So I got bored with my blue LED's I installed on the door footwell courtesy lights10 months ago. I saw this new brighter festoon LED bulbs at autolumination.com so I thought I'd order it and try it.
It arrived last night, and since this was an easy mod (so I thought) I
made time for it last night to do the bulb swap.
Holy crap this LED is super bright!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now it really lights up the ground when I open the doors! I like it!
Notes:
It is not a true plug and play bulb. Door Festoon bulbs I believe are 39mm long. These are 44mm long, so the clips of the door light assembly will have to be bent to accommodate this new LED bulb.
Also with the design of this new brighter festoon LED bulb, it may not stay put on the metal clips of the door light assembly, so I soldered mine for permanent non flickering connection.
Soldering is not an easy task. The bulb's end metal contacts are soldered to the LED bulbs so when you heat the end metal contacts to solder to
the LED door light assembly metal clips together - the LED end metal contact melts and it falls off. Yikes!!!!!! The fix is to attach a heatsink to the end metal contact during soldering, apply the solder and release ASAP! Works great.
Note also that BMW is not consistent with the light polarity wiring (+ & -) for each door. The reason is - incandescent bulb has no polarity, so if incandescent bulb is used - then polarity is not an issue.
Summary: you will need to check each and every door footwell light assembly wiring to ensure you have wiring polarity correct before solding the bulb. A way to do this is to try installing the new LED bulb in the assembly first. If the LED lights up, then polarity is correct, mark the light assembly contact which one is plus and minus, then solder the bulb to the assembly. The LED bulbs are marked which end is + and -. Reverse the connection if the bulb doesnt light up.
Thought I'd share my latest mod if anyone here is interested in doing this upgrade.
Very important notes, especially to the newbies: I am not posting to seek criticism. I am posting to share my latest mod so that if
anyone here is interested, then they have the info they need on how to do this mod. So please dont post criticism.
If my LED's are too bright for you, or you dont like it - then keep that comment to yourself as I didnt do this upgrade for you and I am not seeking for your approval. I did this for myself. again, I am posting for sharing, not asking for your comments or approval.
Bottom line in life - as long as we are happy with each of our mod, that's what counts.
Note also: I have no affiliation with Autolumination.com so buy your LED wherever you please.
Another note especially to the newbies - this is a very well ran board. Members here are respectful to one another and are very helpful
when someone needs help. Please watch your language. You dont have to use foul language to make a point. Save Gustav and the moderators some time and eliminate the need for them to edit your post due to the use of foul language or personal attacks. Personal attacks are not allowed.
Remember that no one is perfect, we all mistakes, so easy on another member if they did something wrong or they made a mistake.
Thanks again to Gustav, to all the moderators and to all the friendly and very helpful members for this great M5board. I learned a lot here and saved a lot of money from going to the stealers whenever something is not working right with my beast or I need ideas or feedback on upgrades.
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Dan
Supersprint Headers, Tubi Rumore Plus exhaust, Dinan CAI, Defi Heads Up Display, Strong Strut front anti-sway bar, Powerchip 93 S/W, Euro Arm rest, Fikse Profil 5S Rims; Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Polk Audio Tweeters, Boston Acoustic Speakers, Integrated 60gig Video Ipod, HiDef DICE Radio iPod interface, Icelink, Rouge Engineering Short shifter, StopTech Big Brake Kit, TC Design rear sway bar brackets, HID 8000k fog lamps, 8000K low beams, Euro clear corner HID headlamps, Mark IV Nav, Lamin X films, Predator ICE LED AE, Valentine 1, M20 Blinder Anti Laser, TEC cup holder, All LED interior lights, LED footwell lights, LED trunk lights, Ultimate Cup Holders, Hella TC-400 Tire Pressure Monitor System, etc.
Last edited by whatheheck; 8th December 2007 at 19:31.
