I actually did this upgrade about 5 months ago and now just finally finding the time to take photos.
I really like the TEC cupholder. Although this is the most money I have ever spent on a cup holder, the TEC design is very professional, it is superstrong, it really grips water bottles and cups during hard cornering & acceleraton, and has a lifetime warranty.
As we all know, BMW design on our stock cup holders is flawed. It is weak, flimsy, it doesnt hold very well, and it breaks all the time. So TEC was a nice upgrade.
Anyway, I hate fumbling trying to find where to grip my coffee or water bottle driving at night so I decided to add a couple of blue LED's to the back side of the cup holder housing. I tied the LED power to the same power that provides power to the ash tray panel light. Now I can see my water bottle at night and grab it to have a drink without any problem.
Two LED's are perfect. Not too bright, not too dim for use at night.
You can find the LED's in eBay.
Dan
In case some of you missed it, here are my posts for:
Next project is interior dome lights upgarade to two superbright supertar LED's, then next would be under the dashboard and underseat LED lights upgrade.
__________________ 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 love how it lights up the water with blue light. makes you feel like you're in a space ship drinking some futuristic h20 that has all the vitamins to sustain you for weeks at a time...
__________________ '02 M5 TiSi-SBI [Sexy Black Interior] - "Audrey"
BMWMOA iBMWr IBA#7268 LPR#71 SEAT#17 - Valentine1 - hardwired
- StealthOne
- SS Exhaust
- GrafxWerks ///M5 Lighted Door Sills, all 4 doors
- Hella Euro clear corner headlights
- Steath Auto Turn Signal Bulbs
- Predator ICE v2.1
- Xenon fog lights
- CNS Racing clutch
- TC Designs Sway Bar Brackets
'87 K75S - "Maybellene"
'00 R1100S - "Tresor!" Sierra Vista, AZ
Yes, I changed my LED shifter knob from red to blue LED about a year ago now and I posted the info on that here somewhere.
My stock red LED bulb shifter started malfunctioning, it would flicker from time to time, so I took it apart, and instead of ordering a replacement, and since my favorite color is blue (as you can tell), I decided to upgrade the LED's to blue.
You can search for my post on that, but here's one reference to it recently, see my post number 35: Aftermarket short shift knobs?
And thanks for all the compliments folks. For those that PM'd me, I think I answered all of your questions already, if not, PM me back. Sorry, too busy both at work and at home.
These LED upgrades are the easiest to do. So if you like to play around with lights, it is a worthy upgrade. Very easy.
My most difficult upgrade is the Tubi exhaust. I will never do an exhaust upgrade again myself. Even with help from my brother and two friends, and even with the use of my friends hydraulic lift, it took us over 8 hours. Then I still had to take my beast to a muffler shop to have the joints welded as there were air leaks on the clamped joints that triggered the SES light. Leave this job to the pros!
I asked the muffler shop how much they would have charged me for an exhaust install = about $200.00 tops, and would take about 2 hours, with a lifetime warranty on labor. Believe me, 200 bucks is worth every penny!
whatheheck, you are just on a roll with all your lighting upgrades! I have to admit I'm going to be stealing your idea 100% except I may use different color LED's. Thanks for posting all your pictures!
__________________
01 Lemans /w blue & blk interior, /w alum trim, MK4 DVD NAV, OEM Sirius Retrofit, Rogue SSK, Blk-out Kidney's, Dinan CAI, Dinan Stage II Software, Dinan 3.45 Diff, Remus Exhaust, TC Design Rear Sway Bar Brackets, Schnitzer Pedals, Schnizter front splitters-lip, Hamann rear diffuser, Hamann roof spoiler (soon to be installed), 19x8.5 19x9.5 Axis Penta Wheels, 20%
You're welcome, and thanks for all the compliments from everyone.
That's what this board is all about, sharing experiences, knowledge, info and upgrades.
You folks can eMail me or PM me if you encounter any problems during your upgrade and I will try my best to help you.
By the way, how I do add to my signature upgrades that I've done to my beast just like what you have on your signatures?
Have a great Sunday!
Dan
Quote:
Originally Posted by colbywan
whatheheck, you are just on a roll with all your lighting upgrades! I have to admit I'm going to be stealing your idea 100% except I may use different color LED's. Thanks for posting all your pictures!
By the way, how I do add to my signature upgrades that I've done to my beast just like what you have on your signatures?
Are you asking how to add a signature to your posts? At the top of the page there is a link called User CP after you click it there are links on the left, one being edit signature. You can put anything you want in there and it should leave it at the bottom of all your posts.
__________________
01 Lemans /w blue & blk interior, /w alum trim, MK4 DVD NAV, OEM Sirius Retrofit, Rogue SSK, Blk-out Kidney's, Dinan CAI, Dinan Stage II Software, Dinan 3.45 Diff, Remus Exhaust, TC Design Rear Sway Bar Brackets, Schnitzer Pedals, Schnizter front splitters-lip, Hamann rear diffuser, Hamann roof spoiler (soon to be installed), 19x8.5 19x9.5 Axis Penta Wheels, 20%
I have to admit I'm going to be stealing your idea 100% except I may use different color LED's.
+1!
they shipped out my 15 bulbs today. will be waiting for me when i get home <24 days!!>. all i need to do is dig through my storage unit and *attempt* to find my dremel tool and soldering iron to complete what should be a fair easy set of upgrades.
i love what you've done with the blue, but i don't think my silver beast would look as cool as yours with the blue accents, so i'm sticking with super white all around. while the doors are almost tempting to do blue, part of me says that those are safety lights and i want the increased visibility of the brightest white i can get.
your documentation has been perfect. i [and most of us looking at doing these mods] are most appreciative of your efforts in making sure we don't screw it up!!
__________________ '02 M5 TiSi-SBI [Sexy Black Interior] - "Audrey"
BMWMOA iBMWr IBA#7268 LPR#71 SEAT#17 - Valentine1 - hardwired
- StealthOne
- SS Exhaust
- GrafxWerks ///M5 Lighted Door Sills, all 4 doors
- Hella Euro clear corner headlights
- Steath Auto Turn Signal Bulbs
- Predator ICE v2.1
- Xenon fog lights
- CNS Racing clutch
- TC Designs Sway Bar Brackets
'87 K75S - "Maybellene"
'00 R1100S - "Tresor!" Sierra Vista, AZ
Last edited by gherardini; 8th January 2007 at 00:53.
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