I am installing a set of front Laser Interceptors on my 2009 M3 sedan. For those of you familiar with this kit, there is an on/off toggle with an LED that comes with the kit. In keeping with the stealthy nature of the device, I wanted to find a location to place it that was (a) easy to reach in a hurry, and (b) somewhere that looked stock.
While searching for a solution, I found a great thread outlining how you can use Legos (no, really Legos) to make our blank stock headlight controllers function. Not only do our cars have the rear fog lights already installed, but with this easy mod, you can turn them on and off (THIS IS THE BONUS). Just don't abuse them...they are very bright at night. You can also order a new headlight controller with working buttons that are also labeled for front and rear foglights, but you don't have to.
So I used these steps to modify (or enable) the two blank switches by the headlight controller.
DIY for WilliamChang82 Rear Fog Light Mod - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum - E90Post.com
Some cars will already have at least one white piece that connects the button to the circuit board. Unfortunately, mine did not have any. No problem. So instead of using his custom piece from the link above, I used legos from this post.
Diy:: Rear Fog, Complete! Using Legos
- BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum - E90Post.com
Now I have working rear fog lights and a front fog light button that works (even though I don't have front fog lights installed). I can now use this button to turn on and off my Laser Interceptors (LI's), in theory. The question was how do I get a momentary switch type button to operate like the latching style switch that came with the LI's?
In steps my new hero, zerocks1. He did a great DIY here on the forum to solve this exact problem. He uses a Pulse Latching Relay Controller (PLRC) that he found on ebay. Basically, he figures out which leads from the back of the headlight controller are activated when pressing one of the buttons. He then connects one of those activated leads to the PLRC which activates the relay. Once activated, it takes 12 volts from a tapped source and sends it to whatever device you want to operate. Here's the thread.
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e63-bmw-m6-forum-bmw-m6-convertible-m6board-com/164564-mod-dyi-yet-more-exterior-lighting-rear-fogs-plus.html
So I'm going to attempt this mod. I have already activate both of my fog buttons using the tutorials above. Next, I need to order the PLRC and figure out which leads are activated by the front fog button. So does anyone know where I can look this information up?
Here are some pictures.
1. The removed headlight controller.
2. The sticker with the part number from the side of the controller.
3. The circuit board
4. The inside of the controller, with the circuit board and my lego actuator.
To be continued...
While searching for a solution, I found a great thread outlining how you can use Legos (no, really Legos) to make our blank stock headlight controllers function. Not only do our cars have the rear fog lights already installed, but with this easy mod, you can turn them on and off (THIS IS THE BONUS). Just don't abuse them...they are very bright at night. You can also order a new headlight controller with working buttons that are also labeled for front and rear foglights, but you don't have to.
So I used these steps to modify (or enable) the two blank switches by the headlight controller.
DIY for WilliamChang82 Rear Fog Light Mod - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum - E90Post.com
Some cars will already have at least one white piece that connects the button to the circuit board. Unfortunately, mine did not have any. No problem. So instead of using his custom piece from the link above, I used legos from this post.
Diy:: Rear Fog, Complete! Using Legos
Now I have working rear fog lights and a front fog light button that works (even though I don't have front fog lights installed). I can now use this button to turn on and off my Laser Interceptors (LI's), in theory. The question was how do I get a momentary switch type button to operate like the latching style switch that came with the LI's?
In steps my new hero, zerocks1. He did a great DIY here on the forum to solve this exact problem. He uses a Pulse Latching Relay Controller (PLRC) that he found on ebay. Basically, he figures out which leads from the back of the headlight controller are activated when pressing one of the buttons. He then connects one of those activated leads to the PLRC which activates the relay. Once activated, it takes 12 volts from a tapped source and sends it to whatever device you want to operate. Here's the thread.
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e63-bmw-m6-forum-bmw-m6-convertible-m6board-com/164564-mod-dyi-yet-more-exterior-lighting-rear-fogs-plus.html
So I'm going to attempt this mod. I have already activate both of my fog buttons using the tutorials above. Next, I need to order the PLRC and figure out which leads are activated by the front fog button. So does anyone know where I can look this information up?
Here are some pictures.
1. The removed headlight controller.
2. The sticker with the part number from the side of the controller.
3. The circuit board
4. The inside of the controller, with the circuit board and my lego actuator.
To be continued...