[2021sportback]

This is awesome!! Did you add any on the dash?

 

[2021sportback]

Unfortunately the dash trim, e-tron logo trim, and center console upper trim use built in multi-color LED's and not the removable modules... so there is no easy way to add them without a 4 wire harness and coding the modules to support it.

I'm considering getting this kit for the dash, center console trim, and footwells, and would plug it into the back 12v if I could hide the wires:

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Not sure if I will try the doors because I haven't ever taken a door off a car and am scarred from my Tesla where the service center removed it once to fix something and then for the next 4 years after that until I sold it the door panel would pop off every time I closed it. Had it checked out multiple times but it was never fixed.

 

[2021sportback]

How are the existing white lights set up in the door? Is it a light pipe like the side assist ones? If so, do you think you could put the film over it like you did for the addition?

 

[2021sportback]

Do you know what AWG the wires were? Am looking for some splicers on amazon. If you could post the link to the ones you got too that would be great.

 

[2021sportback]

I didn't measure but they were pretty small. I used the red splice for 22AWG and it seemed to work okay.

Gardner Bender 22-10 AWG Tap Splice Assortment (10-Pack) 15-2210 - The Home Depot

Connect a new wire to an existing wire without stripping it by using this Tap Splice Assortment from Gardner Bender. Connection is secure and stable.

www.homedepot.com

Alright thanks, I've just ordered the parts. Will report back in a few weeks!

 

[2021sportback]

Forgot to mention one small tip for install. There is a small locating pin on the light pipe that needs to be trimmed off. You can see it sticking out in this pic. I just used a razor blade to cut it off.

It is used as the multi-color LED modules for the light pipes are specific to the area they light up. That is why there are two sets of modules in the Kufatec kit for the door trim. One has a locator pin on one side and the other locator pin is on the other side.

View attachment 11675

So cut from here down? Or just cut the pin off?

 

[2021sportback]

Finished doing this today (well, sort of). It wasn't as smooth sailing for me, but I am happy with the results! Taking the doors off and wiring the new lights was pretty simple, but it was not without problems (Most of them have been user error).

First problem I ran into: I had inserted the connector into the light module, and then tried to insert the wire. I ended up breaking a wire and connector doing this and had to order a new wire and connector. The correct order is to open the connector, insert the wires, close the connector, then insert the connector into the light module.

Second problem: I encountered an exit warning malfunction after reinstalling my rear left door. I ordered an OBDeleven and was able to clear the fault and the error message went away. There was a fault for "Function lighting exit alerter LED", static. The rear right door had the same fault but intermittent (no error message on the dash), so I cleared that as well. I had another exit warning malfunction after reinstalling my front driver door, but the front passenger door had no faults.

Third problem: The additional led module I installed in the driver door does not work, so for now I only have the factory strip instead of the additional one. I'm not sure if it is the LED module or if they didn't connect in the connector properly so I am going to have to do some troubleshooting on that at a later date. All other 3 doors are working perfectly.

Final problem: Because of the plastic wire connectors, I now have a slight rattle in some of the doors when they likely bump up against each other. I am eventually going to take the doors off and wrap the connectors in some electrical tape or felt tape.

Thank you @WunderWagen for all of your help with this! I never would have had the confidence or even idea to attack this had you not made this post.

For taking off the doors, I used this pry tool which has the same part number as the manual, and it made taking the doors off a breeze. I also taped some of the blue film on top of the lights in the footwell to match the blue door lights.

 

[2021sportback]

Well I just realized I was doing all of the splice connectors wrong too! I was putting the pliers over the plastic part and folding down the plastic part with the metal part, instead of pushing down the metal part first and then clipping the plastic part over. Just gave the metal part a tight squeeze and now they all light up! I'll tighten all the other connectors that way when I apply the felt tape.

 

[2021sportback]

So, I decided to try another ambient lighting addition to our Q8 e-tron Premium Plus. I liked the lighted e-tron logo on the Prestige trim as the passenger side dash doesn’t have much going on at night. I decided to try and add the lighted logo on our car.

The issue with this is the dash trim including the e-tron logo uses built-in LED modules. This is not the same as the removable modules used in the doors. However, when I had the Kufatec kit I noticed the built-in modules had similar housings to the door ones. I figured I might be able to modify them to work.

I ordered the parts needed and tried it out.

I had to remove the top cover and swap out the multicolor LED assembly and replace it with the white 2-pin assembly. This was a direct swap. I used the same blue tint film from the doors to match. I then used the same wires and housing from my door LED modification. This allowed me to convert the built-in multicolor 4-pin LED to be 2-pin. By doing this I was able to power the dash trim using the 2-wire harness from the passenger footwell light. Running the wiring through the dash trim to the footwell light was not too hard. Now we have a blue light up e-tron dash trim to match our doors.

The better news is that this method should work for the wood dash trim if someone wanted to do that. We didn’t because of the cost for the parts.

This should finish our plans for adding colored ambient lighting to our Premium Plus Q8 e-tron.

Oh no. Now I have another project