[fuquar]

So now that I've upgraded(?) to a 2016 Passat, I am slowly exploring what is new, what carries over from the '12-'15 models, and upgrading to the same creature comforts I had in my previous Passats. This thread is about the Taillights and Reverse Lights.

1. NEW BULBS!! - The Taillight/Turn Signal bulbs have changed for 2016. They are no longer 1156, but now 7440.
2. The inner Trunk mounted lights are still 194 wedge style, but now there is only 1.
3. The Reverse lights are still 194 wedge style.

For those that want the juicy bits first, here is my review of the LED Bulbs I purchased through deAutoKey.
** Disclaimer, I was given a small discount on the bulbs in consideration that I would write this review. **

- Having run the lights for several days now, I have had no Bulb Out Warnings.
- All of the bulbs installed easily, with no changes needed to the housings.

Taillight Light Output - Similar to the '12-'15 taillights, the factory Halogens don't seem to provide a bright, eye-catching light pattern. The LED's do a good job of not only being brighter (no changes to bulb brightness through vag-com), but also appear more red. My opinion is that the taillights on the 2016 appear to be a little bit deeper red than the previous ones, and the LED's overcome this to increase visibility of the car from behind.

Reverse Light Output - The housing for the '16 is different from the '12-'15 and I was concerned about light from the LED's being focused and directed out of the opening. The reverse lights from deAutoKey worked really well compared to the factory bulbs, as well as compared to LED bulbs from other super bright LED companies. The brightness and light output of the bulbs was noticeable, not only when viewed from outside the car, but also in the image quality of the reverse camera.

Factory Reverse Light:

Factory Tail/Brake Light:

Lights required to change all of the bulbs in the rear:

How to change your bulbs

1. Open Trunk

2. Remove inner light cover by prying off cover with small flat head screwdriver (there is a small opening.)

3. Remove outer edge piece by pulling piece straight down towards the trunk (perpendicular to the trunk?)

4. Using a 10mm socket, remove the light holder/brace (for installation, note that short side is towards the top of the trunk lid)

5. Pry down the red locking tab on the wiring connecter, then push in the black tab and remove the connector

6. Remove the light by lifting slightly at the inside, then sliding towards the outside of the car and lifting away

7. Remove bulb holder by opening tabs along the side

8. Replace bulbs

9. Re-install in reverse order


Changing Tail/Brake/Turn Light

1. Remove inner trunk access cover

2. Pry up the red locking tab on connecter
3. Press the black tab on the connecter and remove it; make sure to pull it back and let it hang in the trunk, or else you'll be fishing for it behind the trunk liner.

4. Using your hand, flat head screw driver, or 10mm socket, remove the white plastic screw holding in the light.
5. Gently pull the light straight out, away from the body
6. Twist counter-clockwise the white bulb holder and pull it out of the housing

7. Replace light bulb (pulls straight out)

8. Re-install in reverse order

Comparison Pictures (LED left, Factory right):

Running Lights:

LED:

Factory:

Reverse Lights (deAutoKey left, SuperBrightLEDs right):

Video of Lights Flashing (ignore flickering, that's a phone/camera optical illusion)

 

[compu_85]

Does the inner fixture blink with the outer fixture? I thought the facelift cars were like the early ones where the outer fixture is a brake / turn / parking, and the ones on the trunk lid are only parking?

If that is the case you likely put too bright of a lamp in the fixtures on the trunk lid... they have ~15w lamps there from the factory so the bright brake light type LED bulb you put there will be as bright as a brake light / rear fog light all the time.

-J

 

[fuquar]

Does the inner fixture blink with the outer fixture? I thought the facelift cars were like the early ones where the outer fixture is a brake / turn / parking, and the ones on the trunk lid are only parking?

That's a good question - They do not flash.

If that is the case you likely put too bright of a lamp in the fixtures on the trunk lid... they have ~15w lamps there from the factory so the bright brake light type LED bulb you put there will be as bright as a brake light / rear fog light all the time. -J

The inner lights are not the same as the outer. Visually, they are not as bright as the brake lights or a reverse fog light. Here is what I had previously on my '12 Passats:

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...e-retrofit-car/1128/2679/#/tab/Specifications

I can't find the specific details on the deAutoKey site about the wattage for their inner bulbs, but I shared with them the specifications of the bulb before ordering. I would doubt those 194 style bulbs are pulling anything close to 15W; the ones from SuperBrightLEDs are only pulling around 3W.

 

[deAutoLED.com]

Thanks for the review/diy! We appreciate it.

The product is up for sale and ready go ship:
http://deautokey.com/product/brake-tail-turn-led-kit-for-the-new-2016-volkswagen-passat-b7

:thumbup:

 

[aka_deno]

Sorry to say, but the non led new tail lights look worse than the first gen tail lights. The new factory led tails look kinda weird too.

 

[deAutoLED.com]

Our LEDs will help make them better. :thumbup: