03~05 FULL circle Brake light BRIEF

[cj10jeeper]

As Chris says is a bulb out. Eliminate the obvious and check every bulb from side to main dipped and indicators, number plate, etc.

If all OK did you double check the wiring you did? Scotclocks are notoriously bad at connecting and cause all sorts of problems.

 

[JDM]

OK so i do actually feel a bit stupid now..

After checking it was indeed a bulb that had blown.. The only excuse I have is it is the rear fog so its not one that I noticed once checking the lights after doing the mod. Bit of a coincidence that the bulb decided to blow inbetween turning off the car and ten minutes later once i had completed the mod though!! :?

 

[JDM]

Here's a little video after the mod. Is it me or do the brake lights not appear to be that much brighter than the tail lights, or are the tail lights brighter after the mod? Either way I dont think there is as much definition between the two as there was prior to the mod?

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/2970/img1204.mp4

 

[cj10jeeper]

From memory that's the downside of the mod that you are brightening the sidelights and of course lights the full not half circle, so difference is reduced. iirc the sidelights are fed 6v, but after the mod 12v, but I might have just made that up.

Of course the centre brake light makes it pretty damn obvious and mine's been through a couple of MOT's that way.

 

[Anonymous]

Strangely enough I read about this 1/2 brake light 'feature' today and just spotted this thread - great idea I will be doing this mod I think

I can only echo others thoughts about the scotchlocks - they are a sinful aweful mess :thumbsdown: I don't mean to criticise anyone who has used them but in the fairness of anyone else planning on doing this mod I think it is worth clearing up how they work and why they cause issues...

Basically they contain a small blade which cuts through the plastic wire insulation and digs into the metal wire on two cables... connecting them together. This would be fine except the insulation has a purpose - to insulate. The wire is now exposed and will begin to oxidise especally if there is mositure around which in the boot is very likely (rear light clustors are a common cluprit for leaks too!) so now your cable has oxidised it will do two things... 1) become brittle and maybe break, especially if it is likely to be knocked around or vibrated, which in a car boot is likely. 2) stop conducting electricity which in the case of this mod means no brake lights!

The even more annoying thing is removing the scotch lock does not help! Once fitted the damage is done and the insulation and wire is already cut, the only option would be to try to recover the cut with heat shrink or something.

 

[inkey$]

Not a fan then AndyCEB? oke:

Read this post also in the last 48 hours and plan to do the mod myself too. Using CJ's wiring technique though.

 

[Anonymous]

Not a fan then AndyCEB? oke:

Read this post also in the last 48 hours and plan to do the mod myself too. Using CJ's wiring technique though.

:lol: :lol: Its a sore point, when I bought my car the previous owner had used quite a few of these... I ended up re-wiring the whole car with a fresh wiring loom :headbang: :lol:

 

[inkey$]

Ouch. That must have been quite a discovery. :x

 

[cj10jeeper]

Glad to see this line of comment. I hate the damned things and they can cause all sorts of electrical problems from poor connectivity which can lead to resistance heat & melted wires, failing electronics and on and on.

Do things properly or don't bother

 

[kernel-debugger]

Forgive me for saying but ............. I thought the Z4 brake lights lit up in two stages? Light braking whilst driving (not stationary) only half the circle lights....heavy braking illuminates the full circle? I must be missing the point here? I thought BMW got that perfect at the design stage

 

[grayboots]

I have looked into the 2 stage braking before and discovered that it was never fitted to UK spec' cars.

 

[Anonymous]

.

 

[srhutch]

I have looked into the 2 stage braking before and discovered that it was never fitted to UK spec' cars.

It's on post facelift models.

 

[JimmyPop]

Just done this quick mod (using wire/solder) and can't believe the difference it makes! Fantastic!

 

[nahodo]

No need of wiring, it's possible to program it with NCSExpert! Clean solution!

 

[VvrooomM]

I have looked into the 2 stage braking before and discovered that it was never fitted to UK spec' cars.

M's have two stage brake lights - seen it with my own eyes at silverstone.

 

[Liam-O]

Mod done. I had intended to do the solder method, but was bored and it's cold outside so I did the clip method instead. Easily reversible, and took me 5 minutes

 

[Jembo]

... was just thinking, if I was still in my late teens or early 20's, wouldn't need this mod to get the full red brake circle to light up every time.the anchors were applied.

Another side effect of old age, out with the tool kit this weekend...

 

[BPM-Z4R]

tried this on my 2005 z and i didnt work, it just made the sidelights as bright as the brake lights. and the brake lights did nothing even with sidelights turned off

 

[Liam-O]

tried this on my 2005 z and i didnt work, it just made the sidelights as bright as the brake lights. and the brake lights did nothing even with sidelights turned off

This should make the whole ring come on dim, and then when u brake, the whole ring go brighter. Have you checked the correct wires?