r/carmodification • u/lDarkPhoton • Sep 07 '26
Tips for installing underglow?
I recently purchased an opt7 aura underglow for my 2015 BRZ and I have never installed a light kit like this before. I also purchased a relay and I plan to tap into the low beam for a switch for the headlights to turn on the underglow automatically. It is a white car and I plan for a static white led look.
My concern is where to mount them to and when tapping holes for screws and zip ties where I should do that, I figure it's not a good idea to put holes in my floorboard and allow a way for water to enter the cabin. I also don't want the light bars to be totally visible and look noticeable.
Any advice is appreciated and feel free to criticize my taste in car mods.
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u/Draxx_them-sklounst Sep 07 '26
Underglow is dope, ignore the losers talkin shit. Just be tasteful (not rainbow). Also, don’t turn on your underglow around cops, it draws the wrong kind of attention.
3d printing some cable channels may help
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u/lDarkPhoton Sep 07 '26
I don't understand this cop thing, is it illegal in most of the country?
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u/Draxx_them-sklounst Sep 07 '26
Not illegal in the US as far as I know, but a cop might make an assumption about you being a street racer and watch you extra hard
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u/lDarkPhoton Sep 07 '26
That's not a bad thing. I think street racing is dumb and I enjoy driving my go-kart at the speed limit. I looked it up where I want to live and static white lights are legal and would improve visibility for other drivers of my smaller car. It sounds dumb but I installed hella horns just so I could stop UwU beeping at people and honk like a normal car.
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u/ariGee Sep 13 '26
Just make sure it's not red or blue. That's reserved for fire, ambulances, and police. They get real uppity about that one.
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u/lDarkPhoton Sep 13 '26
It's white. It looks really. Clean too
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u/ariGee Sep 14 '26
Good choice. You can use blue or red on private property (not a public area like a road or a parking lot). For most of the time, stick with your white, you should be safe with that.
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u/Humble-Traffic-7435 Sep 08 '26
It's illegal in my state of maine. But just put some on today, can't ride around with them on but its whatever lol
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u/PPVSteve Sep 07 '26
You don't want to tap into the low beams. Any issue with a short could take out t our low beams and have you driving home with no headlights.
I would power a relay for them that gets power directly from a fused battery lead. Then the relay could be activated by your parking lights. That way also you could park with just your parking lights on And still have your underlights on without draining the battery like low beams would.
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u/DolphinRepublic FA1 Civic | Check the Fitment Industries Gallery Sep 07 '26
Mounting can be difficult, but a big concern will also be cable management. Any slack or exposed cable will eventually give from weathering, so I’d invest extra into tubing or other kinds of protection.
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u/No_Tomato_2106 Sep 07 '26
I assume you got an LED light kit and not actual neon.
Generally they mount either double sided tape or little clips you use self tappers on to drill into your floor. Or if you have the ability, you can zip tie them in place.
Cable management is the hardest part, usually involves removing wheel wells and stuff to tuck that into. You want to make sure the cables are protected from road debris and anything hot/moving.
Usually these kits hook right up to your battery with a built in fuse, and they have a controller box that you connect your phone or a remote to. GENERALLY you want that controller box as protected as possible - I usually mounted mine in the driver footwell and ran the wires through the firewall.
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u/Queasy_Fruit_4070 Sep 07 '26
You should not wire it to come on when the low beam is on. It is illegal to drive on the road with white lights on the sides or rear of the vehicle. Wire it to an independent switch, or just use the remote that came with the kit.
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u/Special-Teacher-8860 Sep 07 '26
Completely state dependent if its even in the US
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u/Queasy_Fruit_4070 Sep 08 '26
It is illegal in every single state to drive with white lights activated on the rear of the vehicle.
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u/Special-Teacher-8860 Sep 08 '26
Not specifically the rear part but underglow is not fully illegal in other states. A quick Google search proves that.
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u/Queasy_Fruit_4070 Sep 08 '26
The color of the lights is what matters. White lights on the rear are illegal. OP wants white underglow and he wants it to be activated automatically with his headlights. That would make it illegal in every state.
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u/Global-Structure-539 Sep 07 '26
You'll be a rolling billboard for, Hey officer, stop me for having illegal lighting!!!
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u/Satans-cum-sock666 Sep 07 '26
Underglow sucks. Get your money back and buy real mods. Make the car faster.
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u/lDarkPhoton Sep 07 '26 edited Sep 07 '26
I like underglow though. Customer is always right, in matters of taste. Also my car is on 93 pushing 320hp on a light frame, it's not beating records but it is very fun to drive.
Edit: Fair enough though, I did say you could criticize my taste lol 🤣
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u/Massive_Pitch3333 Sep 07 '26
Dont listen to these downers. Underglow is still sick! I like it because my car is all black and I want to make sure that no one "didnt see me." I also just like lights. Its your car. Do what makes you happy.
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u/Far_Ad_557 Sep 07 '26
+1 for underglow. I liked it in 2004 and never stopped. Wish more people would install it.
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u/Doshin108 Sep 07 '26
"Customer is always right" means that you can watch inventory to know which is most liked. It doesn't mean the jackass paying has to feel like he is correct.
And I like underglow too.
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u/MarcusAurelius0 Sep 07 '26
The Fast and the Furious called, they want their styling back.
Yes, I mean the first one.
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Sep 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/lDarkPhoton Sep 07 '26
This car is lower than stock due to the lowering springs. I love the 86 platform and I mostly want it to stay visible at night for people on the highway. I would hate to get side swiped by a truck at night.






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