"whatheheck" LED upgrade mod GROUP BUY - Page 19 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

m5moving · 1st July 2009, 03:33

Awe **** bra! You know im in!
1. firehire
2. gherardini
3. ultraman206
4. Hdhntr23
5. wbibbins
6. m5moving

noxcape · 3rd July 2009, 16:14

I got mine yesterday!
Thanks everyone! I hope I will install the led lights today afternoon.

jimmythefish · 3rd July 2009, 16:30

1. firehire
2. gherardini
3. ultraman206
4. Hdhntr23
5. wbibbins
6. m5moving
7. jimmythefish

Sorry Tim, I was just goofing around about suggesting you to do a GB on LED with the headaches you had from the last one. However, you were fantastic with the whole situation.

Update: Got the LEDs, had my LEDs working in the trunk after I modified the light with adding some metal to do a 44mm bulb. Unfortunately, I blew the fuse so now I have to find out what fuse I blew and replace it.

timmay77 · 3rd July 2009, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmythefish

Sorry Tim, I was just goofing around about suggesting you to do a GB on LED with the headaches you had from the last one. However, you were fantastic with the whole situation.

No worries, I GUESS I will do another one. I will do my best no to screw this one up too....

1. firehire
2. gherardini
3. ultraman206
4. Hdhntr23
5. wbibbins
6. m5moving
7. jimmythefish
8. timmay77

xr4tic · 3rd July 2009, 18:59

I'm in, one of my reading lights in the C-pillar burned out, the dealer wanted $30 for it, so I never replaced it.

1. firehire
2. gherardini
3. ultraman206
4. Hdhntr23
5. wbibbins
6. m5moving
7. jimmythefish
8. timmay77
9. xr4tic

I got all my lights yesterday as well, I have them all in except the doors. Anyone have pics on how they did the doors? My door housings have a 39mm bulb

*EDIT* Never mind! just saw timmay's post on page 15 with pics.

blackxs · 4th July 2009, 00:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmay77

None of the bulbs we are replacing are amber/orange. We replaced the interior bulbs. The ones that come on to give you light in the car at night. Not really sure what you think we are replacing....

I know what bulbs we are talking about, but all the bulbs have been a very bright white. Do they not offer them in an amber color, to retain the OEM look and feel of the cabin? The white white white is a bit too rice for me, if they offer them in amber ill definitely get some. I know they make amber LEDs

noxcape · 4th July 2009, 05:36

Well, I tried to install the led light but ... here comes troubles.
I think I got the wrong LED lights ....

Here is what I got:

I got 4 (four) of these: (44 mm)

I got 1 (one) of these: (??? this one is for what ??? could be for the flash light?)

I got 4 (four) of these: (44 mm)

and 1 (one) of these: (39 mm)

Well, where and how I'm going to install those LED lights please?

From what I see trying to install them looks like I need:

- 3 of a kind for interior (dome 44 mm);
(looks like I can fit those shown in picture #1 or those shown in picture # 3;

- 7 of a kind (like those shown in picture #4 39 mm)
4 LEDs for footwell door;
2 LEDs for license plate;
1 LED for the glove box;
(all of them about same size like those in picture #4)

My M5 is January 2003 model and it is 100% stock. No accidents or other stories ...

What I'm going to do now please?

xr4tic · 4th July 2009, 08:53

I got all mine installed, so I'll try and give a small write-up on how I installed them

The 39mm (smallest one) is for the glove box.

If you look at the lens, you'll notice a small notch on one side, stick a screwdriver in it and pop out the housing. On mine, the plug was real short, almost like it was caught on something inside, so it was a little harder to get it back in. Make sure you test the light before putting it back in, if it doesn't work, flip it around. Make sure the light is rotated correctly, or you wont get as much light

One of these is for the dome light, two are for the C-pillar lights, and one is for the trunk lid:

For the dome light, use a screwdriver to pop the face off from the side (should be a small notch), and you'll see the inside, then use the screwdriver to get the rest out. Again pay attention to polarity and rotation.
For the C-pillars, you need a screwdriver, there is no notch, so pry from the top in the middle, being careful of the C-pillar material. You'll have to remove the green board on the back of the lens housing to see the light.

This one is for the trunk light under the rear window:

As stated earlier in this thread, some cars use this type of bulb, and some use the 44mm style like the other trunk light. If you got the wrong one, you may have to get creative with some wire, a soldering iron, and some electrical tape.

These 4 are for under the doors:

The doors pop out with a screwdriver (notch on one end) You will have to bend the metal tabs with a needle nose pliers, and put a small dab of solder on the one end (Timmay's pic)
I *think* these can be put in any direction, but I would test first before soldering to make sure.

After I had finished installing them all, and looked at them in the day time, I thought they wouldn't be bright enough, but at night, it's a completely different story, they are nice and bright!

xr4tic · 4th July 2009, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackxs

I know what bulbs we are talking about, but all the bulbs have been a very bright white. Do they not offer them in an amber color, to retain the OEM look and feel of the cabin? The white white white is a bit too rice for me, if they offer them in amber ill definitely get some. I know they make amber LEDs

I don't know if I'd call bright white lights ricey, I'd say it looks cleaner. If you think it's a bit too bright, you could always rotate the LEDs since they only light up on one side to cut down on the light output.

The colors available depend on the bulb type, if you look at the www.autolumination.com Tail Light Brake Light Turn Signal LED Bulbs site, they have white, amber, red, purple, blue, green.

If you want the stock colors, then I would recommend retaining the stock lights, they are more of a yellow, and the amber would be too orange.

timmay77 · 4th July 2009, 12:38

Once again, this is why I asked everyone to READ whatheheck's threads before purchasing. This is not a complete plug and play install.

Quote:

Originally Posted by noxcape

Well, I tried to install the led light but ... here comes troubles.
I think I got the wrong LED lights ....

Here is what I got:

I got 4 (four) of these: (44 mm) These go in your doors. You solder them in face down after bending the tabs with a pair of needle nose pliers.

I got 1 (one) of these: (??? this one is for what ??? could be for the flash light?) This one is for your trunk, below the rear deck.

I got 4 (four) of these: (44 mm) 3 of these are for your interior, 1 is for the trunk lid.

and 1 (one) of these: (39 mm) This one is for your glove box.

Well, where and how I'm going to install those LED lights please?

From what I see trying to install them looks like I need:

- 3 of a kind for interior (dome 44 mm);
(looks like I can fit those shown in picture #1 or those shown in picture # 3;

- 7 of a kind (like those shown in picture #4 39 mm)
4 LEDs for footwell door;
2 LEDs for license plate;License plate bulbs where never part of this Group Buy. If you try to put these bulbs in your license plate locations you will get an error code on your dash for burnt out bulbs.
1 LED for the glove box;
(all of them about same size like those in picture #4)

My M5 is January 2003 model and it is 100% stock. No accidents or other stories ...

What I'm going to do now please?

Thank you xr4tic for the write up, I guess I should have done that myslef. This is not a very hard install. I had hdhntr23's done in about 15 minutes.

If anyone is unhappy with what they have, please PM me and I will issue a full refund. Just send me back the LED's and I will make use of them somewhere else. I had a rather large out of pocket cost for this Group Buy, which was my own fault due to the bulb mix up, but the last thing I want is someone unhappy with money spent through me. Please PM me and I will make it right.