03~05 FULL circle Brake light BRIEF

[bezza]

Did mine yesterday... quickest mod I've ever done! Only took me 10 minutes in total... and that included making a cup of coffee halfway through!

Very pleased with the results! Think is looks a million times better with both lights coming on when i break!

 

[*AL*]

I'll do mine tomorrow! 8)

 

[*AL*]

Quick question, the inner rear light bulb is a single filament so how can this be used as a brake light?

Edited: All done! Looks good, i also removed the pins and soldered a loop in.Thanks guys.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Quick question, the inner rear light bulb is a single filament so how can this be used as a brake light?

Edited: All done! Looks good, i also removed the pins and soldered a loop in.Thanks guys.

I like a guy that does things the right way and solders a link in and not uses chocolate blocks or Scotchlocks

 

[*AL*]

Quick question, the inner rear light bulb is a single filament so how can this be used as a brake light?

Edited: All done! Looks good, i also removed the pins and soldered a loop in.Thanks guys.

I like a guy that does things the right way and solders a link in and not uses chocolate blocks or Scotchlocks

Cheers Jeeper for the excellent pics and info!

One thing i noticed after doing this mod is that the rear lights are actually brighter than before, has anyone else noticed this?

 

[cj10jeeper]

Can't see they'd be brighter. Looking back at my post where I did one side and then took a photo they look the same intensity, except for of course on side has two bulbs.

 

[*AL*]

Can't see they'd be brighter. Looking back at my post where I did one side and then took a photo they look the same intensity, except for of course on side has two bulbs.

Yes Jeeper i did see your pic. They are definately brighter than normal, if you turn off the ignition and flash the headlamp stalk you turn on the 'at home' feature. Front and rear lamps illuminate, then turn on your lights and you'll see the rear lights get brighter.Hard to explain but they are definately brighter than before. :?

 

[cj10jeeper]

I must get out and look sometime. IIRC the picture was of my brake lights on not sidelights. The old broom on the pedal trick...

 

[*AL*]

Jeeper the only concern with brighter rear lights is that there isn't a big increase when the stop lights go on, although there is the 3rd brakelight.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Jeeper the only concern with brighter rear lights is that there isn't a big increase when the stop lights go on, although there is the 3rd brakelight.

Checked mine this morning in the garage and there is the correct and proper difference between sidelights and brake lights, so no problem on mine. As you say there is also the third brake light, but that's just an extra.

Of course checking in daylight it's not as easy to see the difference between a 5w sidelight and 21w brake but at night (when lights are on anyway) the distinction would be amplified.

I'm happy all is well.

 

[*AL*]

Jeeper the only concern with brighter rear lights is that there isn't a big increase when the stop lights go on, although there is the 3rd brakelight.

Checked mine this morning in the garage and there is the correct and proper difference between sidelights and brake lights, so no problem on mine. As you say there is also the third brake light, but that's just an extra.

Of course checking in daylight it's not as easy to see the difference between a 5w sidelight and 21w brake but at night (when lights are on anyway) the distinction would be amplified.

I'm happy all is well.

Jeeper do you realise the bulb used in both parts of the rear lights are just 21W? (not 5W and 21W) It's a single filament bulb only.Between side light and brake light a varying wattage must be applied for it to work. I'm not going to change mine as i prefer the circular brake lights, the only concern i had was that now the rear lights are slightly brighter than normal (which is a good thing) and the difference of the rear lights brightening during braking is not so noticable as before.(although they do brighten). Hope this explains this clearer?

 

[2dogs]

That's cool have you a before picture to see the difference.

Edit: Sorry just found it.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Yes - I am aware but just used the old 5w/21w to illustrate rather than a more complicated explanation about wattage/voltage/LCM unit, etc.

They are of course a bank of 21w single filament bulbs

 

[DannyBoy]

Appears to be a good idea.

Does anyone know which size of Scotchlok connectors are required?

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=Scotchlok&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Ebay has quite a few listed.

 

[cj10jeeper]

I'd steer clear of those if you can. Most electrical problems on this sort of retrofit come from failing mechanical connections when used instead of soldering. I'd pull the pins and solder the link wire in.

If you must then the bluesplice woulkd be OK

 

[DannyBoy]

Going to go the schotchlok route as they are easy to remove come resale time.

While I'm quite comfortable with DIY I've not come across scotchloks before so no idea which size I will require.

Out of the following links, I'd be grateful if you could let me know which type is more suitable.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Snap-Splice-Connectors-scotch-lock-scotchlok-QTY-100_W0QQitemZ200295267582QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Terminals_Cabling_ET?hash=item200295267582&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/25-BLUE-SCOTCHLOK-SPLICE-CONNECTORS_W0QQitemZ220352394257QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Terminals_Cabling_ET?hash=item220352394257&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318#ebayphotohosting

 

[cj10jeeper]

I can see the rationale of easy remove to later sell the car.
The 0.65mm to 2.00mm look the most suitable with the extra clip to keep them secured.
You might want to just check your wiring to make sure that it's not greater than 2mm at the point of splice.

 

[DannyBoy]

Thanks Phil.

Ordered.

 

[dario]

(would need a speed restricter also :evil: )

It's called turning the sport button "off"

.. or in my case it requires turning the stereo down also, for some reason it has a direct corrolation to the speed of travel!

i hope your jesting about the volume thing!

its a programe feature of the radio that can be set to be louder or quieter as speed increases.....

go on tell me its a pi$$ take

Dario

 

[DannyBoy]

All done. Good mod.

Makes the car look so much better on braking. No doubt as BMW intended, prior to the regulatory issues with the adaptive braking.

Thumbs up to whoever posted the mod first!