[Priscillababy]

while I realize that picture below shows a 3rd gen MDX, I've included it to provide a visual respresentation of the type of 'clean white, crisp, bright white LED light effect' that I'm seeking to attain via the replacement of my 7 year old 2009 MDX license plate LED's (that have since died) via the install of some some Philips T10 white LED bulbs recently purchased from Amazon:
<img src="https://drivetofive.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/mdx_in_driveway.jpg" width="76%" height="95%">
<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71nKIk3-WQL._SL1500_.jpg" width="10%" height="10%"><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81aDOCGgSGL._SL1500_.jpg" width="20%" height="20%">

with that being said, which of the following best applies to your personal experience concerning license plate bulb replacement/upgrade on your 2007-2013 Acura MDX:

 

[skirmich]

I voted! YAY!!!

 

[Priscillababy]

I voted! YAY!!!

LOL- we all know which vote is yours and which is mine...if we all had your mechanical know how
the Acura service departments would go bankrupt :grin:

 

[skirmich]

If I had the money I will probably have it done at the dealership even if it was a complete rip-off..
For example right now outside is 110°F, I hope nothing goes wrong with the cars because I don´t have a Garage in this house hahahaha even changing a Tire will kill me.

A lot of people back in SD goes to the dealership for Service just because of the Weather, Acura service waiting areas in SD are nice, Chilling Cold in Summer and lots and lots of free Cinnamon Rolls and Cokes while you Wait... I abused the waiting areas more than a couple of times

 

[MD_X]

1st time in the dark using my cellphone flashlight - 30mins, the hardest part was putting the clear lens back onto the light housing
I just redid my lights again yesterday after receiving my new bulbs - under 10mins now.


picture # 1 below shows the newer bulbs

picture # 2 are the old previous bulbs

 

[skirmich]

What bulbs did you use MD_X? are those the Philips ones?

 

[MD_X]

I had these on order before I saw your philips suggestion, so I thought I'll give them a try first and they seem pretty decent.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01933VZE4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[skirmich]

Color looks nice, I dunno if the white balance is correct but they look as white as the Philips! But definitely stronger in output or just being a white MDX makes it look like they are super bright..

Now the problem is how long will they last, Is hard to beat the 12 year warranty on the Philips.

 

[MD_X]

Not sure how my camera phone balance it out, but in person they look pretty good to me. Yea, the warranty isn't comparable to philips, but I don't think I'll have the car for 12yrs, and at 10bucks for a whole batch, I can deal with it.

 

[Priscillababy]

Not sure how my camera phone balance it out, but in person they look pretty good to me. Yea, the warranty isn't comparable to philips, but I don't think I'll have the car for 12yrs, and at 10bucks for a whole batch, I can deal with it.

NICE bright/clear white!!!!

While the output looks great (perhaps the overall effect is further facilitated by the white color of your MDX?)- I would not have ended up purchasing that particular bulb (too many low ratings on Amazon, and not enough 5 star reviews- I need at least 90% 5 star reviews and this product only has about 50% with quite a few reviews stating that the bulbs seem to work okay initially but eventually either crap out after several weeks, or instead they may resort to blinking periodically and/or blowing fuses)- if the Philips can produce that same color white with as close to the brightness of the one's you found (and picture below) instead, I'll be a happy camper?! :29:

<img src=http://www.mdxers.org/forums/attachments/second-generation-mdx-2007-2013/94378d1499811255-license-plate-bulb-replacement-difficulty-scale-poll-mechanical-inclination-iq-test-image1.jpg>

 

[skirmich]

I agree I dunno if I will have the car in 12 years but when those LEDs go out you will have to replace them and someday the plastic trim will break. The 12 year warranty makes me believe Philips used top of the shelf SMDs which means Zero downtime for the life of the car..

 

[MD_X]

I can see why Priscilla would hold off on buying them, after reading her whole day experience trying to change out two bulbs. It's super easy for me to change, so I'm not afraid if these die out quickly. I have a feeling, I'll be updating this thread in a few months....if these last me at least 6 months, I'll be happy.

 

[Priscillababy]

Right now I have an appointment with the stealership to change out my license plate bulbs- they had quoted me at $108 for labor!!!! with that being said, I'm now leaning towards throwing on my big girl panties, in an effort to face my fear (post traumatic trauma from about 7 years ago when I had last struggled for hours while changing out the license plate bulbs myself ) and am digging up some info from old related posts from the past that may come in handy (as I'm still unable to find any YouTube videos specific to our 2007-2013 MDX's that details the license plate bulb swap process?).

Posts below are from Mr. 'LionSpeed' who had mastered LED replacement on the 2007 MDX (back in 2007!) and seemed to have been able to change out the license plate bulbs in under 15 minutes on average himself....

I have also included a link below to a product (flexible screwdriver attachment) on Amazon that may come in handy (and which costs approximately 1/10th of the labor price quoted by the Acura stealership for this particular job!!!) during my near future attempt to re-visit the 2007-2013 Acura MDX license plate bulb replacement change-out process?

http://www.mdxers.org/forums/74-second-generation-mdx-2007-2013/28802-fog-light-upgrade-hid-6.html

Total time = 12mins.
Tools = a screw driver, a philips (smaller better for tight space at the end)
Total screws = 6

It is the thing of beauty.

Heat00.