Reason: edit photos
those are bright i think i may need to order them for the beast it looks great. fantastic inexpencive mod
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2001 m5 Carbon Black, Black sport interior, m audio
AA cai with bmc air filters
AA software going to change to either ess or pc
UUC Light Weight FlyWheel And Organic Clutch
UUC evolll ssk \ Dssr
UUC Big Boy Clutch stop v3
UUC Transmisson mounts
Steelbraded clutchline
Eisenmann Race Exhaust 83mm tips
Supersprint X pipe
Steel braded brake lines
Dinan rear sway bar
Dinan stress bars front and rear
Tc swaybar brackets
PS2 tires
Axiss ult pads front and rear
Dinan JRZ suspention kit
Euro head lights
Predator ice v2.1 angel eyes
Bimmian black kidney grills
DDM xenon fog lamps
Solaris amber bulbs
led lic plate lights
v1 hardwire
m45 blinders updated version
---------------------------------------------------
To Come... dinan headers, stoptec bbk
that looks awesome!! may i ask, how many bulbs are needed to do the complete vehicle?? including footwells and glove box and such? thanks keep up the great work
Another great upgrade Dan...love the fifth picture your car looks amazing
__________________ Mods: 91 octane with occasional 100 octane
"Illegitimus non carborundum"
" Despite its supercar attributes, the M5 still doubles as a soberly practical, spacious saloon - only with the ability to scare four passengers in comfort all the way to the local coronary unit". Top Gear
I will answer all your questions and PM's when I get back tonight.
Time to go run errands and drive the beast. it is actually sunny here in Seattle today!
__________________
Dan
Supersprint Headers, Tubi Rumore Plus exhaust, Dinan CAI, Defi Heads Up Display, Strong Strut front anti-sway bar, Powerchip 93 S/W, Euro Arm rest, Fikse Profil 5S Rims; Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Polk Audio Tweeters, Boston Acoustic Speakers, Integrated 60gig Video Ipod, HiDef DICE Radio iPod interface, Icelink, Rouge Engineering Short shifter, StopTech Big Brake Kit, TC Design rear sway bar brackets, HID 8000k fog lamps, 8000K low beams, Euro clear corner HID headlamps, Mark IV Nav, Lamin X films, Predator ICE LED AE, Valentine 1, M20 Blinder Anti Laser, TEC cup holder, All LED interior lights, LED footwell lights, LED trunk lights, Ultimate Cup Holders, Hella TC-400 Tire Pressure Monitor System, etc.
Very important notes, especially to the newbies: I am not posting to seek criticism. I am posting to share my latest mod so that if
anyone here is interested, then they have the info they need on how to do this mod. So please dont post criticism.
If my LED's are too bright for you, or you dont like it - then keep that comment to yourself as I didnt do this upgrade for you and I am not seeking for your approval. I did this for myself. again, I am posting for sharing, not asking for your comments or approval.
Dude, that looks horrible! I would never do that to my car! Just thought I would post my opinion...LOL!
No, seriously though, That looks so good! As I stated in our PM's from last month, I'd like to make some of these illuminated mods you've done. I went to autolumination after you and I "talked" and got so overwhelmed by the selection, I didn't order anything fearing I might order the wrong one. What'd you do with the blue bulbs, hint hint... Or if you could PM me the info for exactly which bulbs I should be looking for for each location. I'm admittedly not that handy, but am really catching this mod bug hard. Please help!
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'01 Anthracite M5
--PowerChip software--
--Parrot Bluetooth Phone System--
--Illuminated Door Sills--
--B&M Short Shift Kit--
--Angel Eyes V3--
--Stealth Auto 6K Fogs--
'01 BMW R1200C Phoenix
'07 MB R350 "Mommy-Mobile"
'01 Saab 9-3 Viggen (chipped stage3) SOLD!
"If there's a bat that needs a ride out of hell, he can hitch a ride on my bumper!"
91 M5 Alpine White II, Silver Gray 3/90 production
17x8/17x9 M system with PS2, 20mm touring roll bar; Ground Control Coilovers; EAT Chip, CD43; bmw/nardi blackline steering wheel, 3.8 Cam Gears
08 535i / 6 speed
Space Gray; Gray; Sport/Premium/Nav
00 M5 Ti Silver; Imola/black sportiv --Sold
Engine:
Supersprint Headers, Dinan CAI kit and MAFS, Throttle Bodies, Cams, Ported heads, Exhaust, Custom dinan software, Evosport Pullies, Dinan clutch and lightened flywheel; Ignition solutions plasma coils
Suspension:
Dinan Stage 3 with front and rear Strut Tower Braces, Beastpower Sway bar brackets, Dinan Wheels with 275/285 PilotSport, X5 Thrust arm bushings, Stoptech 355mm 4 piston front, 355mm 2 piston rear brake kit, Dinan 3.45 diff
Interior/Misc:
Eurodash, updated steering wheel, Bluetooth retrofit, Sirius Retrofit, hardwired V1, Widescreen Mk4 nav, M audio retrofit, Ice Link, BSW Stage 1 speaker upgrade, bmw towbar
. Gotta order some blue leds in the same style.
WaNNa RaCe!
Linear Mode
