Identifying light fitting connectors?

Gebbly

Member
Hersham, Surrey
Yet another help request from a beginner please.

The following is a photo I found online of the back of a rear light unit. I am assuming the 2 connectors I have circled are providing power to the unit? Could anyone explain what the 2 connectors are specifically for please? I was expecting 3 connectors, rear lights, brake lights and reverse lights. In particular I would like to know which (if either of them) is the connector that provides power to the reverse light when the car is put into reverse.

Once I have learnt that I would like to know if the reverse light connecter type has a name or part number or any other identifier. I plan to install a piggy back/splitter cable between the wiring and the reverse connector on the unit. This way I can also send the reverse signal elsewhere in the car. To do that I need to know the connector type that needs to be on the piggyback cable. If I cant find a piggyback cable but can find the correct connectors and wire specs I will just make a piggyback connector. If I can do this it means I wouldnt have to cut into the actual car wires in any way.
e86RearLight2.jpg
 
I thought only the black one was a connector? Isn't the white one a bulb holder?
There's a circuit board running across the light unit. One plug into it and all the connectors pick up on it.
Also make sure you are looking at the right photo. Pre- and post-facelift rear lights are different.
 
As enuff said, the white bit is just the bulb holder. The connectors themselves are likely proprietary BMW ones that you can only buy from them.
A bit of a probe around with a multi meter would answer the other questions :-)
 
Ah, thanks [ref]enuff_zed[/ref], I think you could be right. looking at another picture of the black connector there are several pins rather than just a + and -.
Thanks [ref]Rockhopper[/ref], I think your right and I'll have to get a multimeter onto each pin on that connector's male counterpart from the car wiring and figure out which one goes high when reverse is engaged. Does anyone know what that type of connector is called if I needed a replacement?
Or perhaps there is a section of wiring that I would have to buy to get the connectors? The other option would be some sort of wire tap connecting to the original wiring such as
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Connectors-CTRICALVER-Electrical-Solderless%EF%BC%8C-Connection%EF%BC%8810pcs%EF%BC%89/dp/B08YNMG3F7/ref=asc_df_B08YNMG3F7?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79852124627163&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583451676866824&psc=1
but I would prefer to avoid altering the original wiring really
 
have a look here:

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/bmw/ECE/E85/Z4+3.0i/%7C%7C%7C%7Csearch/61
 
Thanks for the link [ref]Rockhopper[/ref], I have just been outside and disconnected the connector in my boot and taken some photos.
myRearLight.jpg
I then found a connector that looks identical here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273705118649
I know the add doesnt say its for a z4m but the connector is identical to the one in my cars wiring.

So thats one end of the homemade splitter cable, the end of the splitter that will be plugged in to my light unit. Now I need to find the other end of the splitter that the car wiring can plug into and I can connect the 2 together.
 
Does this help? It's the reversing light circuit.
Sorry it's a bit small.
Using this, you may find somewhere you can cut into just that one wire?
Screenshot 2024-11-13 133517.png
 
Back
Top Bottom