...not that I actual would but wow....$90....????

 

[ChevyGuy]

Depends on your needs. The "middle" brightness lights are a lot more reasonable and provide a nice quality of light.

 

[a2chris]

I installed some very similar looking bulbs in 2015 but they were not very effective with my tinted windows. Mine are probably no where near as bright since i paid like $30 for 3. They were the brightest I could find at the time for that small of a socket. I debated installing a bigger bulb and making an adapter but did not want to modify the housing. Also debated some aux reverse lights or a backup camera.
Those bulbs seem like the ticket except for that price. I paid that much for my dual beam LED headlights and they are rated at 3500+ lumens. OPT7 fluxbeam or somthing.

 

[Blasirl]

I installed some very similar looking bulbs in 2015 but they were not very effective with my tinted windows. Mine are probably no where near as bright since i paid like $30 for 3. They were the brightest I could find at the time for that small of a socket. I debated installing a bigger bulb and making an adapter but did not want to modify the housing. Also debated some aux reverse lights or a backup camera.
Those bulbs seem like the ticket except for that price. I paid that much for my dual beam LED headlights and they are rated at 3500+ lumens. OPT7 fluxbeam or somthing.

You get what you pay for. These fit well and throw no codes and are very bright, bright enough to help, but not completely overcome, the tint. They are also warranted for three years

[h=1]Chevrolet Cruze Reverse/Backup LED Bulbs! Plug and Play! Big Increase in Visibility![/h]

 

[a2chris]

Except I feel you don't get the lumens you paid for. There has to be another option between $20 and $90 a set. I wish GM would have used a bigger bulb to begin with (3057 or 3157?).

 

[Blasirl]

410 lumens is quite bright. These are not headlights, so short of creating a larger reverse light opening, I am not sure what else you can do.

 

[Cruzen18]

Will be doing mine soon as this cough/cold go away and the weather cooperates. Love the look, just not liking that $$!

 

[Blasirl]

Will be doing mine soon as this cough/cold go away and the weather cooperates. Love the look, just not liking that $$!

So did you ever finish this? Any Pic's?

 

[Cruzen18]

Hey, thanks for reminder. Completely forgot to return and post...haha! Yes, I finally ordered them. Got the bulbs on Thu and installed them that night. Big difference in overall light and much better view in b/u camera as well.

 

[stepasyd]

Two can play this game. (Although we are in the 1st Gen section.)

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Blasirl]

(Although we are in the 1st Gen section.)

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Well, you know, we don't mind ... occasionally anyways!

 

[Cruzen18]

Two can play this game.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Now, THATS twins... ?