Posted 10.23.26 in Tips & Instructions
Flick your turn signal and amber light sweeps across the grille. Pull into the meet and the same strips chase color on command from your phone. XKGLOW built the XKmax RGB LED Grill Light Bar for exactly that double life, and it is the light bar for car grilles in the XKmax line.
The kit is a pair of strips in one of three lengths: 6, 9 or 14 inches. It combines a white daytime running light, an amber sequential turn signal and addressable color chasing, all run from the XKmax app. The XKmax Dual-Mode LED Light Bar is sold for trucks, Jeeps and UTVs. On a car, the grille bar is the one to build around.
Three Lighting Jobs in One Grille Bar
The bar stacks two signal functions on top of the color show:
| Function | What it does | How you set it up |
|---|---|---|
| White DRL | Runs a white daytime running light | Assign it to the red sensor wire in the app |
| Amber sequential turn signal | Sweeps amber in sequence when you signal | Tap the yellow (left) and black (right) sensor wires into your turn signal wires |
| Color chasing | Addressable LEDs chase any of 16 million colors | XKmax app over Bluetooth, or an add-on key fob |
The sensor wires are optional, and they are how the signal functions reach your car. Tap the yellow and black wires into the left and right turn signal wires with the included T-tap connectors. The turn signal action comes already set in the controller. The red wire is the one you give a custom action, such as white DRL. You set that up under Config, then Sensor Wires, in the app.
Everything else lives in the app. You get 28-plus chasing themes with custom colors, patterns, speed and brightness, plus a DIY builder. Music and Speed Sync ties the strips to your music, vehicle speed or acceleration. Ten lighting zones fit on one controller, and the startup mode you program is what the bar shows the moment it gets power.
To get going, download the XKmax app and scan the QR code printed on the instruction sheet to load the kit presets. For quick changes without your phone, the 4-button XKmax key fob is an add-on, listed at $16.79 at the time of writing.
Both signal functions light the front of your car. The instruction sheet asks you to "check your local and state laws for the proper use of this product," so do that before you drive with them on. Rules vary by state, and our guide to light bar road rules quotes three state codes.
Sizes Compared: 6, 9 or 14 Inches
Every kit ships as a pair of strips, and the three lengths are there to give your grille a perfect fit. Size changes the price and the power rating, never the feature list. The three instruction sheets carry the same steps, with only the strip length and power figure changing.
| Kit | Item number | List price at the time of writing | Max power per strip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 x 6 in | MX-DRL-6-KIT | $179.99 | 2.4W |
| 2 x 9 in | MX-DRL-9-KIT | $203.99 | 4.8W |
| 2 x 14 in | MX-DRL-14-KIT | $239.99 | 7.2W |
Each sheet lists the same electrical limits: 11 to 14 volts in, and no more than 5 amps on any controller channel. Moving from 6 to 9 inches adds $24, and 9 to 14 adds another $36. At 7.2 watts, the 14-inch strip is rated for three times the power of the 6-inch strip.
Want more light across the front? A second pair of strips comes as an add-on in each length, and added strips need configuring in the app. Extra wires in 3, 6 and 13-foot lengths, 1-to-2 splitters and a 4-channel controller upgrade sit in the same option list.
Grille Placement: Through-Hole or Surface Mount
XKGLOW builds the bar as a universal fit that "mounts effortlessly on most factory and aftermarket grills for cars, trucks, and UTVs." The housing has a flexible design and IP67 waterproofing. Test every strip on the battery before you mount anything, then pick one of two wiring methods.
| Option A: through-hole | Option B: surface mount | |
|---|---|---|
| When to use it | You can reach the back of the panel | You cannot reach the back of the panel |
| Where the wire goes | Through the panel to its rear | Out the side you choose |
| Prep | Mark and drill a 3/8-inch hole at the center of the spot, using the printed template | Trim the bottom tab on the exit side with a hobby knife or razor blade |
With Option B, leave the opposite tab in place to keep dirt and grime from building up under the light. Run the wire along the channels on the back of the strip, or the screws can pinch or break it.
Either way, the strip sticks down with double-sided tape and fastens with the included self-tapping screws. Nuts and bolts work too, though you supply them. Mount each strip with its wire end facing the inside of the vehicle. Loose wire gets screwed or zip-tied down with the provided hardware, away from heat and moving parts, and every open connector gets one of the provided end caps.
Listed install time is 1 to 2 hours. The instruction sheet ties warranty coverage to the install: it asks for a licensed professional, and a failure caused by improper installation voids the warranty. For install help, the product page points to XKGLOW's dealer locator.
Daily Use: Key Fob, App and Power Switch
The add-on key fob's four buttons default to Preset 1, Preset 2, Preset 3 and Off, and you can remap them in the app. Up to four fobs pair with one controller.
The kit also wires in an ON/OFF switch, which belongs in a dry, convenient spot. For everyday driving, you can switch the lights off from the app's menu. Parking the car for weeks? Then XKGLOW wants the physical switch thrown, so the kit is cut off completely.
Picking Your XKmax Grille Bar Kit
Start with the grille. Choose the length that fits it, then decide how the wires run: through the panel with Option A or out the side with Option B. Plan on tapping the sensor wires if you want the amber sweep and the white running light. Add the key fob if you want presets without reaching for your phone.
Check the warranty term on the product page before you order. Buy from XKGLOW or an authorized dealer to stay inside the warranty policy, and budget for labor yourself: removal and reinstallation are not covered. Every customer also gets free lifetime support.
If the grille is your first mod, XKGLOW's guide to choosing car LED lights covers underglow, accent lighting and control options for the rest of the car. Build yours today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a lightbar on my car?
You can fit one. XKGLOW's XKmax grille bar mounts on most factory and aftermarket grilles for cars, trucks and UTVs. Running it lit on the road is a separate question. Rules vary by state, so check your local and state laws before you drive with it on.
What is an RGB light bar?
It is a light bar that mixes red, green and blue light into color. The XKmax RGB LED Grill Light Bar runs addressable LEDs that chase color along each strip. You get 16 million colors and 28-plus themes in the XKmax app, plus white DRL and amber turn functions.
What is the best LED light bar for my car?
From XKGLOW, the best fit for a car is the XKmax RGB LED Grill Light Bar, the XKmax bar made for a car's grille. It pairs a white DRL and amber sequential turn signal with app-controlled color chasing and IP67 waterproofing. Pairs come in 6, 9 or 14 inches.
