LED back-up lights for E85 Z4?

M

Motionblurrr

Member
Hey all!

I recently drove a new car that has LED back up lights built in from factory and the visibility was pretty decent even without using the backup camera. In the Z4, the back up lighting is subpar but I did upgrade the OEM incandescent bulbs to (USA) Sylvania Silverstar 7506 bulbs. It did help! But I'm looking for more. I do sometimes have to park on the side street when I visit my friends and it's very dark and I have to parallel park and squeeze in between cars. More light would help.

I know you can purchase LED bulbs to replace the back up lights in the Z4 but I'm curious if the car will throw error codes if I do a straight swap? The housing for the reverse light is clear and round so it seems like a good candidate (here in the states we have two reverse lights on each rear taillight). I do not want to code the car or invest in iCarly and all that stuff for one minor thing.

There are MANY LEDs to choose from and I'm not sure if it's best to get the ones with an array of LEDS on the side and a few on the tip with a built in projector?

Anyone had any success with this and or could you please share any photos of it? Thank you! :driving:
 
Yup, use an LED in mine. It’s brighter for sure than the standard bulb. Highly recommend. Put led number plate lights in too, and that lights up the road behind as well. :thumbsup:

I coded all my bulbs out, but I think the reverse light isn’t on the canbus system.
 
1000rr said:
Yup, use an LED in mine. It’s brighter for sure than the standard bulb. Highly recommend. Put led number plate lights in too, and that lights up the road behind as well. :thumbsup:

I coded all my bulbs out, but I think the reverse light isn’t on the canbus system.
Click to expand...

Thank you!! I thought it was weird when I pulled out the reverse light bulb, so I could take it to my local autozone and compare them at the store. I didn’t get a bulb out light at all! So the reverse lights not being on the CANBUS makes perfect sense.

So you don’t get any flickering upon start up for the reverse lights?

I actually did do a retrofit OEM LED from a 1 series I believe. I had to modify the plug but it’s been there for many years now and I love it!
 
Wow now that’s bright! Much brighter than both my upgraded incandescents lol. I’m in the U.S. so imagine both sides with LED like that!

Just ordered these from Amazon. They have a built-in projector dome at the tip to throw out more light.
 

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