S197 Custom Illuminated Sill Plates - Light Entertainment

Let's delve a bit into the mechanics of the creation process. For our set, Editor Turner chose to have our magazine logo on either end of the "Project Vapor Trail" script. The chosen design is then sent from the computer to a laser-etching station ...

A blank that will serve for both driver and passenger sides is inserted into the laser station. The laser then etches away the aluminized backing layer (obviously done with the panel upside down), creating a clear window wherever etched. The blur here is the movement of the laser head doing its work.

For photo purposes, we pulled our partly finished laminate off and turned it right side up. We say "partly finished" because the laser still has to cut it into two pieces, one for each side of the car, and create some holes around the perimeter for the heat-fusing process.

This mock-up shows how the LED circuit attaches to and emits light down the acrylic light pipe. A patented process of laser etchings on the pipe "bends" the light 90 degrees in a fashion that creates even illumination across the desired width.

Here is another mock-up with our etched section laid in place. A layer of translucent plastic goes behind the laser-etched lettering to diffuse the light. For contrast, patches of black backing go behind the non-illuminated logos or lettering on either end.

We were in Michigan but Project Vapor Trail was in Florida, so we simply grabbed a handy '10 GT to illustrate the installation process. This GT already had the factory adjustable Ambient Lighting system, so it was an outrageously simple procedure. Removing the old scuff plate involves nothing more sophisticated than yanking its clips out of their notches and peeling the narrow strips of double-sided tape off the rocker.

The old plate's harness is then disconnected. As we mentioned, there's a bit more wiring involved on earlier S197s, specifically tapping into the factory A-pillar harness and then routing a wire under the dash to feed the plate on the opposite side. The necessary wiring and connectors are provided.

Once wired, peel the backing off the double-sided tape on the new plate, and seat its clips into the holes visible in this shot.

As we also mentioned, this particular GT had the variable-hue Ambient Lighting system, so we could display any of the car's available system colors.