Nowadays, with the rapid development of the Internet and AI, we can easily get confused by a wide variety of concepts. Like, what are puddle lights? Puddle lights are also called door lights, entry lights, welcome lights, and LED door projectors. They are small lights in the lower part of a car door. They can illuminate the ground when you open the door. The name comes from their original function. Because the lights turn on, you can see the area around the door. As a result, you will not step into puddles and can avoid kerbs or obstacles in the dark.
In recent years, puddle lights are not only a simple safety feature, but also one of the most popular upgrades of a premium car. Every time you open the doors, you will see LED logo projections that match well with your vehicle.
Where Are Puddle Lights Located?
You can find the puddle light in a dedicated housing in the lower part of the door panel, which is about 10–20cm from the base of the door. The light faces directly to the ground and can illuminate an area of about 30–60cm diameter under the door.
However, the position is different on some cars like older Land Rovers, Range Rover and certain Mercedes models. You may find the puddle lights inside the door mirror housing. In this condition, the lights project from the mirror rather than the door panel.
What Is the Difference Between Plain Puddle Lights and Logo Projectors?
The original factory puddle lights on older cars simply project a plain white or amber oval of light on the ground. They are indeed practical but look quite common.
Nowadays, you can see more advanced puddle lights on premium models like BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Land Rover, and MINI. These lights have a precision-engraved glass lens in front of the LED and can project any logo on the ground. For example, people can choose logos like the BMW roundel, Audi four rings, Mercedes three-pointed star, Porsche crest, Range Rover wordmark, and so on. In fact, they can represent the brands rather than a simple logo.
By ordering aftermarket puddle lights, you can add logo projection to any car with the factory door light socket. They will not disappoint you if you want to upgrade a plain white projection into a logo image.
Which Cars Have Puddle Lights?
Today, you can see puddle lights on a wide range of cars, especially on mid-range and premium models. There are many common UK models with factory puddle lights:
1. BMW 1, 3, 5, 7 Series, X3, X5, and M models since 2006 on Sport and above.
2. Audi A3, A4, A6, Q5, and Q7 on S-Line and above since about 2005.
3. Mercedes C, E, GLC, and S-Class on SE and above since about 2008.
4. Land Rover and Range Rover models with the puddle light option (QQ1/option code) since about 2010.
5. Porsche Cayenne, Macan, 911, Panamera, and Taycan since about 2010 on models with factory door lights.
6. MINI Cooper, Clubman, and Countryman R and F series since about 2006.
7. VW Golf, Passat, and Tiguan on Highline and above since about 2012.
If you are not sure whether your car has puddle lights, you just need to open the door, look at the lower part of the door panel and find a small light housing.
Can You Add Puddle Lights to Any Car?
Yes — there are two different versions:
Plug-and-play (for cars with factory lights): First, you should look for a blank oval cover at the lower door. After checking, if your car does not have puddle lights but has the factory socket in the door panel, the plug-and-play lights will fit perfectly. The socket is a standard feature on many premium cars. However, the puddle lights are partly activated on some top-spec models.
Wireless rechargeable (for cars without any socket): If your car has no door light socket at all, you can choose the wireless puddle lights. There is a built-in battery in the light, and you can charge it by USB. Thanks to a magnetic sensor, the puddle lights can light up as soon as you open the door. You can add these wireless lights to any car regardless of the model.CarLEDLogo.co.uk sells these door lights for all car models.
What Designs Are Available?
- Brand logos: Audi rings, BMW roundel, Mercedes star, Porsche crest, Range Rover wordmark, and many more
- Performance badges: Audi S-Line, AMG, M3/M4/M5, JCW, SVR
- Custom logos: your own name, company logo, or football club badge
- Colour options: white (most common), blue, red, or other colours on certain models
How Much Do Puddle Lights Cost?
If you want to buy factory puddle lights from car manufacturers, you should prepare £100–£150 per pair to buy from a dealer. In fact, you can choose aftermarket plug-and-play lights. They have the same logo projection quality as factory ones. But the selling price starts at £29.99 per pair. Every driver can upgrade due to the lower price. They no longer need to envy those who afford the top-spec version at first.
Although puddle lights seem to be a small upgrade, they can really make your car look special compared with others. We suggest that you buy the lights for a try. You can choose any logo you want, such as the Range Rover word mark or Audi four rings. When you open the door at night and see the clear logos on the ground, you will feel it is one of those features you like best.
