cobrar97

This is the definitive guide to VLEDs in the Q5/SQ5. I’ll write more below, but for to-the-point reference, here’s the information:

Bulbs you’ll be changing:

Front Dome Lights – (2) 38mm Festoon Bulbs

Front Map Lights – (2) 194 Bulbs – These are in the same unit as the dome bulbs.

Under Sun Visor Vanity Lights – (2) 38mm Festoon Bulbs – This is 1 bulb per side.

Glove Box Light – (1) 194 Bulb

Rear Dome/Map Lights – (4) 194 Bulbs – This is 2 bulbs per side.

Trunk Lights – (3) 194 Bulbs – This is 2 bulbs in truck area and 1 bulb on hatch.

Front & Rear Door Puddle Lights – (4) 194 Bulbs

*Front & Rear Door Lights for SQ5 ONLY – (4) 194 Bulbs in red reflectors – SQ5 ONLY has these extra 4 bulbs.

Total bulbs is (18) bulbs for Q5 and (22) for SQ5.


VLEDs for locations above:

Front Dome Light – (2) 38mm Festoon
VLED 5K WHITE 10 LED HIGH OUTPUT DOME LIGHT BULB 240LM 38MM 6411 6418 6423 211 211-2 578
5K WHITE 10 LED HIGH OUTPUT DOME LIGHT BULB 240LM 38MM 6411 6418 6423 211 211-2 578 - 6418 38MM LED - Shop Bulb #

Front Map Lights - (2) 194 Down-Fire
VLED 5K WHITE 4 LED HIGH POWER BULBS 194 168 158 160LM
5K WHITE 4 LED HIGH POWER BULBS 194 168 158 160LM | 1 PAIR - 194 - 168 - 158 LED - Shop Bulb #

Under Sun Visor Vanity Lights – (2) 38mm Festoon
VLED 5K WHITE 10 LED HIGH OUTPUT DOME LIGHT BULB 240LM 38MM 6411 6418 6423 211 211-2 578
5K WHITE 10 LED HIGH OUTPUT DOME LIGHT BULB 240LM 38MM 6411 6418 6423 211 211-2 578 - 6418 38MM LED - Shop Bulb #

Glove Box Light – (1) 194 Flank
VLED 5K WHITE 4 LED HIGH POWER FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 160LM
194 - 168 LED Bulb - High Performance & Long Lasting - VLEDS

Rear Dome/Map Lights – (4) 194 360-Degree
VLED 194 5K WHITE 6 LED HIGH POWER 360° 180LM
194 5K WHITE 6 LED HIGH POWER 360° 180LM | 1 PAIR - 194 - 168 - 158 LED - Shop Bulb #

Trunk Lights – (3) 194 Flank
VLED 5K WHITE 4 LED HIGH POWER FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 160LM
194 - 168 LED Bulb - High Performance & Long Lasting - VLEDS

Front & Rear Door Puddle Lights – (4) 194 Flank Bulbs
VLED 5K WHITE 4 LED HIGH POWER FLANK BULBS 194 168 158 160LM
194 - 168 LED Bulb - High Performance & Long Lasting - VLEDS

*Front & Rear Door Lights for SQ5 ONLY – (4) 194 Flank Bulbs – RED
VLED RED 4 LED HIGH POWER FLANK BULBS 194 168 158
194 - 168 LED Bulb - High Performance & Long Lasting - VLEDS

Now…there are many LED kits available on the market, and there are several people using different kits and brands with much success. This only covers the VLEDs.
VLEDs are one of the most expensive on the market. They are also one of the brightest available, one the best quality, and probably the only ones created in the US (although possible not “made” in the US). Another forum user, Dustin Fennell, has experience with VLEDs from his current SQ5 as well as other vehicles. He will probably add information that he has found beneficial during his experiences with VLEDs as well as other brands. Dustin is the reason I decided to go with VLEDs, and I couldn’t be happier.
VLEDs are available in 5000K and 6000K color temperatures. Many brands don’t even tell you the color temp, and most are only available as the 6000K. I decided to go with the 5000K because it is PURE white, and I did not want ANY bluish color at all. Additionally, 5000K is the closest interior LED that you will get to matching the OEM HID lighting of the Audi. Many people may prefer the 6000K that would probably be considered “whiter” and possible a closer color temp to the OEM LEDs of the Audi headlight.
For SQ5 - Concerning the (4) red LEDs, if you need to save a few dollars, you could skip these. Since they are red, not changing them would not ever be noticeable; it’s all about the brightness of the light and nothing more.
Many companies selling the LED kits will provide all the 194 bulbs as “Flank” style (which means 90-degree orientation of fire). In many of locations, the flank style is exactly what’s needed, but some of the locations are better suited for 360-degree bulbs and some for front-fire bulbs. VLEDs is one of the only companies that offer everything needed for lighting that works perfectly with the different Audi fixtures. For example, the in the rear-door dome light, a flank bulb will fire toward only half of the fixture, so it will have a banded-light appearance, being brighter on one side of the fixture than the other. A 360-degree bulb will light the entire fixture most-similar to the OEM bulb. In the front map lights, a flank bulb will fire into the side of the fixture, whereas a down-fire bulb will send the light down the fixture tube as the OEM did. Many people use the kits and end up with these conditions in their fixtures and never really notice. For someone like myself, very picky, this was not an option; so VLEDs what the only choice for me.
As far as the difference over OEM, it’s quite remarkable. The light is 4 times brighter, and you can clearly see everything in the cabin. Additionally, the light is pure white and offers a very expensive, classy appearance. It works well and highlights Audi’s quality pieces of trim, upholstery, etc. The vehicle interior looks even more expensive than we all know it is to begin with. The lights under the doors that light the ground when the door is opened is, again, many times brighter. Instead of a slight glow on the ground, you can clearly see all around the area.
The vehicle DOES has (4) more LED lights in the footwell areas (1 for each seat). In the Q5/SQ5, there are already LED from the factory, and they are quite dim. You could replace these with additional lighting to be brighter and to match what you’ve installed everywhere else. I choose not to, because I really have no need to put additional light on the floor. It will just show any floor-mat dirt easier, and for me, the current LEDs where just fine. For anyone wanting to do footwells in red, blue, or amber; this would be the time. HOWEVER, this is NOT the same bulbs as used above and further research would need done on choosing the correct bulb/fixture. Since I didn’t want to change these, it was a non-concern.
In conclusion, the VLEDs are going to be 4x brighter than OEM and 2x brighter than most other LED bulbs and kits that are commonly available. The color upgrade is amazing, the increase in lighting is substantial, and it’s something you certainly won’t be sorry you did. Depending on promo codes available at the time, you’ll pay around $175 give-or-take.
As far as installation, there are numerous other threads covering installation...showing pictures, directions, Audi manual images, etc. So I’ll leave it to them, as I followed information found here, and I didn’t have any trouble. Have plastic trim tools versus a screwdriver is a big help.
Dustin…get in here and make some comments about everything you’ve found out with your round of experimentation and different lights.
If I've mis-typed anything, let me know so I may edit the above information to be accurate for everyone.

