Boot light

[Lazza]

Has anyone improved the lighting in the boot? My 09 35i just has the one light in the front of the boot and it doesn’t really doa good job once much is put in the boot.
In my MX5 I fitted a halogen (would probably use LED now) bulb with a mercury tilt switch on the underside of the boot lid. Does anything like this exist for the Z? I have had a look but can’t see anything.
With MX5s, as they are cheap, popular and almost every one is modified, there are a number of companies that sell a lot of spare/upgrade/tart-up parts for them but I don’t think there is anything like that for the Z other than BMW themselves.

[Adil_3]

I dont think so.

I know where your coming from alot of my friends have the mk3 mx5 and all they seem to do is mods. As for the e89, maybe now that the new z4 has come out and the e89 price to drop. I dont know but tasteful, cheap mods for the e89 ..... yeah niche market to be honest

[Mr Tidy]

I bought an LED for the boot-light on my E86 on Amazon for a few quid and it's so much brighter.

Surely if you just remove the fitting and see what bulb is in there you ought to be able to find a can-bus free LED alternative?

[Deepseaskateboard]

Hi there,

I was also looking at this.

I came across: viewtopic.php?t=94728

Which reccomends this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-SMD-LED-42 ... nav=SEARCH

worth a punt for £2.75
Im gonna order one.

[flybobbie]

The switch that powers the light is connected to the left draw down motor on the boot lid. So could fit a light say behind the trim on the boot lid to come on when the boot is opened. The material would be easy to cut out. Would be useful project, buy a door puddle light and fit.
Got me thinking now, always thought the boot light was near useless.
Have a look at the circled part on wiring diagram.
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=91766&hilit=E89+soft+close+problem
Wires on switch are different colour to wires that it plugs in to.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-BMW-E60- ... 0033.m2042
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Luggage- ... 0005.m1851

[Mr Tidy]

Hi there,

I was also looking at this.

I came across: viewtopic.php?t=94728

Which reccomends this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-SMD-LED-42 ... nav=SEARCH

worth a punt for £2.75
Im gonna order one.

I got my LEDs from that supplier, and they were fine.

[flybobbie]

Having had a look in the boot, something i never really noticed was the recessed hand grab. I think i might fit a light in there.

[Deepseaskateboard]

Hi there,

I was also looking at this.

I came across: viewtopic.php?t=94728

Which reccomends this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-SMD-LED-42 ... nav=SEARCH

worth a punt for £2.75
Im gonna order one.

I got my LEDs from that supplier, and they were fine.

Cool, It should be arriving soon.
Pretty decent mod for £2.75

[flybobbie]

Well in my car it's a different bulb. Looks like the wire ended glass bulb rather than fuse shaped.

[Deepseaskateboard]

Well in my car it's a different bulb. Looks like the wire ended glass bulb rather than fuse shaped.

This was my next question!

Got to fitting, and the bulbs are nothing alike!

I have never seen a car in my life with fuse shaped bulbs!!

For anyone attempting, it needs an E2 2J6 bulb with wire terminals.

[flybobbie]

Think my TR7 had a fuse shaped dome light bulb. Bit of an old fashioned design.

[flybobbie]

Well in my car it's a different bulb. Looks like the wire ended glass bulb rather than fuse shaped.

This was my next question!


Got to fitting, and the bulbs are nothing alike!

I have never seen a car in my life with fuse shaped bulbs!!

For anyone attempting, it needs an E2 2J6 bulb with wire terminals.

Go for the complete housing change in my links, ok £10 but are nice and bright good quality.
I retro fitted them as footwell and puddle lights.

[Deepseaskateboard]

Well in my car it's a different bulb. Looks like the wire ended glass bulb rather than fuse shaped.

This was my next question!


Got to fitting, and the bulbs are nothing alike!

I have never seen a car in my life with fuse shaped bulbs!!

For anyone attempting, it needs an E2 2J6 bulb with wire terminals.

Go for the complete housing change in my links, ok £10 but are nice and bright good quality.
I retro fitted them as footwell and puddle lights.

Is that:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-BMW-E60- ... 0033.m2042

This one?

Does it just clip in where the old one was?

[Dr-Jon]

well i just tried one of those i received from ebay today.. it physically fits, but plus and minus wires are reversed on mine I suppose on a filament bulb it makes no difference.
new lamp works as i've tested it but the lead to the existing fitting is so short i cant do anything about swapping over the wires until its light out and i can remove the boot panels to reach the wires.

[flybobbie]

The wire for the light runs under the pull out boot floor to access the battery. You might be able tease the wire to get more up to the cut out.