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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
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Stevo1987
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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by Stevo1987 » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:11 pm

Do you have the puddle lights as well?
2014 Z4 e89 35is in mineral grey.
2012 Audi TTS in Ibis white.

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ProfCJJ
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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by ProfCJJ » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:17 pm

Ole gits rule wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:00 pm Hi Christopher,

Do you have answers to your questions, I can check if need be

Sean
I have thanks - one way or another I found what I needed. Info wasn’t all in one place that’s why I’m putting a how to together.

Cheers
---
Christopher

Z4 E89 sDrive 30i Msport in Alpine White with Kansas red leather interior and brushed aluminium carbon fibre look.

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by Ole gits rule » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:20 pm

Looks like a complex but worthwhile job - have you done the door handles as well?
M4 Vert in Yas Marina Blue
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.

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ProfCJJ
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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by ProfCJJ » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:22 pm

Stevo1987 wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:11 pm Do you have the puddle lights as well?
Yes - I fitted the BMW OEM projector puddle lights. (Well, passenger so far - I have for drivers side just need donor door card and I am away)
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342714B5-695D-42E7-B4AF-51B8A70B3D0F.jpeg (102.51 KiB) Viewed 596 times
The only bit I didn’t fit was the external door handle light. Everything else is OEM.

Best
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Christopher

Z4 E89 sDrive 30i Msport in Alpine White with Kansas red leather interior and brushed aluminium carbon fibre look.

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by ProfCJJ » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:23 pm

Ole gits rule wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:20 pm Looks like a complex but worthwhile job - have you done the door handles as well?
Interior yes - exterior no. I can do the exterior later as it’s a different loom and need the exterior led /holder. Other than that though it’s all there.

Cheers
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Christopher

Z4 E89 sDrive 30i Msport in Alpine White with Kansas red leather interior and brushed aluminium carbon fibre look.

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by Ole gits rule » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:41 pm

Nice job so far, the door lights are actually pretty good, not certain how difficult they would be to retro fit though
M4 Vert in Yas Marina Blue
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by ProfCJJ » Sun Jan 17, 2021 12:28 am

Ole gits rule wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:41 pm Nice job so far, the door lights are actually pretty good, not certain how difficult they would be to retro fit though
Wiring wise I’ve figured it out - need separate wires from the passenger footwell to each door though. Then within the door really need the short loom with LED/connector to do it properly.

Not sure if that bit needs coding - I don’t think so though. The footwell and puddle lamps worked straight up - just populated the pin in the connector in the Footwell module and it all worked.
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Christopher

Z4 E89 sDrive 30i Msport in Alpine White with Kansas red leather interior and brushed aluminium carbon fibre look.

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Silverstar
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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by Silverstar » Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:22 am

I only hooked up the footwell lights via connecting it to the dome light. I applaud you for doing the full retrofit and would be interested to see the write up! :thumbsup: Maybe another project for me for some time in the future, right now I need to finish up my audio install. :)
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by ProfCJJ » Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:06 am

Silverstar wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:22 am I only hooked up the footwell lights via connecting it to the dome light. I applaud you for doing the full retrofit and would be interested to see the write up! :thumbsup: Maybe another project for me for some time in the future, right now I need to finish up my audio install. :)
I’ve been taking lots of photos and started writing it up. Tomorrow hope to re-fit centre console and all should be ready (bar drivers door - wiring to the door connector is ready though, as is the short wiring loom - just need donor card :))

I think the difference between wiring to pin in footwell module and to the interior lamp (I saw your post) is negligible. I wired it to the footwell module because a) it’s closer to the rest of the wiring, b) as it’s dedicated to footwell/ puddle lamps it should be rated accordingly and c) the behaviour MIGHT be different on this pin as the interior lamp generates its own on/off signal different to the footwell module.

Interestingly the two exterior door handle leds have separate wiring to two pins in the junction box, passenger footwell - to me that implies their behaviour will be subtly different too.

All said and done though, I suspect 99% of the operation is identical and I certainly didn’t have to do it this way ☺️😎
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Christopher

Z4 E89 sDrive 30i Msport in Alpine White with Kansas red leather interior and brushed aluminium carbon fibre look.

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by Ole gits rule » Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:00 am

The exterior door handle lights come on with the key, the interior / puddle lights probably one come on when the door is opened - just a guess as I have not checked.
M4 Vert in Yas Marina Blue
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.

flybobbie
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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by flybobbie » Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:06 am

Go a bit further non standard as i did.
I fitted some orange led ambient lights in the door storage bins and fitted microswitch so that as they open they light up by white led.
Was tempted to do the same with the centre storage, fit a white led and microswitch.

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by birdy_z4 » Wed May 26, 2021 3:38 pm

Has anyone got a diagram or picture of the connection require (soldered) to the bulb holder in the ceiling to make the connection ?

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by flybobbie » Thu May 27, 2021 8:22 am

Remove the dome light assembly, get your finger nails in the gap and ease out.
It drops so far, then on the right side squeeze the lugs in and it drops out. Centre bulb holder remove and solder on wire.
Replace and see if attached light lights up, if not switch bulb holder around 180 degrees and try again.
I used signal from bulb to operate relay, so as not to put much load on it.
I will post picture later.

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by birdy_z4 » Thu May 27, 2021 9:19 am

Thanks Flybobbie

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Footwell Lights Retrofit

Post by flybobbie » Sat May 29, 2021 7:05 pm

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