I took the cover off the camera then unscrewed all the screws above the lic plate. I was able to get in and replace the lights. I pry'd it open enough to get the fixtures out. putting the one above the camera back in was kind of difficult. I was almost sure i was going to break or crease the plastic. It worked out tho. I couldn't figure out how the hell the camera is attached. It's most likely from inside the door.

Too lazy, so I copy this text/tips fr a friend. dwot

<img src="http://www.mdxers.org/forums/attachments/second-generation-mdx-2007-2013/37107d1188437795-fog-light-upgrade-hid-licleds.jpg">

LITTLEPIG Flexible Drill Screwdriver Extension Holder with Magnetic Quick Connect Drive 4/1 Universal Flexible Shaft Tip Extension Bits 11.8 Inch（including 1 Drill bit set
https://www.amazon.com/LITTLEPIG-Sc...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BN4FWZRKADH39G71M376

<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61nGztvSVML._SL1200_.jpg">

 

[MD_X]

Priscilla - if you're going to make another attempt to install the bulbs yourself, I recommend picking up a set of nylon pry tool. Like this set here - https://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-auto-trim-and-molding-tool-set-67021.html

You won't need that fancy flex screwdriver bit, just a basic philips will do fine.

 

[Priscillababy]

Priscilla - if you're going to make another attempt to install the bulbs yourself, I recommend picking up a set of nylon pry tool. Like this set here - https://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-auto-trim-and-molding-tool-set-67021.html

You won't need that fancy flex screwdriver bit, just a basic philips will do fine.

Thank you- this one will be easy as I actually already have this kit- will make sure to have it handy (along with a bottle of Don Julio Tequila Blanco) once I build up enough nerve to address the dreaded (2nd gen. MDX license plate swap) in the near future- if you think about, it's almost as if Acura purposely designed this particular bulb swap (while making reference in the owners manual- to VISIT DEALER for license plate bulb replacement!!) just so that they can pull in about $108 for each complying sucker!!!

 

[RainGoat]

Priscilla, I think you might be correct. The license plate bulb swap seems very un-Japanese in difficulty. I changed out all the bulbs in my G37 & Pathfinder spending about as much time per car as I got on the stupid license plate bulb on the MDX-& I gave up because I was afraid I was going to crease or break the plastic. I feel I just have been doing something wrong given the ease some of the others quoted but I'm pretty mechanically inclined & have all the tools. I'll give it another go though. As an FYI, I'm using Diode Dynamics LEDs. Also, the lower front fascia light look like a bear but the upper lights are pretty easy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Priscillababy]

Priscilla, I think you might be correct. The license plate bulb swap seems very un-Japanese in difficulty. I changed out all the bulbs in my G37 & Pathfinder spending about as much time per car as I got on the stupid license plate bulb on the MDX-& I gave up because I was afraid I was going to crease or break the plastic. I feel I just have been doing something wrong given the ease some of the others quoted but I'm pretty mechanically inclined & have all the tools. I'll give it another go though. As an FYI, I'm using Diode Dynamics LEDs. Also, the lower front fascia light look like a bear but the upper lights are pretty easy.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm telling ya- its as if Acura made the (2nd gen. MDX) LICENSE PLATE light bulb replacement process more challenging in an effort to dissuade users from attempting to do it on their own?!- ALTHOUGH it can definitely be done, as has been done multiple times by many members on this very own message board! :29:

So while my latest (2nd overall) attempt (with the 1st one dating back to 2010 which took me approximately 6.5 hours- not joking!- to install some 'so-so' quality LED's {circa 2010 technology} which finally crapped out last month....and YES I was semi-traumatized from that particular experience!) took about 45 minutes (still a very long time compared to most other people here...LOL)- it seems like the clear-ish plastic housings (protecting the LED's from the outside elements etc.) are NOT sitting flush on my MDX as evidenced by pictures below- can anyone please tell me if this is NORMAL?!! :surprise:

(for the life of me I could not figure out way to get the plastic clear housings to come down any further to sit flush- pictures below clearly show some undesirable SPACE- while LED's work great- not really comfortable with that 'open space' around the edges of the two clear plastic housings containing/protecting the two LED bulbs...: :nerd:

<center><img src="http://www.mdxers.org/gallery/500/thumbs/License2.jpg" width="87%" height="87%"></center>
<center><img src="http://www.mdxers.org/gallery/500/thumbs/License1.jpg" width="87%" height="87%"></center>

*on a sidenote, instead of going with the
Philips 127916000KB2 Vision LED Car Lamp, 194 LED / T10 White 6000K, 2 Pack
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017VORB7M/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I instead opted for the following LED's (which were a tad brighter- only time will truly tell if these will end up lasting as long as the Philips one's likely would have?!)
SiriusLED Extremely Bright 5730 Chipset LED Bulbs for Car Interior Lights License Plate Dome Map Side Marker Door Courtesy Wedge T10 168 192 194 2825 W5W 6000K Xenon White Pack of 2
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GXO3IUG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[skirmich]

Your pics dont work for me :/

 

[Priscillababy]

Your pics dont work for me :/

here are the (non-HTML) links to the two pictures...hopefully you can see these after clicking on each? :29:

http://www.mdxers.org/gallery/500/thumbs/License1.jpg
http://www.mdxers.org/gallery/500/thumbs/License2.jpg

 

[skirmich]

Nope, those send me to a "NOT-FOUND" page.
Am I the only one not seeing them?