LED Interior Lightis

[Andy Waine]

Hi everyone, decided to upgrade the interior lights to LEDs. All good and much better than the yellow standard fit on my E89. Saved changing the dome and map lights to last, but they don't work. Changed the dome first and that worked initially but then tried the same bulb in the map bulb holder and nothing worked. Now all three lights do not come on. However, if you press the dome light switch, the footwells come on, which is as they should which means that power is getting through to the console, plus the small red lights are working but no LED. Does anyone have any idea what the problem, might be?

[firebobby]

Try turning the LED bulb 180 in it's holder, I have found that some bulbs work when you do this

[markplant]

Led tend to only work one way round in the holder

[Beatman]

Andy, where did you purchase your LEDs ?

[Andy Waine]

Andy, where did you purchase your LEDs ?

Hi Beatman, I got them from: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7000K-XENON-W ... 3cc9626a6f
Delivered in a couple of days from Germany. Pretty good service.

[Beatman]

Andy thanks, I have been thinking of replacing mine.

[Andy Waine]

Problem solved. LEDs have to be inserted into the bulb holder the "correct" way, you will only know this if the lights don't work. I had to take the LEDs out of the bulb holder, rotate them 180 degrees and bingo they work. However, one of the bulb holders is broke so a trip to BMW is required. They seem to be about £7/8 each so anyone doing this mod, be careful.

[Andy Waine]

Update on bulb holder. Apparently BMW do not supply them separately. They tell me you have to buy the complete lamp unit. I found a part number on the internet so I have ordered one of them direct from BMW but it may be for the previous generation Z4. They don't know! Part due in on Wednesday we'll see. Can't believe what I'm hearing!

[Andy Waine]

Update. The part that BMW supplied does fit as a bulb holder irrespective of what they say. All LEDs up and running and looks good.

[jamesbond]

Any pics ??

[Andy Waine]

Map reading light and downlights lit with LED's. From camera phone, hence not brilliant quality. Overall I would say this has been a job well worth doing!