HerrK

Nice write up. Be careful how you interpret - "Designed and developed by VLEDS right here in the USA!" (from the VLED website)

I doubt they are made in the USA.

Dustin Fennell

Do note that the footwell lights on the SQ5 are not replaceable with the 194 flank bulbs as the connector is different. In fact, there really isn't a replaceable "bulb". The footwell light cans contain a small circuit board with an LED. Two wires leave the circuit boards and connect to the wire loop connector.

I replaced my front door puddle lights with Audi logo LED projectors, so I'm going to see if my oem puddle light cans will fit in the footwell openings. This would allow me to upgrade the footwell lights with the flank LEDS.

If you want, you can also use a flank bulb in the glove box to really make that area bright when opened.

Dustin Fennell

I used these for the rear dome and rear map lights. I'm very pleased with the output and the even coverage.

5K WHITE 4 LED HIGH POWER BULBS 194 168 158 160LM | 1 PAIR - 194 - 168 - 158 LED - Shop Bulb #

spijun

Why just SQ5, the same light exists in Q5
I have in all the door two light bulbs ( Door Warning light / Door Entry light )

rob40wilson03

I've seen more than one person on here say that the SQ5 has these 4 additional red lights, compared to the Q5. Maybe only in the US market....??

spijun

Maybe on US market, but it's so easy to add

cobrar97

Thanks Dustin - I updated information about the Glove Box (I DID do this light and just forgot), and updated about the footwells. I assumed they were the same by appearance, but I was wrong. Thanks for catching those two.

DjMoonski

Is there a huge difference with using the 194 Down-Fire bulbs vs the 194 360-Degree bulb for the front vs rear map lights?

I was about to follow exactly how cobrar97 laid it out but then saw your comment about using the 194 Down-Fire bulbs on the rear dome/map lights similar to the front map lights.

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Front Map Lights - (2) 194 Down-Fire
VLED 5K WHITE 4 LED HIGH POWER BULBS 194 168 158 160LM
5K WHITE 4 LED HIGH POWER BULBS 194 168 158 160LM | 1 PAIR - 194 - 168 - 158 LED - Shop Bulb #

Rear Dome/Map Lights – (4) 194 360-Degree
VLED 194 5K WHITE 6 LED HIGH POWER 360° 180LM
194 5K WHITE 6 LED HIGH POWER 360° 180LM | 1 PAIR - 194 - 168 - 158 LED - Shop Bulb #

cobrar97

DjMoonski - Either bulb will work. In that rear fixture, either bulb will provide about the same amount of lighting for the rear seats. I tried both and decided on the 360. Here's the reason:
If the front map light, the bulb is deep into the fixture with a cone shaped reflector around it. A 360 bulb yielded the same results as the front-firing because of this "tunnel" effect. They looked exactly the same to me.
In the rear however, it is a shallow depth and the bulb has the ability to fire light throughout the clean lens. Using a front-fire bulb gives you the light you want, but when you look at the fixture, it's a very "spot" appearance, and the rest of the plastic lens is unlit. You'll see that in OEM form, the plastic lens is filled with light (because the factory incandescent bulb is 360...as they all are). So I tried a 360 led, and then the light filled the entire lens...looking much more like OEM.
Most people probably wouldn't even notice, but when I look at a rectangle lens with a spot of light in the center, I wonder "why such a huge lens"...with 360 the entire lens is lit.
Many kits that only include flank bulbs are even worse...because the flank can point in one direction or the other. In that case, 1/2 the lens is lit or you can flip the bulb and the other half is lit. That's the worst look.
It's all personal preference, and either the down-fire or 360 will work great. After having down-fire, I changed to the 360 for lens appearance only...it didn't change the seat lighting at all.
Hope this helps.