Lighting apparatus for a motor vehicle , comprising: - a processing module designed to receive, process and send signals from a data bus of the motor vehicle , and - a plurality of LED units each designed so as, in an operational state, to emit light of adjustable brightness and prescribed colour locus, wherein the LED units each have a microcontroller and a plurality of LEDs , wherein the respective microcontroller and the associated LEDs are surrounded by a package of the respective LED unit , and wherein the LED units are further designed to communicate bidirectionally with the processing module , so that a present status value of a respective LED unit , which status value is representative of a functionality of the respective LED unit , is ascertainable by means of the LED units and the processing module , and wherein the present status value of the respective LED unit is ascertainable independently of an operating state of the associated LEDs , wherein a respective LED unit comprises a temperature sensor that is designed to measure a present temperature value on the respective LED unit and to communicate bidirectionally with the processing module , so that the present temperature value on the respective LED unit is ascertainable by means of the temperature sensor and the processing module , and characterized in that a respective LED unit comprises a light sensor designed to measure a present brightness value on the respective LED unit and to communicate bidirectionally with the processing module , so that the present brightness value on the respective LED unit is ascertainable by means of the light sensor and the processing module . - a processing module designed to receive, process and send signals from a data bus of the motor vehicle , and - a plurality of LED units each designed so as, in an operational state, to emit light of adjustable brightness and prescribed colour locus, wherein the LED units each have a microcontroller and a plurality of LEDs , wherein the respective microcontroller and the associated LEDs are surrounded by a package of the respective LED unit , and wherein the LED units are further designed to communicate bidirectionally with the processing module , so that a present status value of a respective LED unit , which status value is representative of a functionality of the respective LED unit , is ascertainable by means of the LED units and the processing module , and wherein the present status value of the respective LED unit is ascertainable independently of an operating state of the associated LEDs , wherein a respective LED unit comprises a temperature sensor that is designed to measure a present temperature value on the respective LED unit and to communicate bidirectionally with the processing module , so that the present temperature value on the respective LED unit is ascertainable by means of the temperature sensor and the processing module , and characterized in that a respective LED unit comprises a light sensor designed to measure a present brightness value on the respective LED unit and to communicate bidirectionally with the processing module , so that the present brightness value on the respective LED unit is ascertainable by means of the light sensor and the processing module . <EOS>