Benjamin Carter
Member
Hey everyone,
I’m looking to refresh the interior of my Q70. Don’t get me wrong—I absolutely love the craftsmanship and that "old-school luxury" vibe our cars have—but those factory halogen bulbs are starting to look seriously dated. Every time I unlock the car at night, that dim yellow glow makes it feel more like a 2005 rental than a premium sedan.
I’m planning a two-stage upgrade and wanted to get some feedback from the community before I start tearing things apart.
Stage 1: The Full LED Swap (Interior & Trunk) I'm planning to swap out the puddle lights, vanity mirrors, and trunk lights for a crisp 6000K pure white.
My goal: A clean, modern look that actually lets me see what's in the trunk at night.
Stage 2: Ambient Lighting (Keeping it OEM+) This is where I’m torn. I want it to look integrated, not like a "fast and furious" DIY job.
Option A: The Caraktis ambient light kit. I’ve seen some buzz about this on Reddit. It actually replaces the dash and door trim pieces, which seems like the most OEM-looking solution out there. Has anyone here pulled the trigger on this? How’s the fit and finish?
Option B: Fiber Optic/EL Wire. I thought about tucking those thin light strips into the gaps, but our Q70 dash is so curvy and the tolerances are tight. I’m worried it’ll look "tacked on" during the day.
A couple of questions for those who’ve been there:
The Puddle Lights: For those who’ve swapped the door lights, how fragile are the clips? I’m paranoid about snapping a tab and ending up with a rattle in the door panel.
Color Choice: Do you think Pure White is the way to go, or does a subtle Ice Blue play better with our signature Infiniti purple instrument cluster?
Disclaimer: Not sponsored—just a guy trying to spend his weekend in the garage. If you’ve got photos of your setup, please drop them below!
Cheers!
I’m looking to refresh the interior of my Q70. Don’t get me wrong—I absolutely love the craftsmanship and that "old-school luxury" vibe our cars have—but those factory halogen bulbs are starting to look seriously dated. Every time I unlock the car at night, that dim yellow glow makes it feel more like a 2005 rental than a premium sedan.
I’m planning a two-stage upgrade and wanted to get some feedback from the community before I start tearing things apart.
Stage 1: The Full LED Swap (Interior & Trunk) I'm planning to swap out the puddle lights, vanity mirrors, and trunk lights for a crisp 6000K pure white.
My goal: A clean, modern look that actually lets me see what's in the trunk at night.
Stage 2: Ambient Lighting (Keeping it OEM+) This is where I’m torn. I want it to look integrated, not like a "fast and furious" DIY job.
Option A: The Caraktis ambient light kit. I’ve seen some buzz about this on Reddit. It actually replaces the dash and door trim pieces, which seems like the most OEM-looking solution out there. Has anyone here pulled the trigger on this? How’s the fit and finish?
Option B: Fiber Optic/EL Wire. I thought about tucking those thin light strips into the gaps, but our Q70 dash is so curvy and the tolerances are tight. I’m worried it’ll look "tacked on" during the day.
A couple of questions for those who’ve been there:
The Puddle Lights: For those who’ve swapped the door lights, how fragile are the clips? I’m paranoid about snapping a tab and ending up with a rattle in the door panel.
Color Choice: Do you think Pure White is the way to go, or does a subtle Ice Blue play better with our signature Infiniti purple instrument cluster?
Disclaimer: Not sponsored—just a guy trying to spend his weekend in the garage. If you’ve got photos of your setup, please drop them below!
Cheers!